GAELIC GAMES
“It’s still all to play for” – so says Carlow senior football manager Niall Carew about his side’s Allianz Football League prospects.
Carew takes his side to Leitrim this weekend, a point behind their hosts, knowing that should either side come away with a loss they could consider their league campaign over with promotion hopes effectively ruled out.
Despite the pressure, the Carlow boss says they just need to keep winning.
The Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Freshers Football 2 competition hits the semi-final stages tonight.
SETU Carlow are out first as they host Mary Immaculate College Limerick from six o’clock, at the main campus. Tonight’s other semi-final sees SETU Waterford host TUS Midlands from seven o’clock.
Meanwhile in Kilkenny
Muckalee played Railyard in the junior football league, our own Robbie may or may not have been playing for Muckalee, unfortunately for him and his team they lost 3-03 to 2-10
SOCCER
Liverpool set an unwanted club record last night, as they lost 5-2 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
It was the first time in Liverpool’s history that they conceded five goals at Anfield in a European fixture. All that came after Jurgen Klopp’s side had taken a 2-nil lead through goals by Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah. But Vinicius Junior put the ball in the net twice to make it 2-2 at halftime.
Eder Militao then headed in a third, before Karim Benzema added another couple. Klopp says Liverpool lost momentum in the second half.
Jurgen Klopp has given up trying to stop Real Madrid 🤣 pic.twitter.com/PCWreHni2v
— GOAL (@goal) February 21, 2023
Elsewhere last night, Napoli won 2-nil away to ten-man Eintracht Frankfurt. The second legs of both ties take place on March 15th.
Manchester City are without Kevin de Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte for tonight’s last 16 first leg away to RB Leipzig. Tonight’s other tie sees Inter entertain Porto.
Three players could all make their debuts for the Republic of Ireland women’s team today.
Recent call-ups Aoife Mannion, Marissa Sheva, and Deborah-Anne De La Harpe have all received FIFA clearance. Vera Pauw’s side play China in a friendly in Marbella, with kick-off at 1 pm.
RUGBY
It promises to be a momentous day for Welsh rugby.
With the news that the Welsh players will meet to discuss possible strike action amid the ongoing salary dispute, here's a quick recap of Warren Gatland's press conference 📰🏉 pic.twitter.com/MWGjpbzAOU
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) February 16, 2023
Today sees the deadline for strike action to be averted ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations test with England in Cardiff.
Players are seeking major changes to contentious new contracts.
BOXING
Aoibhe Carabine will make her Strandja tournament debut in Bulgaria today.
The Mayo middleweight can book a quarter-final spot if she beats her Greek opponent, Vasiliki Stavridou and Galway’s Adam Hession faces Turkish featherweight, Batuhan Ciftci .
RACING
There’s an eight-race card at Punchestown this afternoon, with the first going to post at five-past-1.
