Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Robbie Keane to miss Belarus warm-up, Jim McGuinness on final heartbreak, Matt Healy could make Ireland squad and what next for the all-conquering Connacht?

Monday’s action in the French Open ar Roland Garros was abandoned due to rain. Photograph: Getty
Monday’s action in the French Open ar Roland Garros was abandoned due to rain. Photograph: Getty
Tue May 31 2016 - 08:27

Robbie Keane to miss Belarus game

The Republic of Ireland take on Belarus in Cork tonight in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2016 and one man who won’t be taking part is record goalscorer Robbie Keane, who missed yesterday’s training session with a calf problem.

Daryl Murphy is the only confirmed starter at Turner’s Cross as a number of players look to secure their place on the plane to France, while Kevin Doyle’s hopes of making the squad look to be over after boss Martin O’Neill told him to remain in the US on standby rather than travel for the fixture.

Jim McGuinness on final failure

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In his column today Jim McGuinness reflects on Saturday’s Champions League final and how losing such a fixture takes you to “the worst place you can be in your sporting life.”

He writes: “Everything else around you - real life, in other words - becomes meaningless. You are baseline operating. You are vacant and in a different place. And that feeling isn’t going away any time soon. You know you have to put yourself through the torture of processing it and coming out the other end.”

Matt Healy could make Ireland squad

Joe Schmidt is set to name his 32-man squad for Ireland’s tour to South Africa tomorrow, and the uncapped Connacht flyer Matt Healy is in contention to replace the injured Luke Fitzgerald after a fine domestic season.

The tour will be Andy Farrell’s first as defence coach, he said: “But the challenge is one that really excites me because I feel defence is about attitude, and we want to create some history so we have to show some real proper attitude.”

What next for the all-conquering Connacht?

Meanwhile in his column Gerry Thornley asks what next for the all conquering Connacht? He writes: “Their greatest legacy though would be for it to herald a new era in the often troubled history of Connacht rugby, with an expanded Sportsground or alternative home to a proud new team and their expanding Green Army, and a squad who will be real contenders.”

What to watch out for:

Football

Ireland take on Belarus in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2016. (Setanta Ireland, 7.45pm ko)