With the bank holiday in the rear-view mirror, here’s a look at some of the stories making the rounds on Scoreline and KCLR for Tuesday 1 November.
Hewick Returns
We’ll start with racing as John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s golden goose, Hewick, had a hero’s homecoming in Bagenalstown yesterday, marked by a pint of the black stuff in The Pint Depot no less.
The seven-year-old cost just €850 when bought at the sales a few years ago, the latest victory being the $250,000 American Grand National a fortnight ago for owner TJ McDonald.
While it cost in the region of €30,000 to get Hewick and the team to the ‘States, the win was worth the lion’s share of the $250,000 pot.
There is football in Kilkenny
In football, Muckalee’s Eadaoin Cody says ‘there’s definitely football in Kilkenny’ she helped her club to a Leinster semi-final victory over St. Joseph’s at the weekend to put the Kilkenny senior champions within 60 minutes of a Leinster football title. They had trailed 1-07 to 3 points at the break, forced the game to extra time and took the win when it counted most.
Eadaoin spoke to reporter Jerome Quinn to try explain the win over the Westmeath champions.
“Most of us play the camogie and football so we’re a very, very close-knitted team. Definitely just working for each other is our main thing and anything that comes from that is just on top of it. That’s how we get our results. I think in the last few years we’ve definitely committed to the football as well and it just shows, there’s definitely football in Kilkenny and we’re representing our county as well as our club here.”
They’ll play Dublin champions O’Dwyer’s in the Leinster junior club championship final on Saturday the 12th of this month.
Hurling & Camogie Latest
On the hurling side of things, it’s all quiet on the western front in Kilkenny with games on a break until the weekend as the Under 19 and 21 championships continue. In Carlow, SETU are in Freshers’ action tonight as they host Trinity College Dublin at the sports campus from 8pm.
Tickets are also available now for the AIB Leinster club senior and intermediate hurling championship fixtures heading for UPMC Nowlan Park and Netwatch Cullen Park next weekend – all provincial games this winter are ticket-in-advance only.
On the camogie front, the inclement weather so far this week means that the Carlow Camogie Skills Camps for the midterm today and tomorrow have been cancelled.
Meanwhile, both James Stephens and Myshall will be part of this year’s Leinster intermediate club semi-finals, on separate sides of the draw. The Kilkenny champions will take on St. Brigid’s while Myshall meet Na Fianna of Meath. Myshall boss Brendan Hayden is delighted to be back in another provincial semi-final.
“When it went to extra time, we showed great composure”, Hayden told Scoreline following Myshall’s win at the weekend. “We had scores, held them to a point and ran out winners by 12. Very happy overall, a sticky pitch and the conditions may have brought the two teams closer but we’re very happy with the result.”
In rugby, there should be plenty of big names hanging out in Carlow on Thursday week as Tullow Rugby Club gets set to welcome Leinster Rugby to the club for an open training session.
Sean O’Brien is back in the Leinster ranks as contact skills coach this year and he’ll be back at Black Gates with the Leinster squad from half past two on Thursday 10 November afternoon on the 4G pitch. Everyone is welcome to attend and Leinster have confirmed there will be opportunities for autographs and photos with players and coaches.
Pogba Out
On the soccer front, Paul Pogba will miss France’s World Cup defence at Qatar 2022. The midfielder hasn’t played since re-signing for Juventus from Manchester United in July due to a knee injury. The 29-year-old won’t have recovered from surgery in time for France’s first game of the tournament against Australia three weeks today.
Embed from Getty ImagesTottenham need a draw tonight to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Antonio Conte’s side start the night top of group D but if they were to lose away to Marseille they may not qualify for the next round. Spurs come into the game off the back of a narrow 3-2 Premier League win over Bournemouth at the weekend. Kick-off at the Stade Vélodrome is at 8-o’clock.
At the same time Liverpool host Napoli with both sides are already guaranteed to progress, however Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for a performance to instill confidence in his squad. They’ve had a poor start to the domestic season losing their last two games to Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
For more across the day, keep an ear to KCLR news and an eye on Scoreline.ie.
