The return of Gaelic games is slowly turning from a distant dream into a plausible reality - and how do we know? Because, writes Malachy Clerkin this morning, people are giving out again: "But then, to quote a line on the wall of our young one's creche, just when the caterpillar thought its life was over, it turned into a beautiful butterfly. Out came the GAA roadmap and in a trice, the givers-out had purpose again. Now they can give out all they like, as if 2020 is just another normal year." However, he also suggests there's only one person at each GAA club who will be able to hold a legitimate grievance when things resume later in the summer - and that's going to be each club's 'Covid Supervisor'. "The Covid Supervisors will be the Gareth Keenans of the association. Yes, you will check everyone's temperature on the way into training. Yes, you will be in charge of the disinfectant and can deputise who you like to help you clean the kit. No, you will not have any input on team selection."
This morning Dublin-born Libya international Eamon Zayed, who played for numerous League of Ireland clubs and now plies his trade with US side Chattanooga Red Wolves, has written about the racism he faced both on and off the pitch while growing up in Ireland. "Throughout my time in the league there were also many incidents of racial slurs being directed towards me by fans of various opposition clubs. Not once, when I raised the issue, did a club accept it and hold their hands up for the greater good." And he suggests that while it is good people in Ireland have been taking an interest in the protests which have followed the murder of George Floyd, there is still plenty of work to be done here as well: "The issue we have is that many people don't want to acknowledge, to understand, to educate themselves on all of this. Racism will only be solved when we do all of those things then work hard as a society to do better, to be better, to change."
Golf is set to become the latest sport to resume behind closed doors, with the PGA Tour resuming tomorrow at Colonial in Texas. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are both in the field for the Charles Schwab Challenge, with players having to undergo stringent Covid-19 protocols throughout the week. Colonial kicks off a run of four tournaments all to be played without crowds, with players and caddies tested on registration, with results available within 24 hours. The PGA Tour have chartered flights between competitions, while daily temperature screenings will now be par for the course. Philip Reid has looked at new reality facing golf's elite.
It was a day of mixed emotions for Aidan O'Brien as Irish racing continued at Leopardstown yesterday. O'Brien started the day with a 907-1 four-timer but then saw Year Of The Tiger suffer a fatal injury in the fifth. Meanwhile trainer Tom Hogan paid tribute to the veteran Group One winner Gordon Lord Byron, who died suddenly yesterday morning aged 12.
Former Brighton boss and Ireland international Chris Hughton has highlighted the lack of opportunity for BAME managers at the top level in English football, following Raheem Sterling's interview on BBC Newsnight on Monday. He said: "When I was a player the mentality was black people would make good players but weren't captain material or managerial material. That stereotyping existed. Racism doesn't go overnight. It's over a period of time and education. Some things stick. Do I think those stereotypes still exist? I do."
24-year-old Irish tighthead prop Oli Jager has signed a new two-year deal with the Canterbury Crusaders. Jager, who went to Blackrock College, left Ireland for New Zealand in 2013 having missed out on a place in the Leinster academy - and now he has his sights on representing the All Blacks. He said: "There was a little bit of interest coming over from Europe. This is my first choice. I have my life here and don't really see myself going anywhere else. Nor do I want to."
And Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill has tested positive for coronavirus. The Championship side were due to play a friendly against Manchester United, but the fixture was cancelled at the last minute after the former Northern Ireland manager's test from Monday returned positive.
