Horse Racing
Jockey Paul Townend has an enviable book of rides at this year’s Cheltenham Festival which gets underway in just under two weeks’ time.
The champion jockey says it is a fantastic feeling to ride a winner at the Cheltenham festival and he is fortunate to be riding for local trainer Willie Mullins, who has so many fancied runners at this year’s festival.
GAA
Three second-half goals saw SETU Carlow freshers beat Queens University Belfast to qualify for the Division 2 All-Ireland hurling final.
It finished 3-15 to 2-11. They will now play TUS Midlands on tomorrow on home soil at 7 p.m.
Three second half goals see @SETUCarlowGAA_ freshers beat @QueensGAA to qualify for Div 2 all Ireland hurling final
— Kieran Murphy (@kieranchas) February 28, 2023
SETU Carlow 3-15 Queens 2-11 ft @Natsport @Carlow_GAA
There’s one game tonight in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons senior football league in Kilkenny as Tullogher Rosbercon head to last year’s beaten championship finalists Thomastown. Throw-in is at eight o’clock.
There are two big games for Carlow schools today.
Up first it’s Presentation College Carlow as they take on Gaelcholáiste na Mara in Tinahealy at 11 am to decide the South Leinster senior football D1 final.
Then at 1pm it’s on to the South Leinster senior football A league final as St. Mary’s Knockbeg College takes on Patrician Secondary School Newbridge. That one takes place at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Soccer
A fifth goal of the season for Republic of Ireland teenage striker Evan Ferguson fired Brighton into the FA Cup sixth round last night.
His first-half tap-in saw Roberto de Zerbi’s side win 1-nil away to Stoke City. De Zerbi is impressed by Ferguson and says he has room to grow.
Mitoma 🤝 Ferguson@OfficialBHAFC continued their fine form in the #EmiratesFACup as Kaoru Mitoma set up Evan Ferguson for the only goal of the game! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/JQ29GlIpJN
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2023
Leicester City were subject to the only shock of the night, going down 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers. Phil Foden found the net twice as Manchester City won 3-nil away to Championship side Bristol City. And Manor Solomon’s fourth goal in as many games helped Fulham to a 2-nil victory at home to Leeds United.
The quarter final draw will be made tonight, but there are still four more ties to be played.
Kilkenny’s own Gavan Holohan should be lining out for Grimsby Town who are the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, and hasn’t reached the last eight since 1939 – they are away to Southampton. Manchester United welcomes West Ham to Old Trafford for a 7.45 kick-off. Championship leaders Burnley entertain Fleetwood Town. And Tottenham Hotspur go to Sheffield United.
Arsenal has the chance to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League this evening. They face struggling Everton at the Emirates Stadium from a quarter to eight. Liverpool are looking to breathe new life into their top-4 ambitions. Jurgen Klopp could welcome back Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konaté for Wolves’ visit to Anfield. There’s an 8 pm start there.
Boxing
Katie Taylor’s promoters Matchroom remain hopeful the undisputed lightweight world champion will fight in Dublin for the first time as a professional on the 20th of May.
The rematch against Amanda Serrano scheduled for the 3 Arena in May is off due to an injury to Serrano.
Rugby
Ian Foster will not continue as head coach of New Zealand after this year’s World Cup.
Scott Robertson and former Irish coach Joe Schmidt may now be in the mix to succeed Foster, with an appointment expected within six weeks.