Gaelic Games
Kilkenny’s senior hurlers head back to training this week in preparation for their league opener against Antrim over the new bank holiday weekend.
See also: A special night for Wexford ends in defeat for Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup round 3
Derek Lyng’s side missed out on a place in this year’s Walsh Cup final at the weekend, a game now serving as a double-header of sorts given Galway’s trip to Wexford in the opening round of the Allianz Hurling League in February.
With a number of players involved in Fitzgibbon Cup games tonight and tomorrow, Lyng suggests it’s a bit of a balancing act as he works on getting his league panel assembled.
Carlow senior football manager Niall Carew has named a 31-strong panel for this year’s Allianz National Football League campaign.
📢With the First Round of the Allianz National Football League V @wicklowgaa coming up on Saturday, @Carlow_GAA Bainisteóir, Niall Carew, has announced his Panel for the League.
— Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) January 24, 2023
đź‘ŤBest of luck to players and management for a successful 2023.
🇲🇱 #carlowrising 🇲🇱 @SETUCarlowGAA_ pic.twitter.com/cRXfSFRQaY
Netwatch Cullen Park will open its gates to neighbours Wicklow this Saturday evening with hopes high for a promotion push from the county’s footballers this season.
Darragh Foley will wear the captain’s armband again this year with Rathvilly’s Eric Molloy joining the league panel having featured for Carlow in the O’Byrne Cup.
The season ahead sees Niall Carew joined by selectors Victor Doyle and Simon Rea alongside coaches Ronan Joyce, Eamonn Callaghan and Robbie Molloy.
We’ll have live coverage of Carlow v Wicklow this Saturday evening from 7 with thanks to Dan Morrissey and Co.
Derry club Glen has lodged an objection to the outcome of Sunday’s All Ireland Club Football Final against Kilmacud Crokes.
Did Kilmacud Crokes have 16 players on the pitch for that final play? This image suggests so pic.twitter.com/dZvdSJmWGU
— OurGame.ie (@OurGameHQ) January 22, 2023
Crokes had 16 players on the pitch for the last play of the game, which they won by two points.
The matter will now go to the Central Competitions Control Committee of the GAA, who is set to meet this evening.
A replay is the most likely scenario.
Schools’ results and fixtures
SETU Carlow’s footballers were well beaten in Limerick in the third round of this year’s Sigerson Cup, the full-time score in that game UL 4-10, Carlow 1-04 with, UL’s Ciaran Downes kicking 2-1 last evening.
While there was better fortune in the Purcell Cup, as the camogie team recorded a 2-09 to 9-point victory over trinity college.
There’s a big day in store today for St. Mary’s Carlow CBS.
They head for the Netwatch Training Centre in Fenagh later to take on FCJ Bunclody of Wexford to decide the South Leinster senior football B title. Throw-in is set for 1.30 pm.
There’s also a big game in John Locke Park in Callan this afternoon as Coláiste Abhainn Ri (the new name for St. Brigid’s amalgamation with CBS Callan) host Our Lady’s Terenure in the quarter-finals of this year’s All-Ireland senior C camogie championship. Throw-in for that one is at 2pm.
Soccer
Newcastle took a big step towards reaching the Carabao Cup final last night. They beat Southampton 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final at St Mary’s.
HUGE moment! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/G426s13uMy
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 25, 2023
Joelinton scored the winner in the second half. The return leg is at St James’ Park next week.
Tonight, attention turns to The City Ground as Nottingham Forest host Manchester United in the first leg of their semi-final. Kick off is at 8pm. Casemiro is back from suspension for United.
TENNIS
Poland’s Magda Linette will meet Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Australian Open.
Linette, the world number 45, was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over Karolina Pliskova.
Fifth seed Sabalenka defeated Donna Vekic, also in straight sets.
In the first of the men’s quarter-finals this morning, Tommy Paul leads Ben Shelton by 2 sets to 1 in the all-American tie.
Later this morning, nine-time champion and hot favourite Novak Djokovic faces Andrey Rublev (pr: Andray).
RACING
There’s a seven-race card at Fairyhouse today where the first goes to post just after 10-to-1.