GAA
It will be a busy Easter weekend for fans of the Cats with the county’s minor side, U20 outfit, and senior team all in action across separate days.
On Friday, there will be a 5 pm throw-in time for Kilkenny’s last game in the group phase of the Leinster Minor Championship as Niall Bergin’s side welcomes Galway to UPMC Nowlan Park on Good Friday.
A victory for the hosts could see them advance to the semi-final of the provincial championship.
Ahead of the tie, Niall Bergin has announced his team, with Sean Bergin moving back to the half-back line, Michael Ahern going back into the middle of the park with James O’Neill replacing Michael Stynes in the full forward line.
See also: The Kilkenny minor team announced ahead of the Good Friday clash with Galway in UPMC Nowlan Park
The following day sees Mark Dowling’s U20 side begin their Leinster U20 Championship campaign when they travel to Chadwicks Wexford Park to face Wexford at 2pm on April 8th.
In a change from last year’s championship, congress passed a ruling that has eased restrictions to allow players to play both U20 and senior, albeit for only one of those teams in any seven-day period.
This has been a topic on the lips of everyone after Billy Drennan’s blistering start to his Kilkenny Senior hurling career, with many touting him to be included in both panels this campaign. Dowling seemed to somewhat echo those sentiments without alluding to Drennan directly.
See also: Kilkenny u20 manager Mark Dowling comments on players eligible for his side and senior team
Speaking of Chadwicks Wexford Park, that is exactly where the Carlow Minor footballers were last night to kick off the Electric Ireland Minor Championship
Full-Time stats from tonight's match brought to you in association with @eset_ireland pic.twitter.com/ajHho0JQzV
— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) April 5, 2023
A late goal from the Barrowsiders wasn’t enough to get the better of Wexford with the final scoreline reading 1-10 to 1-07.
Tonight the Oneills.com Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship continues with O’Moore Park on the horizon for the Carlow Hurlers
Carlow’s Leinster U20 Hurling Championship has got off to the worst possible start as they fell to Kerry in Portlaoise on Saturday afternoon. Throw in for Bernard Hayden’s side against Laois is half seven.
In the Munster under-20 hurling championship last night, Cork beat Tipperary by 1-28 to 1-19. Sligo are into the semi-finals of the Connacht under 20 football championship following 15 points to 1-8 win over Roscommon.
There are two games in the Carlow football leagues tonight. In Division 1 Eire Og plays Palatine while in Division 3 Ballon goes head-to-head with O’Hanrahans. Both throw in at 8 o’clock.
In Kilkenny, there is a JJ Kavanagh and Sons Junior Football Championship Quarter Final to look forward to St. Patrick taking on Muckalee.
Soccer
Newcastle United and Manchester United boosted their hopes of Champions League football for next season with wins in the Premier League last night.
Third-placed Newcastle won 5-1 away to West Ham, while Man U moved fourth in the table with a 1-nil victory over Brentford.
Marcus Rashford scored the winner at Old Trafford – his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid won 4-nil at Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, qualifying for the decider by 4 goals to 1 on aggregate.
Did you know? Only one foreign team in the world has a Copa del Rey – the main domestic cup of Spain – in its trophy cabinet. None other than Motherwell.
And Frank Lampard is set to be appointed as the caretaker manager of Chelsea until the end of the season.
Athletics
At half Seven in Kilkenny, 1000 people will be taken to the streets of Kilkenny for the annual 5 kilometre road race.
Kilkenny City harriers are advising that although the race is sold out, you can still come out and cheer on the runners.
See also: Kilkenny City Harriers’ Streets of Kilkenny 5k set to be a busy one this Thursday
