Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Jim McGuinness on an era-defining Ulster final, Murray romps past Kyrgios at Wimbldeon, Cavendish wins stage three and what to watch out for

Roger Federer breezed into the quarter-finals of Wimbledon with a straight sets win over Steve Johnson. Photograph: Reuters
Roger Federer breezed into the quarter-finals of Wimbledon with a straight sets win over Steve Johnson. Photograph: Reuters
Tue Jul 05 2016 - 08:39

Jim McGuinness on the Ulster final

In his column today Jim McGuinness looks ahead to the Ulster football final between Donegal and Tyrone, a fixture he believes is era-defining for the two counties.

He writes: “Every so often, the championship creates an extraordinary rivalry, meaning that teams can bring a decade’s worth of emotion and envy and celebration and pure competitive desperation into one afternoon.

“The Ulster final between Donegal and Tyrone in Clones (and it could be no other place) on July 17th is one of those occasions.”

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The final will bring together a Donegal side who have reached their sixth provincial final in a row, and the Tyrone side they usurped in order to dominate Ulster, but McGuinness suggests this game will help settle the score between the two northern powerhouses.

He writes: “I go into all this to make one simple point: what this fixture, this Ulster final, means to both sets of players is simply exceptional. Tyrone feel they are back. Donegal feel they can handle Tyrone. Neither will yield a millimetre. So, in terms of the history they share and have made, I believe this game means as much as an All-Ireland final.”

Murray romps past Kyrgios

Elsewhere Andy Murray romped into the Wimbledon quarter-finals after dismantling Nick Kyrgios in straight sets on Centre Court. Murray took a competitive first set 7-5 before the 21-year-old Australian completely unravelled and the next two were a formality, the Scot taking them 6-1, 6-4.

Murray remains on course for a final showdown against the great Roger Federer after he beat America’s Steve Johnson in straight sets, while Serena Williams was also in devastating form as she saw off Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-0.

Tour de France

Meanwhile Mark Cavendish’s fine start to the Tour de France continued yesterday as he picked up a second stage win, while Ireland’s Dan Martin remains in 10th position overall.

What to watch out for:

Football

Champions Dundalk take on Longford while St Pat’s have the second leg of their Europa LEague qualifier against Luxembourg’s Jeunesse Esch.

Tennis

It’s women’s quarter-final day at Wimbledon (BBC2 12.30pm-9pm, BBC 1 1.45pm-6pm, Setanta, 11.30am-8pm)

Cycling

Stage four of the Tour de France (TG4 1.10pm-4.35pm, Eurosport 1 1.15pm-4.15pm, ITV4, 2pm-4.30pm)