Arsenal reclaimed fourth spot in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Watford last night, the goal coming via Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Watford captain Troy Deeney was later shown a red card in a rare away win for the London club who are now ahead of Chelsea on goal difference with a game in hand, and two points above Manchester United with five matches remaining. Tonight, United take on Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Camp Nou in Catalonia - and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has called on his strikers to step up as they need at least one goal to overcome a 1-0 home defeat. Also last night, former FAI chief executive John Delaney voluntarily stepped aside from his role as the organisation's executive vice-president.
In his column this morning, Gerry Thornley explains how Israel Folau left Rugby Australia with very little option but to terminate his contract after his homophobic social media posts: "sure, he's entitled to his beliefs and his opinions, but rugby is also entitled not to have any truck with them." Ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final against Munster this weekend, Saracens' Irish head coach Mark McCall has confirmed Billy Vunipola will be available for selection, despite furore over his own social media remarks.
Reporting from Augusta, where Tiger Woods completed his astonishing comeback to win the US Masters on Sunday, Philip Reid writes that "the electricity which hung in the air at Augusta National had nothing to do the forecast thunderstorms but all to do with Woods. That energy is set to fuel the remainder of the golfing season."
Meanwhile, the chief executive of Dundalk has insisted there are no welfare concerns about the beleaguered track and stoutly defended Ireland's sole all-weather racecourse against recent criticism. Some trainers and jockeys have warned the track is riding too fast with horses returning stiff and sore after races.
