Written By Unknown on Selasa, 31 Maret 2015 | 23.06
Updated: Tuesday, 31 Mar 2015 17:01 | Comments
The Atlanta Falcons have been punished for pumping in fake crowd noise
The Atlanta Falcons have been docked one of their 2016 draft picks for piping fake crowd noise into the Georgia Dome.
The NFL found the franchise director of event marketing, Roddy White, responsible for the breach of league rules and also fined the team $350,000.
Their president Rich McKay was also punished, with a three-month ban from team activities. McKay was ruled to be unaware of the breach but was punished as "the senior club executive overseeing game operations", according to a statement from the NFL.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced the team will not appeal against the decision.
Blank said in a statement: "What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business. Any time there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly."
The broadcasting of fake crowd noise can give teams a competitive advantage in games, with a louder atmosphere making it difficult for visiting teams to communicate their snap count.
Atlanta will still hold eight picks in this year's draft, which takes place from 30 April.
Joe Kernan paid tribute to the way Donegal evolved en route to winning the All-Ireland in 2012
Amid much discussion on the current state of Gaelic football, new International Rules manager Joe Kernan believes that if teams "keep their shape" they can still manage to outwit the blanket defence.
Kernan's comments came at his unveiling as Ireland boss for the two-year period, beginning with the match against Australia at Croke Park next November.
Following last weekend's dour clash between Dublin and Derry, Joe Brolly told RTÉ Sport last night that the game is now "muck" to watch.
While accepting that "football is going through a funny period", the former All-Ireland winning manager was less pessimistic.
"The one thing that is lacking in the game at the moment is that teams lose their shape," he said
"If you lose your shape you have nowhere to get the ball to your half-forward line or full-forward line.
"You don't need 15 men behind the ball - just keep two in the full-forward line; two in the half-back line. If you move the ball, long or fast, you still have somewhere to aim at when you break out of defence."
The Armagh native went on reference Donegal's Sam Maguire triumph in 2012 as the template to how a team can emerge from being ultra defensive to being more purposeful in their attacking intent.
"I think people need to look at what works for them and how they can improve it" - Joe Kernan
"When Donegal won the All-Ireland, they developed their game from the previous year when they lost to Dublin in the semi-final.
"In the final against Mayo they played a direct game early on, scored two goals and had the game won from some way out.
"When people start to work on something it takes a while to develop. It doesn't happen overnight. Last year, while Donegal were defensive against Dublin (All-Ireland semi-final), they kicked a big score."
Kernan also hit out at those who are constantly criticising the game.
"Some commentators will be negative all the time and if we listen to them we're as well to shut the gates at every ground in the country," he opined.
"There is no need to do that. We're not at that stage yet.
"The people who play the game well will keep playing it well and the others, I hope, will follow.
"I don't have concerns about the game, but I think people need to look at what works for them and how they can improve it."
St Patrick's Athletic were in Champions League qualifying last year
SSE Airtricity League sides competing in Europe are set for a greater financial reward after a new prize money agreement was announced by the European Clubs Association and UEFA today.
Clubs have agreed to distribute revenue from the Champions League and Europa League more evenly from next season.
The Europa League prize money will increase by 65%.
The announcement comes amid concerns that the gulf between Europe's richest clubs and the rest is widening, with the result that both domestic leagues and the Champions League itself are becoming increasingly repetitive and predictable.
St Patrick's Athletic secured €375,000 in prize money following last year's Champions League campaign which ended against Legia Warsaw. The current champions, Dundalk, will now secure a minimum of €550,000.
The participants in qualifying rounds of the Europa League received a minimum of €120,000 last year. Dundalk, Derry City and Sligo Rovers banked €250,000 after progressing to the second round of the qualifying.
Entrants this year will receive a minimum of €200,000 and €410,000 if they reach the second round. Competing in third round would yield a total of €630,000.
"ECA and UEFA have together developed a revolutionary distribution mechanism for the Champions League and Europa League, aimed at sharing the competitions' revenue growth more evenly among European clubs," ECA and UEFA said in a joint statement.
"A record funding pot of €2.24 billion (per season) will be divided with a new focus on solidarity," they added following an ECA meeting in Stockholm.
"A greater proportion of funds than ever before will go to UEFA Europa League participants, to participants in the qualifying rounds and to clubs in medium/smaller championships.
"The concept means more funding for all, because the new percentage-based system ensures that every stakeholder will benefit proportionally from the competitions' continued growth."
Dundalk are set to represent the Republic of Ireland in the 2015/2016 Champions League qualifying rounds.
Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers will enter Europa League qualifying. UCD could also feature through the fair play entry.
Dublin and Derry served up an awful helping of Gaelic football at Croke Park
Standing Rules Committee chairman Jarlath Burns has called for cool heads as the debate on the state of Gaelic football gathers momentum following Dublin and Derry's awful encounter at Croke Park on Saturday.
The Allianz League game recorded just five points in a dour first half as Derry defended in numbers, restricting Dublin to long-range efforts, which mostly failed to hit their target.
And Burns, who is one of the people assigned to attempt to improve the game as a spectacle, was at the game on Saturday night and was similarly disillusioned, resorting to Twitter where he declared that he was seeing "the death of Gaelic football".
The former Armagh midfielder has sympathy for the managers and was quick to absolve the Derry manager Brian McIver, knowing that he is judged more on results than performances.
"You don't condemn Brian McIver at all," Burns told RTÉ Sport.
"Managers are there to win games. He's looking at his team and he realises the next match that he is going to have is the seventh of June in the Championship at home to Down.
"His team is slightly demoralised and he didn't want to go to Croke Park and get another hammering like they did last year.
"But it's not up to the managers, it's up to ourselves and it's up to the Association to try to protect the skills of the game and the integrity of the game and that's what our Standing Committee on playing Rules is going to be doing.
"We know we have a fairly complex job ahead of us if we are going to change this trend that exists in Gaelic Games at the moment.
"I would just ask for cool heads on this from people. I feel that two years ago we had a chance to move away from this when Dublin won a fantastic All-Ireland playing expansive, free-flowing football.
"But then Donegal brought [defensive football] to a new level last year when they beat Dublin in the semi-final using those tactics.
"We all know what the problem is but trying to solve it is going to be a very difficult task without making radical changes, and nobody wants to do that."
Burns admits that it was a big statement to say that it was the death of Gaelic football.
He said: "I felt very strongly about it. Believe it or not, I got up on Saturday morning and watched it again just to see if I had been in a bad mood, as I had just come back from Armagh and I had seen a very dull game there as well.
"I counted hand passes and I looked at the game and replayed it. One of the things that we have to try to preserve is the skills of Gaelic football, a high catch, a brilliant score, a block. People are saying we are trying to get rid of the art of defending but we're not."
Kevin O'Brien joins his older brother Niall at the English club for this summer's T20 event
Ireland all-rounder Kevin O'Brien has signed a short-term deal to play for English county side Leicestershire.
The big-hitting batsman will join brother Niall at the midlands club in May until 26 June for this year's NatWest T20 Blast competition.
O'Brien carries an impressive strike rate of 132.35 in the 111 Twenty20 games that he has played, while his bowling has also been economical for that form of the game at only 7.5 runs per over.
The 31-year-old has represented Ireland at three World Cups and maintains the tournament record of the fasted century, scored in the historic victory over England in Bangalore at the 2011 event.
Leicestershire chief executive Wasim Khan said: "It is great to have Kevin as part of our NatWest T20 Blast team in 2015. Kevin adds further international experience to a line-up that includes his brother Niall, Grant Elliott, Mark Cosgrove, Clint McKay and Rob Taylor, and we look forward to seeing him in action at Grace Road."
His brother Niall tweeted: "Welcome to the Foxes bud."
Desert Queen will run in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse
Harry Fry is set to be double-handed in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse this weekend after confirming both Bitofapuzzle and Desert Queen for the Easter Sunday Grade One.
Bitofapuzzle ran a tremendous race in defeat when a close third in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while Desert Queen is set for a significant step up in class following impressive displays at Sandown and Fontwell.
A strong British contingent also includes the Alan King-trained The Pirate's Queen and Peter Bowen's Rons Dream.
Fry said: "Bitofapuzzle has come out of Cheltenham very well and she seems to be in good order. She was only beaten a head and a neck at Cheltenham and the plan is to run at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
"It will be a competitive race and she'll take her chance, as will Desert Queen who has looked impressive winning her two novice hurdles very easily.
"This will represent a big step up in class for her, but there isn't another Grade One mares' novice hurdle between now and the end of the season, so she'll run as well.
"Noel Fehily will ride Bitofapuzzle while I'd say Nick Scholfield will ride Desert Queen."
Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals with Annie Power and Adrianna Des Mottes and this year's five-strong team is headed by the unbeaten Morning Run and impressive Sandown scorer Uranna.
Carrigmoorna Rock has struck at Listed and Grade Three level this season for Robert Tyner, but was pulled up in a race won by Morning Run at the track in January.
"She goes for the big novice on Sunday and she seems to be in good form again," said Tyner.
"This race has been the plan for her for a while and hopefully she'll run a big race."
Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Maret 2015 | 23.06
Updated: Monday, 30 Mar 2015 16:05 | Comments
Shay Given was back playing a competitive clash for Ireland for the first time since EURO 2012
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given admitted that he was delighted to be back playing in a competitive fixture and believes that there is a healthy competition for places in the current squad.
Given made his first competitive start since losing to Italy at Euro 2012 as Ireland fought back to draw 1-1 with Poland at the Aviva Stadium, and the Aston Villa stopper feels that there is a healthy battle for places in the current team with two or three players vying for each position.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the match, Given said: "I was delighted to play. It's been a while since I played a competitive game, but I was delighted the gaffer gave me the nod ahead of the game.
"I didn't have much to do during the game, to be honest, but it's great to come out in front of the crowd here in Dublin and with a great atmosphere as well. I enjoyed every minute of it.
"We need that competitive edge and we need everyone to be fighting for their position and we are doing that. We have a very good squad of players and there were some players who didn't even tog out tonight and didn't even make it on to the subs bench.
"There are two or three players who can play in every position and everyone is fighting for the jersey. And that adds to the competition, as you don't want to disappoint because you want to play in the next game. So it's nice to have those numbers."
And the former Manchester City man was very impressed with the side's second-half performance and believes that the point earned may be a very valuable one in the race to qualify for next year's championships.
"We need that competitive edge and we need everyone to be fighting for their position"
"It's a big point," said Given. "And because the goal was so late for ourselves, you have to take it as a positive. The second-half performance was much better than the first half, we were disappointing in the first half, and I think we put that right in the second half.
"We could have won the game. In the second half, we hit the post a couple of times and (Lukasz) Fabianski made a couple of good saves as well so if any team were going to win, it was us.
"I think we definitely deserved a goal. It's important to show our character, we never gave up. We kept fighting for every ball and kept fighting for that crucial goal.
"It's just a shame that Shane didn't score that bit earlier as we might have had a grand finish and got a second one. But come the end of the qualifying campaign it might be a huge point."
And 38-year-old Given, who was picked in place of regular keeper David Forde, also admitted that it was a poor goal to give away and that there was little he could do about the Slawomir Peszko strike, which handed Poland a first-half lead.
"It was a poor goal to give away. As a unit, we should have cleared the ball and the guy has nipped in and, to be fair, he has hit it pretty well. He probably couldn't have connected with it any better as it sort of went past me in a blur. But it's something that could have been avoided so we have to cut out these mistakes, of course."
And so on to Scotland in June, in what now is a must-win encounter for Martin O'Neill's side in the race for qualification. The Donegal man believes that it is a game Ireland can win, provided they take the positives from the Poland encounter.
"It's a huge game but hopefully we can take this second-half performance in to the Scottish game. It won't be easy but there'll be a huge atmosphere and we have got to try to win that game."
Tiger Woods hasn't played since the Farmers Insurance Open seven weeks ago
Tiger Woods has dropped out of the world's top 100 golfers for the first time since 1996.
The 39-year-old has struggled to return to the form which saw him spend a record 683 weeks as world number one and is now ranked 104 in the official rankings.
The 14-time major winner carded an 82 at the Phoenix Open in January, a round which he described as his worst as a professional.
Woods has not played since he withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open on February 6 saying he will not return until he can "compete at the highest level".
Woods has said he is "hopeful" of a return at the Masters which starts on April 9, but if he does forgo the tournament it will be the second successive occasion he has done so.
Woods was last outside the top 100 in September 1996 when he was ranked 225.
The then 20-year-old won the Las Vegas Invitational, the first of his 79 PGA Tour victories.
Woods lost his number one ranking to Adam Scott in May last year after a 2014 which saw him suffer poor form and injuries.
The American picked up an elbow injury at the Players Championship before he finished 13 over par at the US Open and only returned from the injury for The Open.
Woods was in contention all week at Muirfield and finished five shots behind winner Phil Mickelson.
Victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational two weeks later looked like it could be the catalyst to kick-start Woods' winning habit.
However, Woods sustained a back injury during the 2014 Honda Classic and subsequently missed the Masters for the first time since 1994.
His up and down form continued as a brilliant first round of 69 at the Open was followed up by a 77 and a finish of 69th.
His struggles with form and fitness have continued since and his college friend and confident Notah Begay feels Woods is at best 50-50 to accept the invitation to compete at Augusta.
Kerr felt that Jon Walters was the right option for Martin O'NeillShane Long and team-mates celebrate the late leveller
Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr believes seven points from the remaining matches against Scotland, Germany and Poland will be required for automatic qualification from EURO 2016 Group D.
Shane Long's injury-time goal rescued a point for Ireland against the Poles last night, keeping hopes alive that a top-two finish is possible.
Kerr told RTÉ Sport: "It leaves us in an okay position. What has actually happened now is Gibraltar and Georgia are not taking points off the top four. We're involved in a mini league with Poland, Germany and Scotland to try to get two automatic places and a play-off. It's about the results of the matches with those teams.
"I don't see Georgia and Gibraltar taking a point against any of the top four. We need to pull out a big result as Poland have done already in beating Germany and Scotland have in beating us. We need to pull out one of those big results to get us back into the thing.
"We are definitely still in the hunt [for automatic qualification]. Poland have an edge at the moment. In that mini-league they have won one game and drawn two. They haven't lost any yet.
"Germany will come back into it. Those three critical games with Scotland, Germany and Poland are still to come and if we can get seven points, I think that will get us in as an automatic one."
"I thought the second half last night was the best we have played in any of the games so far"
While Kerr hailed Ireland's second-half display, he expressed concern on the showing in the opening 45 minutes and how the home side utilised set-pieces.
He highlighted the late selection of the team as a possible reason for such incoherent delivery from dead balls.
"There are plenty of concerns," said Kerr, who was in charge of Ireland from 2003 to 2005.
"We haven't really put in a smooth 90-minute performance so far except Gibraltar and I would dismiss that. I thought the second half last night was the best we have played in any of the games so far. The big deal is can we reproduce that in a consistent basis across 90 minutes against Scotland to get us three points.
"We will need to win that match as things are going. Otherwise we will end up playing at home to Germany on 8 October needing a win and going to Poland on 11 October needing a win.
"It is going to be very tough indeed. But there was lots of good thing about the second half and I think the manager got the balance right between the big man up front in [Jon] Walters, giving Robbie Keane someone to play off and the skill and passion around the middle of the field and intensity in the second half.
"Wes Hoolahan had a much bigger influence, as did James McCarthy, and we got the full-backs forward.
"There are other areas, like the set-pieces, where the delivery was poor, and there seemed to be a lot of it off the cuff, which was worrying.
"There was a full week of training and when we got set-piece situations, Robbie Brady was picked and [it was] one of the reasons he was selected to start and there seemed to be no great understanding or anything clever off them. It was as if Robbie Brady and the rest of the team were not in tune.
"He put balls too far ahead of players, over the bar. Then the last one we ended up getting a goal from the corner but it was hardly in the plan that Wes Hoolahan, our smallest player, to head it back to Shane Long to score.
"I think the lateness of the selection of the team is not helping in the set-piece issue as much as anything else."
Robbie Keane struggled to make an impact in his 139th appearance for the national side but has lauded the attitude shown by his team-mates
Robbie Keane has warned the Republic of Ireland's Group D rivals that they will fight until the last second of the campaign to secure a place at the Euro 2016 finals.
Substitute Shane Long's stoppage-time strike at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday denied leaders Poland victory and secured a 1-1 draw and a potentially precious point.
It was the third time in five games to date in the qualifying programme that Martin O'Neill's men had struck a blow in the dying embers, with John O'Shea snatching a draw in Germany in October last year with a 94th-minute effort after Aiden McGeady's last-minute winner in Georgia a month earlier.
Asked if a draw with the Poles in Dublin represented two points dropped, captain Keane said: "No. When you go a goal behind and you score in the last few minutes of the game, it's certainly a point gained.
"If we'd have scored earlier, maybe so, if we'd continue to play the way we did in the second half. But when you score a goal in the last few minutes, it's certainly a point gained.
"It will give us confidence as well going into the next game, knowing that we can keep going and fighting until the very end and get something out of the game."
Ireland's hopes of qualification looked to be hanging by a thread as the game entered its final throes with the visitors clinging on the the 26th-minute lead Slawomir Peszko had given them, even if goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had been grateful for the assistance of the woodwork on two occasions.
But, in the first of five minutes of stoppage time, Wes Hoolahan rose to head Robbie Brady's corner back across goal, and Long was in the right place at the right time to beat the keeper with his deflected strike.
Keane said: "Of course, it certainly gives us confidence. You look at the effort from the players fitness-wise, everyone closing down the defenders and closing down the midfielders and how hard we made it in the second half for Poland.
"We have to give ourselves a lot of credit. When you go a goal behind against anybody, it's always difficult, and when you are chasing the game and chasing the game, you feel like it's not going to come.
"To get that goal at the end was certainly a relief because it was certainly well deserved. It would have been a travesty if we didn't get something out of the game."
Ireland were less than impressive before the break, and it was not until Hoolahan was moved from his number 10 role to the left flank, in the process freeing up Jon Walters to join Keane in attack, that the tide changed.
"It would have been a travesty if we didn't get something out of the game" - Robbie Keane
Keane said: "We maybe showed them a little bit too much respect. We dropped off a little bit too much. But then you see the difference in the second half. Full credit to the players - we showed a lot of character, a lot of heart.
"You saw the desperation for us to get back into that game and, thankfully, we did. We were unlucky a couple of times just before that. If we'd have got the early goal, I think we would have put a lot of pressure on them and I think we probably would have gone on and nicked it."
The draw leaves Ireland still three points adrift of Poland and two behind both Germany and Scotland, with the Scots next up for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in June.
Keeper Shay Given, who was recalled to the starting line-up in place of David Forde to win in 128th cap, is predicting a tight finish to the pool.
He said: "It will probably come down to the wire. It will probably come down to the last couple of games.
"Had we lost, it would have been a big blow to us, of course, but we have still got a lot of games to go, and who knows what that point is going to do at the end of the campaign? It was a massive point, I think.
"It was such a late goal, you probably take it as a point gained. We'll have belief as well going to Poland, especially from the second-half performance.
"They are a good team, but you can get at them. If we can play on the front foot out in Poland as well, then we can cause them some problems. The second-half performance was pretty pleasing and, if we could take that into the Scotland game as well, then I think it will be a big point."
Tipperary's Kieran Bergin will miss the remainder of the Allianz Hurling League after it was confirmed he suffered ankle ligament damage in his county's semi-final win over Offaly on Sunday.
The Killenaule man, who started at midfield, was forced off early into the second half and has now been ruled out for four to six weeks.
Tipperary will face Waterford at Nowlan Park as part of a semi-final double-header with Dublin v Cork on Sunday 19 April after the neutral venue was confirmed today.
The league final will be on 3 May, which would rule Bergin out if Tipp reach it, but the Premier County are not in championship action until 21 June when they face Clare or Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
Meanwhile, a CT scan on Tipperary footballer Colin O'Riordan has shown no damage to the spine despite the serious-looking neck injury which caused him to be stretchered off against Sligo on Sunday.
The 19-year-old is still thought to be doubtful for the county's Under-21 Munster championship final against Cork on Thursday 9 April, however.
Connacht have announced contract extensions for forwards Andrew Browne and Jason Harris-Wright.
Galway-born Browne and Harris-Wright from Wicklow have both signed new deals for next season, bringing to 18 the total number of players who have recently committed their futures to the province.
Next season will be Browne's 10th with his native province. The Galway man made his senior debut against Cardiff in April 2007, the same year he represented Ireland Under-20's during their Six Nations Grand Slam success.
The flanker/second row, who came through the Connacht Academy system, celebrated his 100th cap in January 2014 when he started against Leinster at the Sportsground.
The 28-year-old has racked up 91 league and 29 European games in his professional career with Connacht.
Harris-Wright first joined Connacht in 2013 and over the last three seasons has established himself as a key component in the front row.
The 26-year-old hooker has been unlucky with injuries and has remained sidelined since last November when he ruptured an ACL in his knee.
The former Ireland Under-20s RWC winner, who has made 47 appearances for Connacht, has seen significant progress in his rehab and will be looking forward to re-joining full training in the coming weeks.
Connacht head Coach Pat Lam said: "From a rugby perspective, these contract extensions are a great boost to our squad. Jason is a key member of our leadership group and contributes a lot off the field to our environment.
"He has been faced with two long-term injuries over the past two years but he is the type of person who will come through it stronger. We're looking forward to welcoming him back to training.
"Andrew epitomises our vision of Grassroots to Green shirts. He is a Galway man who played all his rugby in the area - club, school and province.
"He has a lot of experience as someone who can play in the second or back row, and I'm excited as I believe his best is still to come."
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 Maret 2015 | 23.06
Updated: Sunday, 29 Mar 2015 16:53 | Comments
Donegal's Eamonn Doherty is blocked by Tyrone's Conor Clarke
Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 0-06
Donegal coasted to an emphatic 1-13 to 0-06 victory which pushed rivals Tyrone closer to relegation from Division One of the Allianz Football League.
Skipper Michael Murphy kicked six points in Ballybofey, but was black-carded in the 59th minute, his third dismissal of this league campaign, which means he will be suspended for next Sunday's final league game against Mayo.
Ryan McHugh scored the only goal of the game in the 31st minute with Donegal taking advantage of a strong wind to lead by 1-09 to 0-03 at half-time.
Tyrone only managed two points from play in the entire game in a very disappointing display by Mickey Harte's side.
An injury-time time winner from Cillian Buckley ensured defending champions Kilkenny edged a compelling relegation play-off to consolidate their Division 1A status in Nowlan Park.
Extra-time appeared on the cards as plucky visitors Clare, led superbly by twin threats Shane O'Donnell and Tony Kelly, kept asking questions of Kilkenny's defence, with the sides level on ten occasions before that late winner.
The result now means that Davy Fitzgerald's side will return to Division 1B after only three seasons at the top flight, albeit this was easily their best performance of the year.
Leinster have confirmed that Rhys Ruddock will miss next Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath at Aviva Stadium.
Ruddock suffered a broken arm against Harlequins last December, but made a return to action in the Pro12 clashes with Ospreys in February and Scarlets in early March.
However, Leinster revealed today that his arm requires surgery and that the back row and will be missing for the forseeable future.
Second row Kane Douglas is also a doubt for Saturday's clash with Bath. Douglas missed last Friday's draw with Glasgow with a hamstring injury and will be monitored during the week.
Eoin Reddan took a bang to the head in the same tie and will follow the return to play protocol.
By Stephen Walsh at Páirc Uí Rinn | Updated: Sunday, 29 Mar 2015 16:50 | Comments
Cork's Brian Hurley scores a late goal to win the game
Cork 2-07 Mayo 0-12
A last-gasp goal from Brian Hurley gave Cork a 2-07 to 0-12 Allianz Football League Division 1A win over Mayo at Páirc Ui Rinn in a game in which the Rebels were far from their best.
Cork got off to the brighter start through a Mark Collins goal and a brace of points from Colm O'Neil.
However, Mayo took control of the game, and Tom Parsons and Jason Doherty helped the visitors to a 0-07 to 1-03 half-time lead.
Mayo started the second half better through an Aidan O'Shea point, while Parsons scored another.
But Cork kept plugging away and levelled matters on 49 minutes through a long-range Conor Dorman point.
Mayo had Michael Conroy black carded for foul play in the second half, but that didn't seem to affect them as they led going into stoppage time until Dorman ran into the Mayo square and passed the ball to Hurley who punched into the net to break Mayo hearts.
Cork claimed the opening scores of the game and found themselves 1-02 to 0-00 up with less than 10 minutes on the clock, courtesy of two Colm O'Neill points and a goal from Mark Collins.
The goal came about in the sixth minute after Keith Higgins was dispossessed by Brian Hurley who ran down the end line before passing it across to Collins and he powered the ball into the net.
Mayo struck back in the ninth minutes through a long-range point from Tom Parsons and they hauled themselves back into the game, monopolising the scores as Cork were guilty of some poor shooting.
Mayo's increased physicality in the middle third meant they were winning more possession and they took the lead in the 27th minute when Mark Ronaldson scored a superb point to put them 0-06 to 1-02 ahead.
This was followed up with a Donal Vaughan point that gave the Mayo team a two-point lead at 0-07 to 1-02.
The Rebels were firing blanks in front of goal until Tomás Clancy scored their first point from play in the first half stoppage time by punching the ball over the bar to give Mayo the lead going into the break at 0-07 to 1-03.
Mayo started the second half in fine fettle with Aidan O'Shea showing great leadership in the forward line and scoring a fine point after getting away from Cork's defenders.
He kept the Cork defence occupied as Parsons scored another point from midfield.
Mayo substitute Michael Conroy was then shown a black card by referee Eddie Kinsella before Dorman scored a long-range point to put the Rebels level with Mayo.
The next ten minutes would the referee dish out a number of yellow cards as the physicality was upped considerably.
However, Cork continued to be their own worst enemies and wasted several scoring opportunities with Daniel Goulding and O'Neill missing frees.
Mayo again took the initiative and went two points in front through Coen and Doherty, but Dorman embarked on a late run and found Hurley who found the net from close range.
Cork: K O'Halloran; N Galvin, M Shields, J Loughrey, B O'Driscoll, C Dorman (0-01), T Clancy (0-0)1; F Gould (0-02), J O'Sullivan; K O'Driscoll, P Kerrigan, C O'Driscoll, C O'Neill (0-02, 0-02f), M Collins (1-00, B Hurley (1-00).
Subs: E Cadogan for O'Sullivan (21), P Kelly for C O'Driscoll (43), D O'Connor (0-01, 0-01f) for Paul Kerrigan, J O'Rourke for Mark Collins (53), Daniel Goulding for C O'Neill (57), J Hayes for KO'Driscoll (64).
Mayo: D Clarke; G Cafferkey, K Keane, K Higgins, L Keegan, C Boyle, D Vaughan (0-01); B Moran, T Parsons (0-03); K McLoughlin (0-02, 0-01f), A O'Shea (0-01), J Doherty (0-02, 0-01,45), M Ronaldson(0-01), D Kirby (0-01), A Dillon.
Subs: A Dillon for Michael Conroy (46),C O'Shea for M Conroy (47, bc), M Sweeney for M Ronaldson (54), S Coen (0-01) for K Keane (56, inj), A Freeman for B Moran (64), A Moran for D Kirby (69).
Joseph O'Brien will return to the Flat at Dundalk on Wednesday
Joseph O'Brien plans to continue riding under both codes after finishing down the field on his first ride over jumps at Limerick.
The 21-year-old has twice been crowned champion jockey on the level, but it emerged on Friday that he would miss the opening day of the Flat season at the Curragh and instead head south to ride over hurdles.
O'Brien, said by his father Aidan to be a "little heavy" for Flat duties, partnered the JP McManus-owned Egyptian Warrior in the Family Fun Day Rated Novice Hurdle and the 8-1 shot jumped fluently and travelled powerfully for a long way.
However, he had no more to give from the home turn and passed the post a well-beaten fifth as Rogue Trader (5-1) and Velocity Boy (7-1) crossed the line as one in a thrilling dead-heat finish.
O'Brien, speaking before dashing to the Curragh to partner some of the illustrious Ballydoyle string in now-traditional post-race gallops, revealed he enjoyed the experience, but has no intention of giving up the Flat game just yet.
He said: "It (riding over jumps) is different but I enjoyed it. He popped away although the ground was a bit slow for him.
"I'll be in Dundalk again on Wednesday and after that I might ride over jumps whenever we have a few runners.
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Maret 2015 | 23.06
Updated: Saturday, 28 Mar 2015 14:10 | Comments
David McMillan has scored four goals in five games
David McMillan's fourth goal of the season helped maintain Dundalk's immaculate start but the striker was keen to deflect praise on to the Lilywhite defence, who have yet to concede in five games.
The champions beat Sligo Rovers 3-0 at Oriel Park last night with McMillan opening the scoring before two Richie Towell goals sealed the three points.
Of the back five, man-of-the-match McMillan told RTÉ Sport: "That's something we have to build on, the lads at the back have been absolutely tremendous.
"It's great to get this award but they've kept five clean sheets. That sets the base for us and we can then go and score goals. It's working well."
McMillan's early-season form has meant that the loss of Patrick Hoban, who scored 20 goals as Dundalk won the league last year, to Oxford United, has not been keenly felt.
"Pat's a fantastic player, he did really well last season," said the former Sligo and UCD player.
"My chances were limited and I'm delighted Stephen [Kenny] has kept faith with me. Hopefully, I can keep scoring goals and prove him right.
"We have a young squad here. I think everybody's hungry to try and win the league again. It's been a perfect start for us but there's a long way to go and there's a lot of top teams that are going to be challenging.
"We've just got to keep working hard and hopefully things will keep going well."
By Ed Leahy | Updated: Saturday, 28 Mar 2015 15:12 | Comments
Martin O'Neill: 'This is a big, big match, especially after losing against Scotland'
Martin O'Neill admits that the onus is on Ireland to perform at the Aviva Stadium in Sunday's EURO 2016 qualifier (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2), and that defeat to Poland would put a serious dent in the team's chances of automatic qualification.
And the Ireland manager believes that the key to victory over the group leaders is making sure that the players are motivated, know their job, and more importantly, do the job that has been asked of them.
"This is a big, big match, especially after losing against Scotland," said O'Neill. "We need to win the ball, use it properly and try to create something during the course of the game.
"The onus is on us, as the home side, to do that and I'm hoping the rest will follow."
Ireland are currently fourth in Group D, three points behind Sunday's opponents and a defeat to Poland would cast Ireland adrift in the race for automatic qualification with Germany and Scotland both likely to win on Sunday evening.
"I've said all along that these home games we shape our destiny," said O'Neill. "This is the first one of a group of games, nevertheless a very important one against a team that have started off brilliantly. It might not decide everything but it is very, very important.
"If we were beaten, I think that would put a big dent in proceeding," admitted O'Neill. "So we have to try to win the game."
And while O'Neill emphasised the importance of players knowing the job they have been asked to do in order to take the three points, carrying out those instructions is what will define the tough task against the high-flying Polish side.
"I've said all along that these home games we shape our destiny"
And the Ireland boss will draw on the experience he had as a player, playing under one of the great motivators, former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough.
"I think motivation is very important," said O'Neill. "I was lucky to be involved with some great motivators. But in terms of motivation, one thing that great motivators used to say to us was 'know your job' and 'do your job'. Know it and do it – two different things.
"I think we all thought as players that we knew what our jobs were, but doing it was the defining element of it all.
"The minute we lose possession of the ball we try to get it back as quickly as possible.
"They (Poland) possess really good players so when we don't have the ball we have to close down pretty quickly and prevent the real quality players getting on top of us, which wouldn't be much different to what you would be expected to do in a normal important game."
The Ireland boss has had over four months to prepare for this game and has also enjoyed a full week with the players in the build-up to tomorrow's clash.
And while O'Neill hinted at the frustration of getting judged on only playing ten games throughout the two-year qualification period, compared to a club manager, he also admitted that the extra time can help with team selection and tactics as things materialise once he starts working with the players.
The ex-Celtic manager said: "I think there are one or two things that you think, 'I should have thought about that a bit more carefully', or some player who I might not have considered starting might do something in training and have a very, very good week. And you do have to take those things into consideration.
"I think I have a fair idea about what the team will be, but when I say there is competition for places, I think that is always the case."
Euro 2016 Qualifiers
When asked about a change to the system and the possibility of playing a 3-5-2 formation, the Ireland manager remained vague, but was keen to point out that players are much more adaptable these days, citing the Hull City contingent, who are used to playing in several systems under manager Steve Bruce.
"Some players here play that system (3-5-2) at club level so it is something that they are used to, other players just take a bit more adapting, but overall I think they are pretty comfortable anyway, regardless of what system we do play."
And what about the keeper? Will regular number one David Forde start in between the sticks or is the manager tempted to bring former stopper Shay Given back into the fold?
The manager was asked whether club form would be a defining factor when choosing who to hand the number one jersey to.
"You make a valid point," O'Neill replied. "But I'm going to refrain from answering."
Four of the club All-Ireland winning Ballyhale Shamrocks players come straight into the Kilkenny team for Sunday's Division 1A relegation play-off with Clare.
Joey Holden, Michael Fennelly, TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly are among seven changes to the side that beat the Bannermen in last week's final round of regular games.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; S Prendergast, P Murphy, J Holden; L Ryan, K Joyce, C Buckley; J Lyng, M Fennelly; W Walsh, TJ Reid, M Ruth; J Farrell, C Fennelly, R Hogan.
Colm Callanan, John Hanbury, Iarlaith Tannian, James Regan and Jason Flynn return for Galway ahead of Sunday's Division 1 quarter-final against Waterford.
Aidan Ryan, Fergal Moore, Aidan Harte, Brian Molloy and Niall Burke make way from the side that lost to Dublin.
Galway: C Callanan; J Coen, P Killeen, J Hanbury; D Collins, G Lally, G McInerney; A Smith, I Tannian; J Cooney, J Canning, J Glynn; J Regan, C Mannion, J Flynn.
Waterford have also named their team for the last-eight clash.
Waterford: I O'Regan; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T de Búrca, A Gleeson, P Mahony; J Barron, T Devine; K Moran, P Mahony, J Dillon; B O'Halloran, M Walsh, C Dunford.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin makes one change for his side's Allianz Football League clash with Derry on Saturday. John Small replaces Cian O'Sullivan at centre-back.
Dublin: S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O'Carroll, E Culligan; J Cooper, J Small, J McCaffrey; D Bastick, T Brady; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Kilkenny; K McManamon, D Rock, B Brogan.
Odhran Mac Niallais and Frank Glynn replace Mark McHugh and Martin McElhinney for Donegal's derby clash with Tyrone on Sunday.
Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; F McGlynn, K Lacey, E Doherty; N Gallagher, C Toye; M Reilly, O MacNiallais, R McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, H McFadden.
Paul Kingston earns his first start for Laois footballers against Kildare on Saturday evening, and will play alongside brother Donie in the full-forward line.
Laois: G Brody; P Begley, M Timmons, D O'Connor; D Strong, R Kehoe, C Begley; B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; N Donoher, C Boyle, E O'Carroll; R Munnelly, D Kingston, P Kingston.
Kildare boss Jason Ryan makes four changes, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Tommy Moolick, Padraig Fogarty and Alan Smith coming in for Padraig O'Neill, Tomas O'Connor and suspended duo Eoin Doyle and Eamonn Callaghan.
Kildare: M Donnellan; C Fitzpatrick, M O'Grady, O Lyons; K Cribbin, F Conway, E Bolton; G White, T Moolick; D Flynn, E O'Flaherty, P Cribbin; F Dowling, P Fogarty, A Smith.
Damien O'Reilly, Martin Dunne and Brendan Fitzpatrick all come into the Cavan side from that which started last time out in Galway for their game against Westmeath.
Cavan:C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, R Flanagan; J McEnroe, F Flanagan, D O'Reilly; T Corr, G McKiernan; D McVeety, N McDermott; M Reilly, C Mackey, M Dunne, B Fitzpatrick.
Cathal Barrett, Michael Breen and James Woodlock all come into the Tipperary side for their Allianz Hurling League quarter-final against Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday.
Tipperary: D Egan; P Stapleton, C O'Mahony, C Barrett; K Bergin, P Maher, R Maher; J Woodlock, M Breen; J O'Dwyer, B Maher (Capt), J Forde; N McGrath, S Callanan, N O'Meara.
The Offaly hurling and football teams for their respective league ties against Tipperary and Longford have been named.
Offaly (h): J Dempsey; N Wynne, D Short, D King; C Parlon, C Egan, E Murphy; S Ryan, P Camon; B Carroll, J Bergin, E Nolan; S Quirke, D Currams (Capt), S Dooley.
Offaly (f): A Mulhall (Capt); B Darby, E Rigney, J O'Connor; D Hogan, J Moloney, N Darby; G Guilfoyle, N Smith; E Carroll, N McNamee, K Mullally; B Allen, N Dunne, W Mulhall.
Wexford have also announced their starting 15s for games against Cork in hurling and Fermanagh in football.
Wexford (h): M Fanning; L Ryan, M O'Hanlon (Capt), E Conroy; D Redmond, L Chin, E Moore; A Shore, G Sinnott; J Guiney, D Waters, I Byrne, D O'Keeffe, C McDonald, L McGovern.
Wexford (f): S Roche; S Donohoe, J Breen, M Furlong; B Malone, K Butler, A Flynn; J Carty, C Kehoe; T Rossiter, M O'Regan, N Hughes; B Brosnan, C Lyng (Capt), E Nolan.
Mayo's management team have made no less than six changes to the starting line-up for their Allianz Football League Division 1 clash with Cork.
David Clarke returns between the posts instead of Robbie Hennelly while Ger Cafferkey replaces the injured Tom Cunniffe.
Donal Vaughan reverts back to his more familiar role at half-back and Barry Moran and Tom Parsons come into the team in midfield for Patrick Durcan and Seamus O'Shea.
Up front Danny Kirby, after impressing off the bench last time out, comes in for Diarmuid O'Connor, while Alan Dillon, making his first competitive start of the year, comes in for Alan Freeman in the full-forward line.
Mayo: D Clarke; G Cafferkey, K Keane, K Higgins; L Keegan, C Boyle, D Vaughan; B Moran, T Parsons; K McLoughlin, A O'Shea, J Doherty; M Ronaldson, D Kirby, A Dillon
The Kerry team to play Monaghan in Austin Stack Park on Sunday shows three changes in personnel from the side that started against Donegal last time out.
Brian Kelly returns from injury between the posts for his first game since the All Ireland final, Shane Enright comes in for Paul Murphy, who has a back strain, and Alan Fitzgerald comes in for his full League debut at centre forward for Bryan Sheehan who is out with a rib injury.
Kerry: B Kelly, P Kilkenny, M Griffin, S Enright, J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young, A Maher, D Moran, S O'Brien, A Fitzgerald, J Buckley, P Geaney, K Donaghy, BJ Keane.
Cork manager Brian Cuthbert has made four changes to his side to face Mayo at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday.
Brian O'Driscoll, Noel Galvin, Ken O'Halloran and Paul Kerrigan all come into the starting line-up with Michael Martin, Stephen O'Donoghue, John O'Rourke and the injured Eoin Cadogan making way.
Cork: K O'Halloran; N Galvin, M Shields, J Loughrey; B O'Driscoll, C Dorman, T Clancy; F Goold, J O'Sullivan; K O'Driscoll, P Kerrigan, C O'Driscoll; C O'Neill, M Collins, B Hurley.
Tyrone will welcome back Cathal McCarron for their crucial Allianz Football League Division One relegation showdown with Donegal on Sunday.
The Dromore men slots in at the back-line, replacing Dwayne Quinn in the Red Hands' only change from the side that lost to Cork by a single point two weeks ago.
Tyrone: N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee, C McCarron; R McNabb, J McMahon, P Harte; C Cavanagh, P McNulty; T McCann, M Donnelly, R McKenna; D McCurry, S Cavanagh, C McAliskey.
The Tipperary team to play Sligo in their NFL Division 3 clash at Semple Stadium shows two changes to the starting 15 which defeated Louth in the last round.
In come Jason Lonergan and Ger Mulhaire at top of the right and left respectfully in place of the injured pair, Barry Grogan and Brian Fox while Conor Sweeny moves to full forward, as Peter Creedon's side endeavour to keep the pressure on the top two in the division.
Tipperary: E Comerford, A Campbell, P Codd, R Kiely, S Kennedy, P Acheson, C O'Riordan, G Hannigan, S O'Brien, L Casey, P Austin, I Fahey, J Lonergan, C Sweeney, G Mulhaire
Clare hurler Brendan Bugler has had his appeal against the red card he sustained against Dublin earlier this month dismissed by the GAA's Central Appeals Committee.
The Whitegate half-back was dismissed for an attempted kick in the win over the Dubs and incurred a two-game suspension as it was his second red card in a year.
The CAC have now upheld the decision of the Central Hearings Committee that the red card and suspension should stand.
Bugler missed Clare's league defeat to Kilkenny last Sunday and will now have to sit out the rematch of the same sides in the Division 1A relegation play-off at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Sligo's former All-Star defender Charlie Harrison will miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed he has suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
Brown Panther (4-1 favourite) outclassed his fellow stayers in the Dubai Gold Cup
Brown Panther hit the target for breeder and co-owner Michael Owen with a convincing victory in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.
Richard Kingscote always had the Tom Dascombe-trained seven-year-old in a prominent position as Mushreq made the running in the two-mile Group Two.
Knowing he was on a stout stayer, Kingscote set sail for home three furlongs out and quickly went several lengths clear.
Ahzeemah and Star Empire gave chase, but it was a lost cause as Brown Panther (4-1 favourite) galloped with authority all the way to the line.
Owen said: "He's been a superstar from day one and this man (Dascombe) has trained him to perfection.
"He always jumps really well out of the traps and he found himself right up there.
"The rest is history, as they say.
"He's a special horse. I'll probably never replace a horse like this.
"It's been an amazing story."
Kingscote, who has only just recovered from serious injuries, said: "The boss has been keen to get him relaxed and he's done well.
"I'm really pleased with him.
"He travelled great. He got me in a nice position and looked after me the whole way round.
"It means a lot to be here and it's the biggest win of my career."
Mubtaahij routs UAE Derby rivals
Mubtaahij turned the UAE Derby into a procession as he took the Group Two over nine and a half furlongs in impressive fashion.
Tap That set the pace until a furlong and a half out when Christophe Soumillon sent the Mike de Kock-trained colt to go and win his race.
Mubtaahij (9-4) soon put plenty of daylight between himself and his rivals to win easily.
Maftool stayed on to take second place.
De Kock said: "He's given us the chance to get to Kentucky for the Derby and that will be living the dream.
"Christophe had him in the most remarkable position throughout the race.
"There were four horses that were trying to kill themselves out in front and he was just sitting there having the run of the race.
"Turning in, I knew he'd win. He just had to get out. Once Christophe showed him daylight, he was off.
"We'll be off to Churchill."
Tamarkuz takes Godolphin Mile
Tamarkuz overcame a slow start to narrowly justify favouritism in the Godolphin Mile at Meydan.
Musabah Al Muhairi's five-year-old lost a couple of lengths coming out of the stalls but was steadily brought into the race by Paul Hanagan to land the Group Two spoils.
Frankyfourfingers made the running until he was collared in the closing stages as Tamarkuz (even-money favourite) got on top and held the late thrust of the Jeremy Noseda-trainded Sloane Avenue, ridden by Frankie Dettori, who almost defied his car park draw.
Hanagan said of Tamarkuz's tardy start: "It was a lot for him to take in.
"I think the whole occasion might have got to him, but he dug so deep for me.
"It was a really genuine performance.
"When you win four on the bounce in very good races you have to give him a lot of respect."
Noseda felt Sloane Avenue's outside draw in stall 15 cost him the short-head defeat.
He said: "I'm just gutted about the draw, to be honest.
"We nearly pulled off the miracle, but not quite.
"I'm a little bit sickened about the draw.
"I've no doubt he was the best horse in the race."
By Tadhg Peavoy | Updated: Saturday, 28 Mar 2015 14:55 | Comments
Connacht inflicted a 24-16 defeat on Munster in the Pro12 on New Year's Day
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, Saturday, 5.15pm
An absolute crunch tie for both teams at the sharp end of the season, and one that has the potential to serve up a classic.
Munster are in a five-way battle for the play-off positions and are in with a very good shot of a home semi-final. Should they win their final five games you would bank on them securing that - the hunt for a quintet of victories starts tonight.
Connacht come into this derby chasing a sixth-place finish, and with it, a spot in the Champions Cup next season. They have Scarlets breathing down their necks for that crucial spot and it will likely go down to the wire between the two sides.
With the back-stories revealed, the plot for this tale thickens. These south versus west battles have always had a little bit of needle and this one should be nothing short of that and then some.
Like Leinster, Munster can call upon a number of Ireland squad members to bolster their ranks: Felix Jones, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo, Ian Keatley and Tommy O'Donnell all come into the starting XV.
Connacht's star man Robbie Henshaw does not feature in the centre for them and Bundee Aki of course remains sidelined by injury. They can call upon Kieran Marmion at scrum-half and with him they have their tempo-setter in place.
When the sides met at the Sportsground earlier in the season it was the Westerners' pack that laid the foundation for victory with a dominant performance, but achieving the same feat in Limerick is a tall order at any time of year, at this critical juncture of the season even more so.
That said, on paper there appears little between the two packs. The front rows look finely balanced and the second row pairings both have plenty of experience.
However, in the back row you would think Munster have a little bit of an edge. Tommy O'Donnell was superb for Ireland against both Italy and England. If he can reproduce that form alongside the power and ball-carrying of SJ Stander then Connacht may struggle at the breakdown and in the loose space surrounding it.
Outside the packs, Marmion is sure to get Connacht moving well, and it is up to Duncan Williams to do likewise for the home team. At ten the battle between Ian Keatley and Jack Carty is an intriguing one. Keatley has his detractors, but has looked a very composed player this season and Carty will be tested by the Dubliner's nous.
In the 11-15 division Munster look very powerful. In addition to the returning Ireland players, Andrew Smith makes his comeback from injury at 13 and will carry a weight of responsibility as a target runner in offence.
Connacht could end up playing large sections of the game on the back foot and will likely need to play a counter-attacking style, feeding of Munster errors and hitting the home side with quick and effective moves, rather than going through multiple phases. Marmion will again be key here in hunting out those times to break forward and those times to use his outside men to carry out of the red zone.
How well he can manage to execute those snipes and counters will be crucial to the outcome.
However, with Munster hurting after their defeat to Ospreys earlier in March, and no European Cup rugby to look forward to in April, they will be massively up for this one. That hunger, combined with a more rapier backline,may prove the deciding factors.
Verdict: Munster to win by 12
Munster: F Jones; K Earls, A Smith, D Hurley (c), S Zebo; I Keatley, D Williams; J Ryan, E Guinazu, S Archer; D O'Callaghan, B Holland; D O'Callaghan, T O'Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: D Casey, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, P Butler, J O'Donoghue, N Cronin, JJ Hanrahan, R O'Mahony.
Connacht: T O'Halloran, D Leader, D Poolman, C Ronaldson, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion, D Buckley, T McCartney, R Ah You, M Kearney, A Muldowney, J Muldoon (c), E Masterson, G Naoupu.
Replacements: S Delahunt, R Loughney, F Bealham, Q Roux, E McKeon, J Cooney, S O'Leary, C Finn.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Maret 2015 | 23.06
By Joe Dooley | Updated: Friday, 27 Mar 2015 07:22 | Comments
Dublin and Limerick meet in Croke Park at 5pm
Looking forward to the weekend's hurling quarter-finals, there are four very good games in prospect in addition to two pressure relegation play-off games in Divisions 1A and 1B.
First up on Saturday evening Dublin host Limerick in Croke Park at 5pm, which forms part of a double header with their footballers playing Derry.
Ger Cunningham's charges have had a very satisfactory league overall defeating Tipperary, Kilkenny and Galway to finish third in the division and avoid the dreaded relegation play-off.
Their established players seem to have found a new lease of life and they looked very impressive last weekend against Galway in a must-win game for them.
Limerick's league performances have been disappointing overall for a team with its sights set on challenging strongly for big honours later in the summer.
The loss of key players like Kevin Downes, Shane Dowling and Seamus Hickey, in addition to their club-tied Kilmallock players, did not help TJ Ryan's cause.
This should be a very open and high-scoring game and I expect the Dubs to continue their good form and just about edge this one.
They also need to get back to winning ways in Croke Park.
Offaly host Tipperary in O'Connor Park on Sunday in the second quarter-final in what is likely to be a very tough assignment for the midlanders.
Eamon O'Shea's men came from 12 points down to beat Cork last weekend and it is victories like this that gives a team massive confidence.They now have huge competition for places in their panel and you get the feeling that they can sense a good year is there for them if they can drive on and make things happen.
Offaly have also had a reasonably good spring campaign, winning three games, but they did perform below-par against Wexford and Waterford. They are now in bonus territory, under no pressure and they can go out and have a real go at Tipp.
However, the game will be a huge step up in tempo for many of Brian Whelehan's players and an away victory is the most likely outcome here.
Waterford host Galway in Walsh Park in what should be a humdinger of a contest.
The Déise have had a very good league campaign, gaining promotion to the top flight with a good win over Wexford last weekend.
Derek McGrath's charges finished the league as joint top scorers with Tipperary and their defence has conceded less (77 points) than any other team in the league to date.
They have plenty of good young talent in their ranks and their future looks bright.
They remind me of Offaly in the early 90's when we had loads of good young players coming into the panel after winning colleges and minor All-Irelands. They were used to winning and had all the skills and confidence to go with it.
Galway have had a mixed campaign so far, with just two victories to their name.
I expect Anthony Cunningham has his sights set on winning a league title and they too have found a few new players who have performed well up to now. They are physically very strong and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the mobility of the Waterford team.
The bookies have installed the home side as favourites for this one, but with Joe Canning back in form and other key players returning from injury, I think the Tribesmen might just shade this one.
Cork and Wexford meet in Páirc Uí Rinn in what should also be a great game. The Rebels will be disappointed that they were reeled in by Tipp the last day.
They too will have their sights set on winning silverware on the May Bank Holiday and testing their player's mettle before the championship.
Wexford's loss to Waterford on their home patch will not have pleased Liam Dunne.
He will want a big reaction from his players on Leeside. The Yellowbellies' rate of improvement, particularly in the last year, will now need to see them putting pressure on the top teams on a consistent basis.
Cork, though, should still have enough to win this.
The pressure game of the day will undoubtedly be the Division 1A relegation play-off between Kilkenny and Clare. The Cats have home advantage and with the Ballyhale players available for selection and the return of Richie Hogan, Cillian Buckley and Padraig Walsh likely, they will take beating.
Clare have had a poor league campaign having only won one game in five and if relegated they cannot have any real complaints.
The defections from the panel and the loss of Brendan Bugler through suspension have not helped their cause. I still expect them to come to Nowlan Park all guns blazing and you would write them off at your peril.
A victory here would be a huge boost for Davy Fitzgerald and his team before the championship but it is unlikely to happen as the Cats are very difficult to beat at home when it matters.
The Division 1B relegation play-off between Laois and Antrim takes place on Saturday evening and will be a pressure game for both teams but you would expect home advantage to swing this one in Laois' favour.
The loser of this game will face the winners of the Division 2A final between Carlow and Kerry to decide who plays Division 2A hurling next year. Neither Laois or Antrim, as of now, would be over confident of winning that game.
William Porterfield has queried the level of inertia in international cricket
Ireland captain William Porterfield fears the International Cricket Council will be running a competition for 'members only' rather than a proper World Cup if it presses ahead with streamlining plans.
The ICC remains committed to reducing the number of teams competing in the next World Cup, in England in 2019, to 10 rather than the 14 who took part in the ongoing one in Australia and New Zealand.
Porterfield is tempted to ask himself "What's the point?" in continuing on that basis, as the world governing body is effectively "shutting doors in the face" of improving associate nations like Ireland.
Ireland have beaten Test-playing countries at each of the last three World Cups, including a famous run chase against England in 2011 and another against West Indies to begin their campaign this year.
But Porterfield worries Ireland, and others, will have minimal opportunity to qualify for the tournament next time - because they are granted so few fixtures against teams they need to beat.
"It's a decision that not only I but a lot of other people completely disagree with," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If you look at any other sport around the world, they're looking to expand and develop.
"The way the ICC are going... they don't seem to be doing that really."
Instead, after this week's remarks from ICC chief executive David Richardson, Porterfield senses financial considerations are over-riding any intention to make cricket a truly global sport.
"Cutting teams is not the way forward," he said.
"It's only full members, pretty much, they're giving the opportunities to - it may as well be a members' cup, as opposed to a World Cup."
Ireland reached the second stage of the 2007 World Cup, and narrowly missed out on a last-eight place in the current edition.
"That's what everyone wants to see," said Porterfield.
"Nobody wants to see the favourites just go out there and dominate a competition.
"I think how we've done, and what we've shown over the last few years, merits a place at the World Cup.
"But the ICC just seem to be shutting doors in your face really.
"The last four years between World Cups, we've played nine games against top-10 teams. Even if we'd won every single game we played, we still can't break in - so that's what we're up against."
Porterfield fears not just for Ireland's future, but that of many aspiring nations.
"It's almost getting to the stage of 'What's the point?' for a lot of the teams," he added.
"If you keep closing the door, they can't get on to the world stage.
"I'd like to know what his [Richardson's] vision for the game is.
"It's not just Ireland here - we're talking about a global game.
"This is the International Cricket Council. If his vision for the game is to shrink it and make as much money for the top few nations as possible, then come out and say that.
"It's frustrating when we keep doing everything that's asked of us by the ICC, and then they keep slapping you in the face with decisions like this."
By Ed Leahy | Updated: Friday, 27 Mar 2015 15:57 | Comments
Ireland and Poland drew 0-0 in Warsaw the last time the teams met in November 2013
The Republic of Ireland will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Scotland as they welcome Poland to the Aviva Stadium for Sunday's EURO 2016 qualifier, kick-off 7.45pm.
Manager Martin O'Neill has had a full week to work with the players, but more importantly, has had over four months to plan for this game since the last qualifier, that disappointing defeat in Glasgow.
Thankfully for the Ireland boss, that particular hangover was quickly quashed with a comprehensive victory over a decent USA team just days after the defeat to Gordon Strachan's side.
And that USA game showed all of the positives of the O'Neill regime and the possibilities of a team that can win, playing attractive football and scoring goals.
More importantly, the comprehensive, albeit friendly, victory backed up everything the manager has been saying about the importance of the home venue when attempting to qualify for next summer's championships.
The Ireland boss has been stressing the importance of home form in this group and only now, five games in, does he get a chance to put his theory to the test.
It all begins, in earnest, on Sunday; so now it is all down to the manager.
Preparations appear to have gone to plan and according to the players, the homework has been done with videos of the visitors consumed and digested. In comparison to other games, the squad is strong with limited injuries, while many of the players are enjoying good form at club level.
All that is left, at this stage, is the manager to show his hand and reveal the 11 men that will take to the pitch at 7.45pm on Sunday evening.
But will O'Neill live up to his side of the bargain and remain true to his word?
First things first; what about Wes?
O'Neill made a point of saying that Hoolahan might be better used in a home fixture so it remains to be seen whether the manager believes that the Norwich man is at the top of his game.
Hoolahan has certainly done enough in recent weeks to suggest that his confidence and fitness levels both meet that criteria as the Canaries have surged up the Championship table and are now in with a shout of automatic promotion – Hoolahan's form has been a significant contributor to that revival.
If Hoolahan is selected, what about Robbie Keane? Can the record goalscoring Ireland striker be selected in the same team as the Norwich man?
The short answer is no, as it would require Keane to lead the line on the last man as opposed to dropping into the space in front of the back four.
The Ireland boss is certainly not afraid to drop the talismanic striker as he showed in Glasgow when the LA Galaxy man was left on the bench.
O'Neill must still be wondering about that decision and he will always have that dilemma to dissect every time he leaves a man with such an eye for goal out of the starting XI. But perhaps the Ireland boss has effectively reduced Keane to an impact player and will only be used from the bench for the remainder of this campaign.
Two strikers who can lead the line and are equally capable of linking with Hoolahan's creativity are Shane Long and Jonathan Walters.
Yet both offer completely different options for the manager with Long's pace and energy used to pull defenders out of position and exploiting space behind, while Walters would bring the physical battle to the centre-halves in the role of a traditional target man.
Either player could be justified by the manager, however, looking at it from a Polish perspective, they would surely prefer if Walters was picked as the partnership of Kamil Glik and Lukasz Szukala are far more suited to a conventional striker than tracking the movement of Long.
In fact, the probable Poland team looks like it will be set up to deal with a traditional, physical Ireland side, as they are also likely to start with two defensive central midfielders for what they might see as matching the Irish in that department.
And from watching Ireland so far in this group, those tactics might make perfect sense, especially as Poland will be quite happy to leave Dublin with their unbeaten start in tact and another point on the board – a valuable away one at that.
But again, this is why all eyes are on the Ireland manager to deviate from the script and name a team with energy, excitement, ability and ambition.
With Seamus Coleman virtually guaranteed to start at right back, O'Neill could name another exciting equivalent on the left, should he pick Hull City's Robbie Brady at full-back.
Brady plays a wing-back role at his club, with the emphasis very much on attack and he showed the Ireland manager that he can fill the role with an outstanding performance against the USA, attacking down the flank at every opportunity.
And should the manager name both attacking full-backs, it will allow a more conservative approach to midfield, with, perhaps, Jon Walters helping out with the graft in the centre of the park, as well as attacking down the right and getting into the box as a goal-scoring threat.
Such selections would leave room for only one of either Aiden McGeady or James McClean and while both have had their own injury issues, it really is hard to imagine O'Neill leaving the Everton man out of the team. The Ireland boss sees McGeady as a man who can win you a game, as proved in the away match in Georgia.
And while the Ireland management team have been emphasising the fact that they need to worry more about their own performance than their opponents', O'Neill will have to make a big defensive decision in relation to Poland's one proven world class outfield player, Robert Lewandowski.
The Poland striker is capable of leading the line, while creating space, linking play and, of course, capitalising on any half-chance that comes his way.
On current club form, Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark would have to be considered for such a task, however, it is hard to see the manager straying from his probable preferred partnership of John O'Shea and Marc Wilson. And perhaps that is the right call for such a big game considering Clark, and Richard Keogh, remain relatively inexperienced at international level.
James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan are likely to make up the central midfield role in front of the back four and will be vital on Sunday as Poland's other danger-man, Arkadiusz Milik, will be roaming freely in this area and looking to feed off Lewandowski or either wide man.
Poland have a propensity of playing through the middle of the park, again highlighting the discipline and concentration levels needed in this area – another reason O'Neill will be looking to his more experienced players and those who have played together before.
That just leaves one last call from the boss and it is one that many feel O'Neill has been waiting to make since former number one, Shay Given, returned to the international set-up.
David Forde has been in possession of the gloves since the beginning of the O'Neill era and has yet to put a foot wrong in the green jersey but a fit-again Given is very hard to leave on the bench.
The goalkeeper decision is not one that is likely to prove the difference between winning and losing this all-important encounter but will still cause plenty of debate, especially if Given does return to competitive action for Ireland.
So what about that home advantage? Can it really prove the difference between the sides and spur Ireland on to a much-needed win on the road to France 2016?
Ireland fans have, in the past, turned away venues into home ones with huge travelling numbers, however, it is Poland who will be looking to do just that on Sunday as they will have a lot more tickets than their official allocation.
O'Neill is right when he says that Lansdowne Road form is crucial to qualification, and also correct when he comments that the Ireland fans can play their part in achieving that goal.
But the Ireland manager must also make the right team selection. If O'Neill gets that right, the rest should follow suit.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is facing another spell on the sidelines after England manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he had suffered a muscle tear in his hip.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is facing another spell on the sidelines after England manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he had suffered a muscle tear in his hip.
Sturridge, who has already missed five months of the season through injury, was sent home from international duty earlier this week ahead of Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Italy on Tuesday.
The striker, who suffered the injury in Liverpool's 2-1 Premier League defeat by Manchester United on Sunday, could now be out for around a month, according to British media reports.
With Liverpool having slipped five points behind fourth-place United in the battle for Champions League qualification, the injury will be a major headache for the Merseysiders heading into the season's climax.
"I'm disappointed for Daniel because he didn't really feel that it was any problem," Hodgson told reporters.
"When he did the scan he was devastated as he didn't want to leave. He has a slight tear and you can't play through that."
Should Sturridge be ruled out for four weeks, he would miss Liverpool's Premier League games against Arsenal and Newcastle United, their FA Cup quarter final replay against Blackburn Rovers and a potential semi-final against Aston Villa.
By Micil Glennon | Updated: Friday, 27 Mar 2015 16:03 | Comments
The 'Power' was impressed with RTÉ documentary on the Mullingar boxer
Sixteen-time champion of the world Phil Taylor has dedicated his Premier League Darts victory in Dublin to boxer John Joe Nevin.
The maestro saw off Belgian Kim Huybrechts, who was fighting for survival in the competition, 7-4 in front of over 9,000 fans in the 3Arena in Dublin on Thursday night.
Speaking to RTÉ after the game, the best player to ever stand at the oche lauded the Mullingar man after watching the RTÉ documentary Reality Bites, which told the story of the pugilist from Olympic silver-medal success to the professional scene, and included details of horrific injuries, two broken legs, suffered in an attack outside the ring.
"He inspired me a little bit, he did, brilliant" - Phil Taylor
After answering questions about his game, Taylor said: "Can I just say, I watched a documentary about John Joe Nevin last night – what a cracking lad!
"I hope he does well, give him my best if you get [talking] with him.
"He inspired me a little bit, he did, brilliant.
"I hope he does well, I'm going to meet him one day. Give him my best, tell him thank you.
"I enjoyed his documentary. He should have took his time a little bit, he rushed it a little bit, but he still won it," said the Stoke man of the super-featherweight's comeback.
Nevin, 25, in an online questions and answers thread, once cited 54-year-old The Power as the sportsperson he would be if he wasn't a boxer.
Wes Hoolahan, Stephen Ward - who has recovered from an ankle injury - and Harry Arter in training at Malahide today
Martin O'Neill has admitted there are still places up for grabs in his Republic of Ireland team for Sunday's Euro 2016 showdown with Poland.
The 63-year-old Ireland boss has spent the last week keeping his fingers crossed over a series of injury doubts, all the while considering options to plug potential gaps in his starting line-up.
Everton midfielder Darron Gibson, who would have been in contention for Sunday's qualifier at the Aviva Stadium, has already returned to his club after admitting defeat in his battle against a groin problem, although O'Neill received better news today when full-back Stephen Ward and winger James McClean were both able to train in Malahide.
However, the team will not be named until the day of the game, and that means there is still time for men to force their way into his plans.
O'Neill said: "I think there are positions up for grabs, like there have always been since I have come here, and I think any international manager would probably tell you exactly the same.
"He's got an idea that he can formulate a couple of weeks beforehand, but the first time that you really consider it is when you have players at your disposal for the week of the game.
"Of course, we have had one or two players who for one reason or another, generally through injury, haven't really been available for the start of the week, so then you have to formulate different ideas, different plans for the players that you think might participate in the game.
"But overall, there have always been positions up for grabs here."
Ward and McClean have both been struggling with ankle problems and while the Wigan winger has been a regular member of the starting XI under O'Neill, it is perhaps the absence of Burnley left-back Ward which would cause him the greater consternation.
Marc Wilson can and has played at full-back, although has more recently been employed as a central defender by his country, while Ciaran Clark is also left-sided and could play in both positions.
However, there is a school of thought which suggests that any vacancy on the left side of the back four could be filled by Hull winger Robbie Brady, who has operated there in the past for both club and country.
Indeed, he scored twice from that position in November's 4-1 friendly victory over the United States in Dublin, and that has not been lost on his manager.
O'Neill said: "He did very well, really well, scored two goals and from that position on the field, was really excellent."
Ward's fitness - he has suffered some irritation from screws used to repair his fractured ankle - and readiness to play will be fully assessed before a final decision is taken.
"Fitness is very, very important, but sometimes players can get through on adrenaline" - Martin O'Neill
O'Neill said: "I'll have a word with him now and see how he feels. This was the first bit of work that he's done, but we'll see.
"Fitness is very, very important, but sometimes players can get through on adrenaline. You wouldn't want to be going in with four or five players not having done that much, but Stephen knows himself now. If he thinks he can make it, well that's good news for us."
Poland currently lead Group D by three points from Germany, Scotland and Ireland, and while O'Neill does not necessarily view Sunday's encounter as a must-win affair, he knows the impetus a victory would give his side.
He said: "Naturally, we are at home and the onus is on us to try to get forward and try to win the game, and that's what we are going to try to do.
"But there are a number of games left in the competition. You mentioned the top two places [qualify] automatically - it's a tough old group we are in, but we are going for it."
Celebrations of Ireland's RBS Six Nations Championship victory last weekend are still very much ongoing, and O'Neill is hoping to take a little of that into the game.
He said: "The Irish rugby team has done fantastically well and maybe we could take something from that. They have given us a lead, let's go and try to continue that."
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Maret 2015 | 23.06
Updated: Thursday, 26 Mar 2015 13:02 | Comments
Stephen Quinn: 'Sometimes you can lose the run of yourself and concentrate on the opposition too much'
Stephen Quinn says Ireland must concentrate on their own game and not get caught out by obsessing with opponents Poland.
Ireland host Group D table toppers Poland on Sunday (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2) looking to draw level on points, which only a win would guarantee.
Hull midfielder Quinn, 28, knows that the visitors present a huge threat but reckons that Martin O'Neill's men should look inwards first and foremost.
"We have to concentrate on ourselves," said Quinn.
"Sometimes you can lose the run of yourself and concentrate on the opposition too much. We've got to look at all our pros as well and work on that and hopefully we can do the job on Sunday.
"We have to [capitalise on possession]. When we get the ball we have to keep it, maybe counter-attack if they give the ball away."
And one of those that Quinn feels can pose a threat to the Poles is his club team-mate Robbie Brady, who has recovered from injury and may earn a start at full-back on Sunday.
Brady, who originally emerged as a winger, scored twice, including a free-kick, in Ireland's last outing, a 4-1 win over the USA in November.
Quinn said: "He's going to be a top-class player, he showed that against USA, and I think the manager will be happy to have him back.
"Yeah, [the free-kick] was a beauty, I've seen that over the last three years. He's a free-kick specialist, set-pieces, it's great to have him, he's looking good [at training].
"When we got promoted from the Championship he played most of his games there. He was a real threat, and this season, he has started to do it again [from] left wing-back.
"I think it suits him coming on to the play. Him and Seamus Coleman are big threats from wing-back."
"We've got to look at all our pros as well and work on that"
Former Sheffield United player Quinn, who hopes to win his 13th cap on Sunday, added that they have done their homework on Adam Nawalka's side.
"Poland are a strong side, they've got some really talented players who ply their trade throughout the European leagues.
"We've watched a lot of videos on them throughout the week already and the manager doesn't want to leave any stone unturned going into it, for set-pieces etc.
"We know how strong they are and we've done our homework so hopefully we can deal with that on Sunday"
