The opening weekend of the Allianz football and hurling leagues reached a conclusion yesterday, with one particularly eye-catching result in Clones. All-Ireland champions Dublin - seeking to lift Sam Maguire for a fifth consecutive time this summer - were beaten 2-13 to 1-13 by Monaghan. However, as Malachy Clerkin writes, we shouldn't read too much into the Dubs' defeat: "For Dublin this was a pipe opener and no more. Thing is, they usually win their pipe openers." Elsewhere in Division 1 of the football league yesterday Kerry beat Tyrone 0-11 to 0-7 to start the Peter Keane era in style, while Galway beat Cavan 0-13 to 0-11 at Pearse Stadium. Donegal made a winning start to life in Division 2 as they saw off Clare 0-16 to 0-13, while Kildare staged a late comeback to earn a 0-14 to 0-11 draw with Armagh. Meath beat Tipperary 0-15 to 1-8, while Fermanagh drew 0-8 to 1-5 with Cork.
Meanwhile in yesterday's hurling action All-Ireland champions Limerick made a winning start to their league campaign, weathering a late Wexford comeback to win 1-17 to 2-11 at Wexford Park. Kilkenny flew out of the blocks with a convincing 2-18 to 0-17 victory over Cork at Nowlan Park, while Tipp beat Clare 2-16 to 1-11. In Division 1B yesterday Galway thrashed Laois 1-27 to 2-15 and Waterford trounced Offaly 2-28 to 0-7.
The 2019 Six Nations is nearly upon us, with the tournament getting underway on Friday night as Wales travel to play France. And Warren Gatland - facing into his 12th Championship as Wales boss - believes victory at the Stade de France could be the catalyst for a successful campaign: "My expectation is always high," he said. "We finished second last year and had a really good year. If we can win that first game in Paris it will give us a really good chance of winning the Six Nations." Meanwhile Ireland's home fixtures against England and France are set to be among the most expensive sporting events ever held in the country, with category 1 tickets priced at €115. We have profiled Joe Schmidt's side this morning ahead of Saturday's visit of the English, which you can read HERE.
Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspur exited a second Cup competition in the space of four days yesterday, with Mauricio Pochettino's side beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Chelsea are safely through to the fifth round however after their 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, with the draw to be held at 7.20pm tonight. Meanwhile in his column this morning Ken Early suggests relief will be the main emotion for Frenkie de Jong after the Ajax starlet completed his €75 million switch to Barcelona.
And Justin Rose has secured his 10th PGA Tour win after a final round of 69 saw him take the Farmers Insurance Open by two strokes in San Diego, ahead of Australia's Adam Scott. Rory McIlroy finished in a share of fifth after he also ended his week with a round of 69. In Dubai Bryson DeChambeau roared clear of the rest of the field to take the Desert Classic by seven strokes - the American's first win on international soil.
