Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Shane Lowry in contention at The Players, Liam Toland’s take on residency rule and what to watch out for

Shane Lowry of Ireland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Photograph: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Fri May 13 2016 - 08:34

Golf

Shane Lowry yesterday shot a record back nine of 29 strokes and a seven-under-par round of 65 to move into contention at the Players Championship.

The Offalyman admitted to suffering what he termed “a meltdown” in practice on the eve of Sawgrass event, leaving him so at odds with his game and his swing that it took some calming words on the phone in “an emergency call” with his coach Neil Manchip and a piece of live advice from Graeme McDowell to rectify matters. World number one Jason Day’s course record-equalling 63 contained nine birdies and nine pars and enabled the Australian to grab the clubhouse lead.

Soccer

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Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has not ruled himself out of the running for the Everton job, describing the notion of him considering a return to club football as “hypothetical”.

Having named his 35-man squad for the May 27th friendly with the Netherlands, O'Neill has heaped praise and highlighted the importance of Shane Long to his XI. "He has taken that [advice]on in the last three or four months and if he's going into a tournament [in his current form] then that can only be good news for us."

Rugby

Liam Toland is addressing the residency rule in his column this morning, saying that it should be six years, not three - "World Rugby has chopped and changed its view on this thorny issue but, for me, three years is too convenient. That said, under the current rule, Ireland, like all other rugby nations, should continue to avail of wonderful athletes."

GAA

Meanwhile the new Dublin GAA jersey was launched yesterday, with over 55,000 expected to be sold in 2016. That projection would bring it close to being the biggest-selling jersey in GAA history, which its previous incarnation was from 2013 to 2015.

What to watch out for

The second round of The Players is live on Sky this afternoon.

Sky Sports 4, 6pm-midnight

The Challenge Cup final sees Conor O'Shea's Harlequins take on Montpellier at 8pm.

BT Sport Europe from 7pm

Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm

In League of Ireland action tonight St Patrick's Athletic host Longford Town - kick-off 8pm.

Setanta from 7.30pm