Olympics

Kicking off with the action from Rio and yesterday was a mixed day for Ireland. Team captain and great medal hope Paddy Barnes was knocked out in the opening round of his 49kg boxing encounter in one of the shocks of the Games so far.

However there was success in the water as women’s sculls partners Sinead Jennings and Claire Lambe booked their semi-finals place Gary and Paul O’Donavan did the same in the male race. Meanwhile, Annalise Murphy sits in the bronze medal position after two races of the laser radial sailing.

The ideal conditions suited Murphy as she won the opening race before consolidating a top three finish in the second race.

There are plenty of Irish in action today with the three day eventing team looking at a possible medal in the final showjumping section. Sanita Puspure goes in her rowing quarter-final, the men’s hockey team take on Germany, Shane Ryan and Nicolas Quinn take to the swimming pool while David Oliver Joyce fights Albert Selimov in his last 16 clash. You can follow all of the action from midday on our liveblog at www.irishtimes.com/sport

Soccer

Meanwhile, in soccer Paul Pogba officially became the most expensive player in history as his move to Manchester United was confirmed late last night for the fee of €105 million. The French midfielder has signed a five year contract at the 20 times champions of England.

GAA

Onto GAA and in his column today Jim McGuinness looks at how a tactically astute Dublin still hold all of the aces when it comes to the pursuit of the All-Ireland SFC Championship title.