The middle of the week is upon us so let’s take a look at some of the stories making headlines on KCLR for your Wednesday morning.
Beginning with Gaelic Games and it’s turning out to be a busy bank holiday weekend for live sport. Tickets are on sale now for Kilkenny’s Electric Ireland Leinster minor hurling championship semi-final against Wexford. That game will go ahead at 2pm on bank holiday Monday and will be live on KCLR with thanks to Gerry Comerford Drilling Ltd.
Looking ahead to the game, manager Niall Bergin has been telling Martin Quilty that there are improvements being made with every game. The winners on Monday can look forward to a Leinster final against either Galway or Dublin.
Carlow’s minor footballers continue their Leinster championship campaign this evening with the visit of Wicklow to Netwatch Cullen Park. Last night saw Dublin take on Kildare there to close out the Leinster Under 20 football championship Kildare running out 0-16 to 0-13 winners after extra time to retain their Under 20 title.
Carlow’s minor ladies are on the road to Darver this evening to take on Louth in their Leinster minor championship. Throw-in is at 7.30pm. There’s also a string of games in Division 5 of the Carlow football leagues while it’s schools games to the fore in Kilkenny with 22 Cumann na mBunscoil fixtures underway from 3.30pm.
Hewick Out
We’re on to day 2 of the Punchestown festival with another busy card of jump racing on the way later. Shark Hanlon’s stable star Hewick was among the six entries declared for today’s Gold Cup race but as of 10am, Hewick is out.
It goes off at 5.55pm, ground was still soft as of yesterday which likely means Hewick will run in Sandown instead at the weekend. Willie Mullins’ Gallopin des Champs goes off as a very heavy favourite with Paul Townend on board while Rachel Blackmore saddles Envoi Allen for Henry De Bromhead at 11/1.
Leinster latest
Having just about recovered from the Provincial Towns Cup final in Athy at the weekend, we’re heading for the Aviva Stadium this weekend with thanks to Naas Oil as Leinster look to book a place in this year’s Heineken Champions Cup final. Toulouse are in the way, it won’t be easy, but we’ll be there for full commentary and analysis from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
The latest from the Leinster camp is that Carlow’s Ed Byrne won’t feature due to a tricep injury picked up against Vodacom Bulls at the weekend with Rhys Ruddock also missing out. We should know more later on the availability of Josh van der Flier and Ryan Baird who are recovering from an ankle and shoulder injury respectively.
Leicester rescue draw
There were three games in the Premier League last night which saw Wolves beat Crystal Palace 2-0, Aston Villa move up to 5th in the table with a 1-0 win over Fulham while Leeds and Leicester played out a 1-1 draw. We’ve also got four more games tonight and a potential title decider in the mix. While I’ll be watching Liverpool away to West Ham with some nerves after their demolition of Bournemouth at the weekend, Forest will hope they can get something out of the Brighton game with Chelsea hosting Brentford.
The potential decider is Arsenal’s trip to Man City, that game kicking off at eight. A win for City puts them two points behind Arsenal still with two games in hand. A win for Arsenal and they’ll go eight clear, giving them some safety with City’s game advantage.
The Carlow & District League is wrapping up some business this week with the Nationalist Premier Division coming to an end later with three games to see out the season. New Oak Boys have already been crowned champions for successive campaigns and will see out the league away to Vale Wanderers while Kilree Celtic play Killeshin. In the Tully’s Travel Division 1, Crettyard United B take on Dolmen Celtic. A win for either side would nudge them up the standings for their final game of the league.
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