Connolly ban will set precedent
Yesterday Monaghan footballer Thomas Connolly was handed a two year ban for testing positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol in an out of competition test taken on February 13th.
23-year-old Connolly, a fringe player who made the county panel for a league game, avoided being handed the regulation four year ban by the GAA's anti-doping regulation committee who were satisfied he did not take the steroid intentionally, and his suspension will now set a precedent for future doping cases in the GAA, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
The 2015 All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship gets underway on Saturday with champions Cork looking to avenge their Division One final defeat to Galway last month.
Wexford hurler Jack Guiney has been dropped from the county's senior panel ahead of their Leinster semi-final against Kilkenny following a disciplinary breach.
Five-time All Star and Kerry football legend Tomás Ó Sé has played down Cork's chances of upsetting his old county in their upcoming Munster senior championship final, suggesting the Rebels will have to "shake it up big time" in order to stand any chance of winning.
Darragh Ó Sé column
Meanwhile in his weekly column brother Darragh Ó Sé discusses the gulf in class between club and intercounty football, something highlighted by Corofin star Michael Lundy’s inability to assert a major influence on proceedings during Galway’s loss to Mayo last weekend.
The absence of Cork footballer Jamie O'Sullivan for his side's game against Clare may not have been headline news, but it was the culmination of a peculiar episode of the GAA disciplinary system, writes Sean Moran.
Rory ready to go
The US Open, gets underway tomorrow and ahead of the tournament world number one Rory McIlroy is full of the swagger befitting the best golfer on the planet and confident of picking up a fifth Major in Washington, writes Philip Reid from Seattle.
In order to do so McIlroy will have to negotiate a links-esque course which has seemingly already struck the fear of God into those who will play it this weekend.
Gleneagles supreme at Royal Ascot
Gleneagles proved his status at the best three-year-old miler in the business with a supreme run at Royal Ascot yesterday, which have Aidan O'Brien a record seventh win in the St James's Palace Stakes.
Gleneagles was partnered by Ryan Moore who landed a 54-1 treble in the day's last three races, giving O'Brien another win through Washington DC in the last and also riding Clondaw Warrior to victory for Willie Mullins.
Champions Cup fate to be revealed
Irish provinces will find out their European Champions Cup fate later today when the draw for the competitions pool stages is made in Switzerland.
Clermont Auvergne suffered a miserable end to the season as they lost both the Champions Cup and Top 14 finals, but the defeat to Stade Francais last weekend could perhaps be blamed on poor officiating, writes Andy McGeady.
The emerging Ireland squad were left shocked after being caught up in the Tblisi floods which have left 15 people dead and wild animals on the loose.
Ireland shock USA
Megan Frazer and Anna O'Flanagan both scored as Ireland shocked the USA 2-0 in their World League hockey tie meaning a win over China would all but guarantee a ticket to Rio 2016.
Falcao to Chelsea
Elsewhere Chelsea have agreed a deal with Monaco to bring Radamel Falcao to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan deal costing €5.5 million.
What to watch out for:
Football
The fixtures for the 2015/16 Premier League season are released at 9am this morning.
Rugby
The pools for next season Champions Cup will be drawn in Neuchatel, Switzerland at 1.15pm. The draw can be viewed live on epcrugby.com, btsport.com, Sky Sports News and be In Sports.
Emerging Ireland play Uruguay at the Avchala Stadium at 2pm BST.
Racing
The second day of Royal Ascot gets underway with Free Eagle favourite to win the feature race, the Prince of Wales's Stakes, at 4.20. Channel 4 1.40pm-6pm.
Cricket
England play New Zealand in the fourth ODI at Trent Bridge. Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm.
Athletics
There’s more European Games action, with Adam Nolan and Michael O’Reilly both stepping into the ring for their last 32 welterweight and middleweight last 32 fights. Setanta 4.55am-7.50pm and BT Sport 6am-7.30pm
