It should have been a good day for the Football Association of Ireland with the unveiling of Carla Ward as head coach of the women’s national team, but their own-goal-scoring tendencies emerged yet again. The occasion ended up being overshadowed by a statement from Colin Healy, assistant coach in the previous regime, alleging that he had been promised a contract extension by the FAI, only to be let go days later having turned down the offer of another job.
Quite what Ward made of it all, she didn’t stay, but Gavin Cummiskey heard her outline her hopes for the Irish team, among her missions to make better use of Katie McCabe’s left foot and to produce an energetic, exciting side capable of qualifying for the next World Cup.
Con O’Callaghan is a bit energetic and exciting himself, and a touch successful – Gordon Manning must have been worn out after listing all the Dubliner’s county and club medals. He’s played in 11 senior finals and has yet to lose one, his target now 12 when Cuala take on Errigal Ciaran in Sunday’s club football final.
That won’t be an easy task, not least because of the presence of brothers Darragh and Ruairí Canavan in the Errigal line-up, Seán Moran looking at the Tyrone side’s prospects in their first ever club final.
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In rugby, Gerry Thornley previews the Champions Cup battle of Pool One’s winless sides, Ulster and Exeter, as well as Connacht’s Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff this evening.
After the success of our relay teams last year, Sonia O’Sullivan reckons more young Irish athletes should take up the pursuit, it being “an open door to be a part of a successful event” – and increased numbers in relay racing would deepen our pool and raise standards.
Rory McIlroy needs to raise his standards if he is to win a third successive Dubai Desert Classic after a “scrappy” opening round on Thursday. He took time after his round to give credit to Greg Norman after he stepped down as LIV’s chief executive. Not long ago, McIlroy praising Norman “felt as realistic a concept as the Open Championship taking place on the moon”.
And in racing, Brian O’Connor looks at the new cross-channel scheme where British racing’s official charity, Retraining of Racehorses, will have its funding increased through the introduction of mandatory levies on the sale of thoroughbreds. “It begs the question as to why a similar step isn’t currently on the table in Ireland.”
TV Watch: If you can get to your tellies before 1.0 this afternoon, you’ll get to see the tail-ends of live coverage from the Australian tennis Open (Eurosport) and the Dubai Desert Classic (Sky Sports Golf). Failing that, you’ll have two rugby offerings this evening with an Irish interest – Ulster host Exeter in the Champions Cup at 8.0 (Premier Sports 1), and at the same time, Connacht are on their travels to Cardiff in the Challenge Cup (Premier Sports 2).
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