GAA: Galvin returns
The rumour had been circulating for much off Tuesday but Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice last night confirmed that Paul Galvin has returned from retirement to join the Kerry panel.
Galvin stepped away last February, meaning he of course missed out on last September’s All-Ireland glory, yet with himself, Colm Cooper and Tommy Walsh all added to last year’s panel the heart is no doubt firmly set on a fifth All-Ireland medal.
The journey began in a challenge match versus the county Under 21s last night in Tralee.
Still no sign of a similar return involving Dessie Dolan in Westmeath but their manager Tom Cribbin has brought endurance athlete into the set up, or endurance guru rather, Gerry Duffy to help improve "goal setting and fitness and inspiration."
Soccer: Premier League
Sadio Mane struck late to break the deadlock at St Mary's last night as Southampton moved to within a point of fourth spot. The 87th minute goal and pending victory over Crystal Palace was the perfect tonic for what has been a gradual decline for them of late.
Meanwhile Aston Villa finally broke their losing streak with a last minute Christian Benteke goal earning them a 2-1 victory over neighbours West Brom.
In the night’s other Premier League fixture Gus Poyet and Steve Bruce’s touchline spat, after Poyet was dismissed for getting a bit too involved with a water bottle, was the highlight of the draw between Sunderland and Hull City.
Rugby: Irish robots
Ireland’s scrumhalf Conor Murray insists that while his team may know their gameplan inside out and be fully confident of it, they aren’t robots, and they are able to veer off and break out of rigid patterns set down by the coach when it’s needed.
Belvedere yesterday completed their rollercoaster ride to the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final with a 27-26 win over a brave Clongowes side.
According to former Munster and Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan the all-consuming nature of schools rugby is unhealthy for the participants. He says the winner-takes-all mentality is putting too much pressure on our young players.
“I’m not sure if I’d like my son to be in that environment where they put so many hours into training, five or six days a week, gym in the morning, rugby field in the afternoon. School is for school. Or it should be for school.”
Golf: Harrington success story
Shane Lowry had watched up-close as Padraig Harrington struggled with his game as recently as the Pebble Beach pro-am.Yet he knew a little switch was ready to be flicked, just he didn’t know it would happen so soon.
Lowry says he's delighted for Harrington, and expects his Honda Classic triumph to be a career changer.
Cricket: Dockrell says confidence remains
It may appear that there's not much Ireland could take out of a 201-run defeat to South Africa yesterday. Yet George Dockrell says the performances of young Andy McBrine and Andy Balbirnie show Ireland's future is bright, and he says confidence remains high in the squad for the crucial pool game with Zimbabwe.
What to watch out for:
If you're out and about today the Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final between CC Roscrea and Newbridge College is on in Donnybrook at 4pm. It's also live on the television.
Setanta from 3.55pm
Meanwhile all of the big guns are in Premier League action tonight, with Manchester United's trip to Newcastle on BT Sports. It's a big game for United as Liverpool and Arsenal press for those third and fourth spots.
BT Sport 1 from 7pm
