RACING
Local champion trainer Willie Mullins confirmed that all six of his entrants “are intended runners” in Sunday’s Grade 1 feature at Punchestown’s weekend Winter Festival.
It’s a race that has been won by many of Mullins’s great hurdlers of the past including Hurricane Fly and Faugheen.
As the first Grade 1 hurdle race of the National Hunt season, Mullins is keen to see how last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban gets on.
Today: There’s an eight-race card at Dundalk with the first going to post at 2pm.
GAELIC GAMES
There’s Leinster colleges action for Kilkenny schools today.
Congrats to past pupils Huw Lawlor (All Star) and Mikey Butler (Young Hurler of Year, All Star) on receiving their awards. Congrats also to Paddy Deegan who was nominated. The 3 lads are wonderful ambassadors for our school. We are so proud of their achievements #BrothersTogether pic.twitter.com/n7GTuuZduD
— CBS Kilkenny – an Edmund Rice School (@CBSKilkenny1859) October 29, 2022
At 2pm it’s the big city derby as St. Kieran’s College meets CBS Kilkenny in the Leinster Junior Hurling A semi-final at UPMC Nowlan Park while at the earlier time of 12 o’clock the other semi-final sees Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown away to Good Counsel College in Glenmore.
The draw has also been made for the first round of the senior hurling A championship with all four schools meeting again next week.
Monday lunchtime will see Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown host, Good Counsel, at Fenians GAA grounds while St. Kieran’s College will host the CBS at the college grounds on Tuesday.
Primary school football comes to the fore in Kilkenny this afternoon with two semi-finals in the Cumann na nBunscoil Mick Crotty Roinn A football championship down for decision.
Dunnamaggin will host the meeting of Scoil McCauley Rís of Callan and Piltown National School at 3pm while at the same time, St. Canice’s national school meets Gowran national school in Clara.
Open training sessions will begin for Carlow U16 Ladies for the 2023 season on Thursday the 17th of November at 7pm to 8.15pm on the outside pitch of Dr Cullen Park.
— Carlow Ladies Football (@CarlowLGFA) November 14, 2022
Those born in 2007 and 2008 are eligible to attend. @LeinsterLGFA @scorelinesport @CWnationalist pic.twitter.com/o4XjD0gtm8
In other football news, Carlow LGFA will hold open training sessions for the county’s Under 16 team tomorrow.
They’re hoping to attract new players for the 2023 season and those born in 2007 or 2008 are eligible to attend with trials at the outside pitch of Netwatch Cullen Park underway from 7pm.
See also: Carlow GAA’s Gaelic Bingo moving to Wednesday nights following successful launch
Gaelic Bingo, the new Carlow GAA fundraiser for clubs and county, went live last Thursday night with over 600 players involved across Ireland and abroad.
The fundraiser has now moved to Wednesday nights from….well tonight.
Soccer
Wayne Rooney’s not going to respond publicly to criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo – but it’s understood he’s bemused by his former Manchester United team-mate’s comments.
The Portugal star has rounded on his critics and spoken out against his treatment by the club during an interview with Piers Morgan.
It’s thought United are seeking legal advice.
"I feel betrayed."
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo tells Piers Morgan he feels like he's being forced out of Manchester United in an explosive interview.
90 Minutes with Ronaldo. Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/nqp4mcXHB0
On this day in 2003 : 16-year-old Lionel Messi makes his official debut for FC Barcelona when he comes on as a substitute in a friendly against Porto.
France suffered yet another injury ahead of the World Cup last night.
RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku suffered a knee injury in training, and will miss the tournament in Qatar.
His place in the squad is set to go to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kolo Muani.
France begins their defense of the World Cup on Tuesday against Australia.
Injured players:
Giovani Lo Celso – Argentina
Timo Werner & Marco Reus – Germany
Diogo Jota & Pedro Neto – Portugal
Reece James & Ben Chilwell – England
Kante, Kamara, Kimpembe & Paul Pogba – France
Several World Cup participants are in warm-up friendly action today.
2018 finalists Croatia take on Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
Germany is in Muscat to play Oman.
While Argentina faces the United Arab Emirates.
Golf
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are in the lineup for the DP World Tour Championship, which starts tomorrow in Dubai.
McIlroy has ascended to the number one position in the world rankings, while Lowry is coming off the back of a win at the PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Gary Hurley and John Murphy both go into the final round of the DP World Tour’s Q-school in Spain with genuine hopes of gaining cards.
With the top 25 – plus ties – to secure places on next season’s tour, Hurley starts the day in 16th position.
Murphy is in 42nd, but just four shots off the top 25.
