Tennis: US Open
The US Open gets underway in New York this afternoon - a chance for the perpetual Serena Williams to complete a calendar Grand Slam.
Brian O’Connor is asking the question though, that considering we are in the midst of one of the greatest athletic careers of all time - “why has that athleticism been stretched solely to playing best-of-three sets throughout her major title career?
“Do women run only 20-mile marathons? Compete in only two parts of a triathlon? Play football on a smaller field? Of course not, and any suggestion otherwise would reek of a patriarchal condescension..”
GAA: Championship
Mayo pulled off a typically never-say-die comeback against Dublin in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final to earn themselves a replay next week - which in the end -up was the least they deserved.
After the game Dublin boss Jim Gavin was keen to stress the positives, despite his team surrendering a seven-point lead within the final 10 minutes;
“We haven’t experienced that intensity all season, it was four weeks since our last game and we will be the better team for it the next day.”
As for Mayo joint-manager Noel Connelly, he was looking for some added protection for his main man Aidan O'Shea. Within a game full of niggle, with Diarmuid Connolly sent of for a clear striking offence and two other Dublin players being black carded, O'Shea was targeted for some especially nasty treatment - a headbutt from Philly McMahon the tip of the iceberg.
“I’ve said this before, and don’t like going on about the way Aido gets tackled at times,” said Connelly. “Other players who are smaller in stature, had they been marked the way he is would be getting frees in my mind.”
Rugby: World Cup warm-up
Following worrying knocks picked up in Saturday's defeat to Wales, Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald remain in the running for the Irish World Cup squad which has to be submitted to World Cup organisers by 5pm on Monday.
Head coach Joe Schmidt says he is expecting another bruising encounter in the final warm-up game versus England this coming Saturday;
“I said to the players in the changing room after the game, it is going to be very, very tough. They are going to look to rebound from France and they are going to bring a really physical performance to Twickenham to lay down a marker.”
Golf: The Barclays
Off the back of his PGA Championship triumph Jason Day romped to victory at The Barclays on Sunday night, winning the opening event of the lucrative FedExCup Series by an impressive six strokes.
“Just the work and dedication I’ve put in over the years, it feels like it’s finally paying off. It’s been a whirlwind kind of summer.”
Soccer: International break
Those players to have made the cut over the weekend will take part in the Irish squad’s first ever training session in Abbotstown this morning with only Kevin Doyle expected to miss the first run out at the team’s new base.
Doyle arrives back from the US later today, on a high from his goal for the Colorado Rapids over the weekend, much like West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph who oversaw his team’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in Anfield.
Emmet Malone says the Bray born stopper will feel that this is the best position he has been in to push his case for a start in a competitive game.
What to watch out for:
England meet Australia for the first time following the conclusion of the Ashes, and ahead of their upcoming one-day series, in a one-off T20 this afternoon in Cardiff.
Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm
La Vuelta Stage 10: To Castellon
TG4, 3pm-5.05pm
The New York US Tennis Open also begins this afternoon.
Sky Sports 1, 4pm-4am
