After another busy weekend of sporting matters locally, let’s take a look at some of the headlines doing the rounds for KCLR and Scoreline.ie on this fresh Monday morning.
Beginning with Gaelic games and Kilkenny saw off Tipperary 4-20 to 0-25 in FBD Semple Stadium yesterday. The challenge game, all in aid of the Dillion Quirke foundation, saw vastly different sides line out for the counties with Tullaroan’s Gearóid Dunne claiming man of the match after a three-goal haul. A target of €1m has been set by the foundation with the aim of providing cardiac screening for every GAA player from the age of 12 upwards. To date, over €114k has been raised with donations continuing online here.
Speaking to KCLR after the game, Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng says he was happy to give game time to some players on the cusp of the panel. You can hear his thoughts on the latest edition of our Scoreline Extra podcast below.
Congratulations also to St. Kierans College, they’ve booked themselves a Croke Cup semi-final spot against Cashel Community School on March 4th thanks to a big win over St. Raphael’s Loughrea on Saturday, Harry Shine and Donnagh Murphy among the goalscorers.
The one that got away?
Carlow’s Allianz Football League hopes for this year took a bit of a dent yesterday in Netwatch Cullen Park with a six-point defeat at the hands of Laois – that one finished 1-17 to 2-08.
Between some indiscipline in the first half and some of the decisions on the pitch, the scoreline probably doesn’t do justice to how tight it was at times but in the end, Carlow let a five-point lead in the second half swing to a six-point defeat. We caught up with both camps after the game with goal-scorer Eric Molloy telling Scoreline that they probably let the game get away from them in the second half.
Leitrim’s defeat to Wicklow means Laois go top with Carlow set to travel to Leitrim this coming Sunday in what would be a huge game. We’ll hear from some of the Carlow camp across the day and on Full Time later this evening.
On the Ladies Gaelic football side of things, a late Erin Tierney Goal for Fermanagh saw them beat Carlow 1-11 to 2-5 in Division 4A while Kilkenny were beaten 10-20 to 2 points by Wicklow in Division 4B.
Cats tamed in Clare
Kilkenny got their VERY Camogie League Division 1A campaign started with defeat in our first live game of the day yesterday. In the end, it was a two-point win for Clare with Kilkenny left frustrated in midfield with manager Brian Dowling admitting his All-Ireland champions were second best on the day. Again, Brian features on the latest edition of the Scoreline Extra podcast (above).
Congratulations too to Loreto Kilkenny – All Ireland senior A champions for the eighth time after they beat St. Patrick’s Maghera on Saturday. Colaiste Abhainn Ri Callan are also through to this year’s All-Ireland senior C final after a one-point win over Laurel Hill Colaiste in their semi-final replay. They’ll play Gort this coming weekend to bring an end to the championship.
Tullow on the up?
In matters rugby, Kilkenny’s league fate is very much in their own hands, a 42-41 win over Monkstown at the weekend gets them up to 6th in Division 1A of the Leinster League, four points safe from the drop. With two games left to play, nothing will be taken for granted but the breathing room at the bottom of the table will no doubt be welcomed.
Tullow have moved to the top of Division 1B thanks to a win over Longford on the road as league leaders Wicklow fell to Athy. While Carlow were looking good for the win at half-time, they Carlow stay fourth as they lost 29-28 to Dundalk.
Freebooters progress
Locally, Freebooters have booked their place in the next round of the KCLR McCalmont Cup with a 4 nil win over East End. They meet Fort Rangers in the last 16. Evergreen were beaten 5-3 by Ashbourne in the last 32 of the LFA Cup yesterday while Thomastown needed penalties to get by Bangor, that one finishing 5-3 on the shootout. On the ladies side of things Mill Celtic fell to a 3-2 defeat to Tenenure Rangers in their LFA Cup tie.
Marcus Rashford scored his 16th goal in 17 matches as Manchester United beat Leicester 3-0 yesterday. The result leaves United third in the Premier League, five points off leaders Arsenal. Spurs are up to fourth, following a 2-0 win over West Ham. That throws West Ham into the relegation zone ahead of Leeds and Southampton.
The greatest stadium name ever?
Last one for the morning, Bolton Wanderers, once high flyers in the Premier League have announced a new five-year stadium naming rights deal.
Their current partnership with the University of Bolton ends this summer so they’ve inked their largest sponsorship deal in club history with a Bolton-based recyclable building product manufacturer.
That name? Toughsheet.
Yes, they will now play their games at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, and if you don’t like it, well…
