The All-Ireland SHC semi-finals loom large, and on Sunday Cork face Limerick in what promises to be a rip-roaring encounter in a packed Croke Park. The Rebels head into the clash as slight favourites, and one man who will be key in helping them progress to a first All-Ireland final since 2013 will be Séamus Harnedy. Indeed, in today's GAA statistics column Eamon Donoghue has reflected on what has been a fine campaign for the 28-year-old - who has already captained the side to the Munster title. He writes: "Harnedy has scored 3-14 in Cork's five championship matches, all from play, he's by five points the Munster champions' top scorer (aside from placed balls) with a scoring average of 0-5 per match." And in a fixture which promises to be a shootout, Harnedy's prowess in front of goal could prove the difference: "This year his two biggest contributions to a team in form, have been in his ball winning under Anthony Nash's long puck-outs, and his goalscoring. In this summer's championship he's already scored three goals in five matches, half of the tally he's amassed in all of his 26 Championship appearances."
"And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. . ." Yesterday saw former Republic of Ireland international-turned RTÉ sport stalwart Eamon Dunphy announce he is to leave his role with the broadcaster, in order to focus on his podcast 'The Stand.' And today Mary Hanigan has paid tribute to the outgoing 72-year-old, who departs after 40 years on the small screen. She writes: "Now we're faced with a potentially grim future where knowledgeable analysts will just, well, analyse football games. We could, potentially, die of boredom. Eamon was, well, showbiz, baby. He regularly took the piss, he was considerably more about entertainment than information, but is that so bad?"
Katie Taylor returns to the ring on Saturday night, as she takes on the USA's Kimberly Connor on the undercard of the heavyweight clash between Dillian Whyte and Joshua Parker at London's 02 Arena. Taylor's progression through the professional ranks has thus far been seamless, and this weekend she defends her WBA and IBF lightweight titles in just her 10th pro bout. However, as Dave Hannigan writes in today's America at Large column, Taylor is operating in the very top bracket of women's boxing - with many of her competitors professional only in name. Indeed, Hannigan writes that Connor is also a "licensed estate agent, co-owner of Scalded Dog Trucking and somebody known to climb roofs for the family's construction company." And he asks: "Can a sport be deemed truly professional if most of those participating cannot earn a living wage from it? More pertinent yet, how fair is it that an elite cadre of women at the very top can devote themselves full-time to working at their craft while so many of those trying to defeat them in the ring cannot?"
Ireland could progress to the quarter-finals of the women's hockey World Cup today, when they take on India in London (2.0pm, BT Sport 1). A victory would see Graham Shaw's side make it into the knockouts, after the USA held hosts England yesterday.
Dan Martin enjoyed another fine day in the Tour de France yesterday, as he finished a narrow second to Nairo Quintana in the 17th stage. Martin now sits in ninth place overall, with eighth place Romain Bardet firmly in his sights. Sky's Geraint Thomas finished third in yesterday's stage, tightening his grip on the yellow jersey.
Odsonne Edouard spared Celtic's blushes last night as they came from 1-0 down to beat Norwegian side Rosenborg 3-1 at Parkhead in the first leg of the second round of Champions League qualification. Tonight Dundalk face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca at Oriel Park in the Europa League qualifiers.
