RACING
The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs, the ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, will be one of the star attractions at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Galopin Des Champs runs in Saturday’s Grade 1 Paddy Power Gold Cup and his trainer is confident that the track and three-mile trip will suit him well.
SOCCER
Matt Doherty’s move to Atletico Madrid became a permanent one last night, as Tottenham Hotspur had too many players already out on loan.
The Republic of Ireland international was set to join the Spanish giants on loan, but Spurs cancelled the remainder of his contract instead.
Doherty has signed a deal with the La Liga club until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, his Ireland teammate Shane Duffy saw his loan move from Brighton to Fulham made permanent.
Enzo Fernandez has agreed an eight-and-a-half-year contract at Chelsea following his record-breaking move from Benfica.
The Premier League club finally agreed on a package worth 120 million euro for the Argentine World Cup winner.
Two Sean Longstaff goals helped Newcastle book its first League Cup final appearance in 47 years last night.
They beat Southampton 2-1 in the second leg of their semi-final, and 3-1 on aggregate.
However, Bruno Guimaraes will miss their next three league games having been shown a straight red card.
Newcastle’s opponents at Wembley on February 26th should be confirmed as being Manchester United.
Erik Ten Hag’s side holds a 3-nil advantage ahead of tonight’s semi-final second leg with Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. Kick-off there is at 8.
GAELIC GAMES
Kilmacud Crokes have until Friday to lodge an appeal to the Central Appeals Committee following the CCCC’s All Ireland Club football final ruling.
A replay with Glen was ordered after Crokes had sixteen active players on the field for the final play of the game.
The Dublin club are believed to have no interest in replaying the game and could see their case go all the way to the Disputes Resolution Authority.
LEINSTER COLLEGES
It may have taken a coin toss on Monday, but UPMC Nowlan Park will host this year’s Leinster colleges final – or the 2022 Leinster GAA Post Primary Corn Uí Dhúill Final as it’s properly called – this coming Saturday.
St. Kieran’s College are there again as they look to continue winning ways and make moves towards another All-Ireland title win for the city school. They’ll take on the Offaly Schools selection, a side expected to feature a lot of the current Offaly minor hurlers who were narrowly beaten by Tipperary in last year’s All-Ireland final.
REFEREES
Dublin’s Chris Mooney will be the man in the middle when Kilkenny takes on Antrim in Corrigan Park this weekend. The national hurling league gets underway for 2023 on Saturday with the Cats out at 2 pm.
Carlow’s clash with Kildare in Division 2A will have Waterford’s Thomas Walsh overseeing proceedings in Netwatch Cullen Park while Cork’s David Murnane will take charge of The Déise’s hosting of Carlow in Division 4 of the national football league
WATER SPORTS
A public meeting is being held in Kilkenny this evening to provide updates on the proposed Water Sports Activity Centre for the city.
Funding had been announced in 2021 with Kilkenny among 22 sites around the country to get a new development, this one set to be near the weir close to county hall. It’s taking place at the River Court Hotel from half past 7, all are welcome, and you can find all the details online at Scoreline.ie.
See also: Public meeting this Wednesday on proposed water sport activity centre for Kilkenny
AWARDS
The Camogie Association’s Media, Volunteer and Referee Awards are being staged this coming weekend.
KCLR will be among the winners with our Camán Caint camogie podcast picking up the digital promotion award this year, the third time the station has been recognised by the association having won the Local Media award in 2022.
Carlow Town Hurling & Camogie Club’s Karol English will be honoured as the Carlow Camogie Volunteer of the Year while in Kilkenny, that honour is going to Barrow Rangers’ Orla Bambury.
LOCAL GAMES & RESULTS
After drawing their opening game, SETU Carlow is back out in the Fitzgibbon Cup tonight.
They travel to Dublin City University Sportsgrounds to play home side DCU with throw-in scheduled for 7.45pm
There were mixed results on the school’s front yesterday too with Coláiste Eoin Hacketstown pipped by a point in their South Leinster Senior Football D final against Arklow CBS. That game ended 1-7 to 0-9.
There was better news for St. Mary’s Knockbeg College in the South Leinster Junior ‘A’ football semi-finals as they took a 3-6 to 1-10 win over Naas. They’ll now play Ardscoil na Trionoide in the final.
On the rugby front, two tries from Billy Bohan in the opening six minutes for Newbridge yesterday afternoon have sent Kilkenny College out of the Leinster Senior Cup. Adam Watchorn and Michael Adewuyi did get on the scoresheet but couldn’t close the gape as Newbridge College ran out 29-12 winners.
