Golf: The Open
All eyes were on Irish amateur, and joint leader, Paul Dunne heading into the final round of yesterday's Open championship but it simply wasn't to be for the Greystones man - as American Zach Johnson fended off his compatriot Jordan Spieth to win the 144th Open title.
Spieth was in search of a third straight major, but finished agonisingly one shot off the play-off, where Johnson’s birdie-birdie-bogey-par was enough to edge him past Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman.
“They’re champions. They’re not going to back down,” said Johnson of the fierce contest that manifested itself through the final day’s play. “I feel like God gave me the ability to play a game. I try to take it very seriously. I realise it’s just a game. I’m just a guy from Iowa that has been blessed with a talent, and this game provides great opportunity.”
For Dunne a final day round of 78 was a harsh ending to an incredible week, where he'd won over the respect of the professionals.
“I was nervous, yeah, but nothing anything different to the last three days. But the last three days I just kind of got off to a steady start and settled into the round. I had a couple of shots (in the final round) that I hadn’t seen in any practice or any range sessions I’ve had, it kind of just rattled me a little bit. I didn’t really know where they came from,” he admitted.
GAA: Championship
Jim McGuinness is talking about Donegal in his Irish Times column this morning, he says his native county have changed their tactics slightly from his time in charge but Monaghan had them sussed in Sunday's Ulster final;
“During my time with Donegal, our game plan was predicated on overwhelming teams with defensive intensity. This year, it is not about pushing out and asking questions. They are inviting teams into their web, turning them over and striking at speed, exploiting the space and looking to hit Patrick inside with direct ball.”
Meanwhile Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan has confirmed that team mate Davey Byrne is back in training after the broken nose, and other facial injuries sustained in an off the ball incident during a behind close doors challenge game against Armagh earlier this month. Brogan is echoing his manager's 'there's nothing to see here, move along now' approach, saying it was all a bit blown out of proportion.
Rugby: World Cup
Former All Black and Munster player Doug Howlett believes that head coach Joe Schmidt will be central to Ireland's World Cup plans later this summer. He says the team will need to be mentally strong, dealing with the growing expectation and pressure;
“The Six Nations this year, I think we all saw it. There was an expectation and Ireland managed to follow through.
“However, it’s not easy leading from the front. The All Blacks have proven that and it is a skill . . . it is one that I hope Ireland is developing as we speak.”
Meanwhile in racing Tony Martin could again threaten Dermot Weld's reign as 'King of Ballybrit' at next week's €1.8 million Galway festival and the Co Meath trainer appears to have the richest National Hunt race ever run in Ireland firmly in his sights.
The Martin-trained Thomas Edison famously landed a gamble under Tony McCoy in last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle and the JP McManus-owned star is set to try and become just the second horse to win the festival highlight back-to-back.
What to watch out for:
The Open is over, it’s a rest day for the Tour de France, very quiet by all accounts in the world of sport today - but - with the Premier League less than three weeks away there’s a feast of pre-season soccer matches.
Pick of the bunch being these two; Raheem Sterling will make his first appearance as a Manchester City player against Roma at 11am, before Bayern Munich take on Inter Milan.
Sky Sports 1 from 10.45am
Phil Taylor kicked off his quest for a 16th World Matchplay darts title last night, the action continues from Blackpool tonight.
Sky Sports 1, 7pm-11.30pm
