Darragh Ó Sé believes that Mickey Harte's football philosophy hasn't changed since he was playing, but the players available to him are not as good. He sees them disrupting Dublin's rhythm but not being able to score enough to win; "Tyrone will do their best to try and smash into Dublin, to avoid what happened in last year's semi-final and to stop them getting into the lovely, unhurried rhythm they've been in all year. But they can't do that for 70-80 minutes." Seán Moran meanwhile is warning Dublin to beware of Harte stopping strategies - Tyrone's three All-Ireland wins have all been achieved against the defending champions.
Leinster and Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien says he is in tip-top shape and ready to make a return to action. Looking to get some pitch time in the coming weeks, probably late September, his fresh optimism follows a season that seemed to collapse around him between the 2017 Lions Tour and Leinster's 2018 double. "Probably in better shape than I have been in my life," he says. "So I should be in the best place I have ever been in my career when I come back."
Dundalk failed to extend their lead at the top of the League of Ireland premier division last night, losing 2-1 at home to Shamrock Rovers. Stephen Kenny's team were on a run of 13 consecutive league wins, two off the record of 15 set by Bohemians in the 1923/24 season. Roberto Lopes had given the visitors a lead to defend less than two minutes in but after Michael Duffy had scored a second half equaliser there only looked likely to be one winner with Dundalk pressing relentlessly. In their eagerness however, they conceded an injury time penalty which Dylan Watts converted.
A second day of stifling heat and humidity caused havoc at the US Open on Tuesday, prompting tournament organisers to implement special rules to provide some relief for suffering players. With temperatures soaring well above 90 Fahrenheit (32C) amid crushing humidity, the 10-minute heat break the women players are granted between the second and third sets of their matches will now be extended to the men as well. Caroline Wozniacki found unique inspiration to beat the extreme heat, and Sam Stosur - visions of a margarita.
Horse Racing Ireland's chief executive Brian Kavanagh says the potential impact on the overall cost of the Curragh redevelopment created by any reconstruction of the parade ring won't be known until the project is completed.
