O’Carroll leaves void for Dublin to fill
All-Ireland football champions Dublin began their 2016 with a 0-12 to 2-6 draw with Wexford at St Patrick’s Park in Enniscorthy yesterday, and their O’Byrne Cup fixture was dominated by the news Jim Gavin will be without star fullback Rory O’Carroll for the coming season.
O’Carroll, a three-time All-Ireland winner and two-time All Star, has decided to spend the coming year working and travelling in New Zealand, leaving Dublin searching for somebody to fill the number three jersey the 26-year-old has made his own since 2011.
On O’Carroll’s decision Gavin said: “But we wish him the very best. We’ve always said to players it’s important to get the life balance, between family, their profession, and their sport.”
Rochford era begins with win
Stephen Rochford’s Mayo tenure got off to a winning start, his new charges overcoming NUI Galway 1-12 to 1-10, while Michael Murphy marked his 100th Donegal appearance with a 1-11 to 0-11 win over Down.
Óg Cusack’s Clare sing native Cork
Elsewhere yesterday Donal Og Cusack’s first game as a Clare hurling selector saw the Banner county beat his native Cork 1-14 to 0-14 in Sixmilebridge.
Chelsea show signs of recovery
Champions Chelsea endured a dismal end to 2015 but began the New Year showing the first green shoots of recovery under interim boss Guus Hiddink as they eased to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Meanwhile Delle Alli’s brilliantly taken goal cancelled out Aaron Lennon’s fine opener as Tottenham Hotspur left Goodison Park with a point following an absorbing 1-1 draw with Everton yesterday.
Ireland’s Six Nations preparations begin
Ireland’s preparations as they look to win an unprecedented third consecutive Six Nations title have begun, with Joe Schmidt gathering almost 50 players for a gathering at Carton House on Sunday evening.
Among the players present were Munster’s CJ Stander, who has qualified for Ireland under the three-year residency rule, Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey and 22-year-old Connacht secondrow Ultan Dillane.
Anderson retains world title
Gary Anderson retained his PDC World Championship crown at the Alexandra Palace last night, seeing off Adrian Lewis 7-5 and avenging his 2011 final loss to the same man.
Naas double for Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins captured yet another Grade One success at Naas yesterday as Ruby Walsh guided the 2-5 favourite Bellshill to victory in the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle despite a slight wobble over the final two flights. This came after Walsh bagged another winner on board the impressive Shaneshill, who maintained his 100 per cent record over fences.
What to watch out for:
Cricket
England look to capitalise on the stunning first innings performance of Ben Stokes on day three of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. (SS2 from 8am)
