Few will be sad to see the back of the recent international break - particularly Irish supporters who saw their side rendered winless and goalless in three fixtures, as Covid-19 wreaked havoc off the pitch. Stephen Kenny is now without a win in his first five games in charge of the Republic, but this morning Emmet Malone has suggested his start has been much better than it appears on paper. He writes: "There is a different air about it all too, with the new manager conveying a real sense that he believes in this young talent as having the potential to become, as he put it on Wednesday, important to the team in the future." Meanwhile Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers will have to wait to get their hands on the title after their next three league fixtures were postponed last night, following a positive coronavirus test within the squad. Rovers were due to play Derry City in Tallaght tonight, Bohemians' clash with Dundalk is set to go ahead as scheduled at Oriel Park (5.45pm).
The 2020 intercounty season finally gets back underway this weekend, with the National Leagues resuming tomorrow as Kerry take on Monaghan and Dublin meet Meath in Division One. However there is no little trepidation from the GAA as games resume, as Seán Moran writes this morning: "If the mood is sanguine, there's also acceptance that the association has to be guided by public health advice and if Level 5 is declared then the season is in all likelihood over but in the meantime the fixtures go ahead."
In today's sporting upset Gavin Cummiskey has looked back to just over a year ago, as Ireland were stunned by Japan in the pool stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Defeat to the dashing Brave Blossoms signalled the beginning of the end for Joe Schmidt's side, as they huffed and puffed and sweated their way to a 19-12 defeat in Shizuoka. He writes: "There were 30 minutes remaining but Ireland were visibly shattered while the Brave Blossoms surged from the waves of energy rolling down from their delirious crowd."
Rory McIlroy has made a slow start in Las Vegas, with a run of four-consecutive bogeys from the seventh to the 10th ruining his card as he signed for an opening round of 73 - one over par. He is eight shots adrift of leader Tyrrell Hatton in the CJ Cup, who picked up where he left off following victory at Wentworth with an opening round of 65. Shane Lowry opened with a level par 72 at Shadow Creek. Meanwhile Padraig Harrington made a strong start in the Scottish Championship at St Andrew's yesterday - his opening 66 leaves him four off the lead of Spain's Adrian Otaegui.
Elsewhere this morning Johnny Watterson has looked at the issues facing trans athletes in sport, with World Rugby recently banning trans women from the women's game - something the English RFU have since broken rank over. He writes: "Rugby, inevitably, has stepped up to face a question where there is currently no clear answer. Geneticists, endocrinologists, ethicists, coaches, campaigners and athletes agree to disagree."
Gerry Thornley has spoken to recently retired Ireland Sevens star Louise Galvin, who stepped down from the circuit due to the effects of coronavirus. Galvin has started her new role as a physiotherapist with the HSE, and was on the frontline during the early stages of the pandemic: "I have to say no-one in the ICU who worked there actually got sick, so I quite enjoyed the experience of working through the really early intense days of the pandemic."
And Iain Henderson will miss Ireland's two remaining Six Nations fixtures on October 24th and 31st after he was yesterday handed a three-week ban for the red card he was shown during Ulster's win over the Ospreys last Saturday.
