John Delaney has spoken. It's been two weeks now since the former FAI CEO was moved aside from his position to a newly created title of executive vice-president. Next week Delaney and other FAI officials will face an Oireachtas committee which will largely focus on the questions still surrounding Delaney's €100,000 loan to the FAI a couple of years ago. However, yesterday he got the chance to wear a couple of his old hats when Dublin hosted the draw for next month's European Under-17 Championships. Not much was said bar some reminiscing from Delaney before the draw went ahead but it took place off the back of more waves of support from clubs around the country, including Delaney's hometown club of Waterford. Ireland, meanwhile, will face the tricky draw of Czech Republic, Greece and Belgium. In the Premier League this evening, Liverpool will look to go back to the top of the table when they take on Southampton while there is also domestic action across the country with four Premier Division games including table-toppers Shamrock Rovers' visit to the Turners Cross to face Cork.
On to rugby, this weekend the race for Pro14 playoff places heats up as nine teams battle it out for the remaining berths. Leinster are already assured of a home semi-final but there are five other playoff spots up for grabs. Gerry Thornley wraps it all up ahead of this weekend's action which gets underway tonight with Munster and Ulster both in action. Meanwhile, Matt Williams writes this morning that it's time to outlaw the cheats and save the game of rugby. "Every team is cheating, and our officials are doing nothing about it. In every game I watched, every team was deliberately and purposefully offside," he writes. Elsewhere, Josh van der Flier has called for more protection for poachers of the ball who he says are being taken out too much. "If someone comes in from the side you are pretty exposed, your knees, your ribs, that kind of thing. But refs are quite good about that," he said yesterday.
On to GAA and Dublin hurler Eoghan O'Donnell made it clear yesterday that his side are looking to block out the "moral victories" of the past and focus on making a real run in this year's Championship. The Dubs surprised many in last year's Leinster hurling championship by how relentlessly competitive they proved in the new, round-robin format. They did lose three of their four matches but they were leading going into injury time in all three of those losses and O'Donnell is determined that this year they will show the ruthless streak needed to get over the line.
Tomorrow sees on of the biggest days in racing take centre stage as the Aintree Grand National goes ot post at 5.15pm. Yesterday there was disappointment at the festival as Willie Mullins' superstar Faugheen pulled up with an irregular heartbeat but there was better fortune for Jessica Harrington who had a winner in Supasundae ahead of Magic of Light becoming her first ever Grand National runner.
Finally to golf and Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey made history yesterday when she became one of the 30 women to make the cut in the first ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur, earning her a spot in the final round which will be played over the same hallowed ground which will host the Masters next week. Mehaffey – who finished tied for 11th at one over par – and the other 29 competitors will play a practice round at Augusta today before the final round of the competition gets underway tomorrow.
