The Morning Sports Briefing

Long keeps Ireland’s Euro 2016 hopes alive, Buckley’s late point keeps Kilkenny up, Rhys Ruddock to miss the rest of the season and O’Brien struggling to make 2000 Guineas weight

Shane Long’s stoppage time goal keeps Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification hopes alive. Photograph: Inpho
Shane Long’s stoppage time goal keeps Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification hopes alive. Photograph: Inpho

Ireland stay in the hunt, just.

Ireland remain in the hunt for a spot at the 2016 European Championships after a late Shane Long goal grabbed them a point against qualification Group D leaders Poland at an electric Aviva Stadium.

Outplayed and out sung in the opening 30 minutes Martin O'Neill's side and their supporters weathered the early storm to dominate the final hour of play and will ultimately be disappointed they missed a golden opportunity to take all three points and make a vital step towards a ticket to France.

O'Neill deserves credit for his adventurous team selection writes Brian Kerr, while Ken Early feels the decision to start Robbie Brady at left back was the right one, despite his error which led to Slawomir Peszko's opener.

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Elsewhere, Northern Ireland remained on course for qualification after they beat Finland 2-1 in the first ever Sunday game at Windsor Park, while in Ireland's group World Champions Germany beat Georgia 2-0 away and Scotland beat Gibraltar 5-1 at Hampden Park.

Kilkenny send Clare down

In a dramatic finish at Nowlan Park Cillian Buckley's point in the final minute consigned Clare to relegation and kept Kilkenny in the top flight - the Cats running out 1-18 to 1-17 winners.

Afterwards Kilkenny manager Brian Cody spoke glowingly about the recently retired Henry Shefflin who he says 'genuinely couldn't have done a single thing to get another ounce out of himself.'

In the League quarter finals Waterford were impressive in beating Galway 0-20 to 0-12 at Walsh Park, while there were also wins for Cork, Tipperary and Dublin.

Donegal beat Tyrone 1-13 to 0-6 in a dress rehearsal for their championship clash in May after a performance Mickey Harte said was as bad as any he had ever seen from a Tyrone side.

Monaghan secured their first victory away at Kerry in 27 years after they ran out 1-11 to 0-10 winners in the kingdom, while a goal at the death from Brian Hurley gave Cork a 2-7 to 0-12 win over Mayo.

Ruddock to miss rest of season

Rhys Ruddock's season is over after he suffered a recurrence of the arm injury which has kept him out of action for all but two games since December.

The Leinster backrow needs an operation to have a plate inserted in his arm and as a result will only have the warm-up games to try and play his way into Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad.

O’Brien struggling for Guineas weight

Trainer Aiden O'Brien has admitted it will be difficult for his son Joey to make the 9st weight to ride Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas is Newmarket in just over a month, while Ramone made a surprise start to the flat season at the Curragh after winning the Group 3 Park Express Stakes at a starting price of 100/1.

Walker wins in Texas

Jimmy Walker warmed-up nicely for next month's US Masters with a four shot win in the Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, while Kevin Phelan secured his second top five finish in the space of a month at the Trophee Hassan in Morocco, which was won by Scotland's Richie Ramsay.

What to watch out for:

Snooker

Eurosport 7.45am-10.30am, 12.30pm-4.30pm, Beijing China Open

Tennis

Sky Sports 3, 4pm-2.30am, ATP Miami Open

BT Sport 2, 4pm-8pm, 9.30pm-4am, WTA Miami Open

Football

Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm (7.45) Burton Albion v Stevenage

BT Sport 1 from 7.30pm, U-21: England v Germany

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden is a former sports journalist with The Irish Times