Ireland's wait for a goal extended to 390 minutes of football after last night's disappointing 1-0 defeat to Finland in front of a crowd of around 8,000 at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. Still to get their first win under Stephen Kenny - after five attempts - Ireland maintained their recent improvement in terms of possession and passes but an error by goalkeeper Darren Randolph in taking a short kick-out led to Fredrik Jensen's 66th minute goal. Despite the slow start to the new manager's term, Ken Early believes new faces give grounds for optimism: "If anyone in Ireland remembers Wednesday night's game, it will be because it was the first time we saw Dara O'Shea and Jason Knight playing for Ireland, and not because it was the second time we saw Pukki and Jensen score that goal against us."
Leinster's 21-year-old lock Ryan Baird has been ruled out of Ireland's rearranged Six Nations games at home to Italy next Saturday week and France in Paris seven days later. Connacht's Ultan Dillane has been added to the squad in his place. In his column this morning, John O'Sullivan explains why head coach Andy Farrell will have to broaden his selection base after using just 26 players in three Six Nations matches since succeeding Joe Schmidt. Fullback and the backrow appear to be the main positions up for grabs, and "it will be interesting to see if Farrell elects to stick, where possible, or twist when the team is announced next week."
The Fermanagh County Board were informed on Wednesday night by GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) that their Division 2 game of the resumed Allianz Football League away to Clare could not be postponed from this Sunday. The official request was submitted on Tuesday given the number of Covid-19 cases in the Fermanagh panel, manager Ryan McMenamin reporting that 17 players were unavailable to train last week. In her column, Joanne O'Riordan reflects on the increasingly difficult life of a ladies dual player: "While dual players feel let down by the lack of harmony between both organisations, the time has probably come for a big decision to be made, but it's yet to be known who's making that decision."
Meanwhile, funding of almost €6 million has been allocated in the 2021 budget to meet existing commitments to Ireland's hosting of the Ryder Cup 2027 in Adare Manor. Check out Philip Reid's lowdown ahead of this week's PGA Tour and European Tour events - The CJ Cup and Scottish Championship.
