Golf: Farmers Open
Shane Lowry completed his opening tournament of 2015 with an impressive closing 68 at Torrey Pines yesterday to earn his first top-ten finish in the US.
In his first event in 10 weeks he finished in a tie for seventh, just two outside a four-man playoff between eventual victor Jason Day, JB Holmes, Harris English and Scott Stallings for the 2015 Farmers Open.
Rugby: Reaction post-Italy
“You can never forget a weekend in Rome, but you can certainly forget Irish wins there.” Gerry Thornley nicely summed up Ireland’s 26-3 opening round Six Nations victory over Italy on Saturday, and he caught up with head coach Joe Schmidt post-match.
The Kiwi says he's pleased with the performance and result considering the team's preparations were constantly disrupted pre-match, he's also happy with Ian Keatley's contribution. His focus now though has turned to looking at the "way the French defend."
Sean O'Brien's injury misfortune ahead of that game was Munster flanker Tommy O'Donnell's opportunity. In truth though it's the second time he's been given an opening at this level and he admits himself that he let the first one slip by. According to Paul O'Connell his Munster team mate has a rare mix of power and athleticism.
Racing: The real McCoy
Tony McCoy delivered the perfect punchline with victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup yesterday, less than 24 hours after he announced his end-of-season retirement. He powered the 4/1 Carlingford Lough home by three parts of a length from Foxrock, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winner Lord Windermere in third.
Brian O'Connor spoke to Gold-Cup-and-Champion-Hurdle-winning jockey Conor O'Dwyer who himself stretched his riding career to 42 before retiring in 2008. He doesn't see any of the normal ominous warning-signs that McCoy's legendary drive might be waning.
GAA: Allianz league
Cork followed up on their Allianz League round one win against Dublin by defeating Monaghan yesterday, manager Brian Cuthbert says that the key for his team is to play the ball quickly into their forward line before the opposition bodies filter back. In other words get the ball to Colm O'Neill before he is entirely surrounded - he scored 2-6 yesterday.
Tyrone kick-started their 2015 with a league win over Mayo, manager Mickey Harte reminded reporters post-match that the team "who won things in '03 and '05 and '08 didn't start out as winners. You have to become winners and other people have to be given the chance to do that."
Malachy Clerkin has nicely wrapped up the weekend's action where the other Division One game saw Kerry go to Derry and "at least get value out of the 900km round-trip with a 1-17 to 0-13 victory" in which Paul Geaney scored 1-5 from play. In Division Two, Galway defeated Westmeath, Armagh continued winning ways in Division Three and Offaly edged Waterford in the big Division Four game.
Soccer: African Nations’ Cup
In a pulsating climax to a relatively subdued encounter Ivory Coast yesterday sealed the African Nations' Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Ghana.
In the Premier League thanks once more to the qualities of goalkeeper David De Gea and an injury time equaliser by Daley Blind, Manchester United earned a draw against West Ham which keeps them in fourth place - a point ahead of Tottenham.
The big news last night in the Premier League though was the initial Sky Sports' report of Leicester City sacking manager Nigel Pearson, before the club later distanced themselves from any such claim and insisted that the manager remains at his post.
What to watch out for:
The Irish rugby team are back in Carton House today ahead of the weekend's clash with France - we'll have the latest injury updates on Sean O'Brien and Rory Best as well as Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy.
Also tune in tonight to Against the Head on RTE where they'll be looking ahead to the second round of Six Nations' fixtures.
RTE 2 from 11pm
While TG4 have an hours' worth of National football league highlights - hopefully there'll be a good mix from the four divisions.
TG4 from 8.30pm.
