As we build up to a busy weekend of sport, let’s take a look at some of the stories making the rounds on KCLR and Scoreline.ie for your Thursday morning.
Fitzgibbon Cup
Plenty of Kilkenny and Carlow players were involved last night as SETU Waterford saw off DCU to book their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals.
Watch the Full-Time Highlights of DCU v SETU Waterford in the @ElectricIreland Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter Final. #FirstClassRivals @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/WZNbkLg2pB
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) February 8, 2023
A beautiful goal from Alan Kirwan separated the sides, with the game ending 3-16 to 2-16. Carlow’s Conor Kehoe and Kilkenny’s Conor Hennessey grabbed the goals for DCU.
SETU Carlow’s side travel to Dangan this evening to take on the University of Galway in the quarter-finals. Ballyhale Shamrocks Eoin Cody hit 1-12 in SETU Carlow’s last group game against DCU to set up tonight’s quarter-final fixture. Throw-in is at 6pm. Tonight’s other quarter-final fixtures see UCC take on ATU Galway at 7pm with UL hosting UCD in Limerick at 7.45 pm.
Live games this weekend
One of the highlights for any Kilkenny hurling fan, regardless of the time of year, is a day out against Tipperary and it’s upon us this weekend as Liam Cahill’s side provide the test for Derek Lyng’s first senior home game in charge of Kilkenny.
While both managers are new to their current setups, Sunday will provide a great test for where both counties are and where ambitions lie for the season ahead. However, speaking at yesterday’s league launch in Kilkenny, Cats boss Derek Lyng says they won’t be getting too far ahead of themselves at this stage of the season. You can get full coverage of that game on air here this Sunday with thanks to Laharts Volkswagen and Skoda in Kilkenny.
We’ll also be live from Austin Stack Park in Tralee this Sunday afternoon as Carlow look to put the disappointment of last week’s result against Kildare behind them with Kerry set to provide the opposition. That game is live on our Carlow frequencies and throws in at 2pm with thanks to Ray Whelan Limited.
See also: Terence Kelly on defeat to Kildare in Allianz Hurling League
Spoils shared
Danesfort and Erins Own were out in the first round of the Kilkenny senior football league last night. Both sides shared the spoils with Erins Own scoring 1-06 to Danesfort’s 0-09. Football continues in Kilkenny this weekend with round one and two games in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons intermediate and junior leagues.
Leeds lead slips
Second-half goals from Marcus Rashford and substitute Jadon Sancho helped Manchester United salvage a Premier League point at home to Leeds last night. It ended 2-2 at Old Trafford. Willie Gnonto put the visitors in front after just 55 seconds, with a Raphael Varane own goal doubling Leeds’ advantage.
But United levelled the game to move to within two points of Manchester City, but with a game more played. Red Devils manager Erik Ten Hag was happy for Sancho, who scored his first goal since September.
“I’m really happy he’s in the right direction.” 🗣️
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 9, 2023
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was pleased to see Jadon Sancho back on the scoresheet and hopes he will continue his improvement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/59PaPGNO7k
Fulham are into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in six seasons. Shane Duffy set up their third in a 3-2 win away to League One side Sunderland last night. Fulham will host Leeds in the last-16.
Six Nations team named later today
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell names his team later today to play France in Saturday’s Six Nations match in Dublin. While he’d wish to name an unchanged starting fifteen, doubts have emerged over the fitness of both Conor Murray and Dan Sheehan. Farrell is already without Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Furlong, and Cian Healy.
French coach Fabien Galthie also reveals his side today and is expected to name an unchanged starting fifteen with minor alterations to his replacements.
Singapore Classic
20-year-old Tom McKibbin leads the DP World Tour’s Singapore Classic on day one. The County Down player is 8-under-par following a 64, one shot clear of the field. Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are among the earlier starters on the opening day of the Phoenix Open.
Lowry will have Bray’s Darren Reynolds as his caddie, having recently parted company with Bo Martin. Both he and McIlroy tee off just before 3pm, Irish time. Seamus Power goes out just after 8pm, alongside Rickie Fowler and Russell Henley.
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