We must call time on pyro party for good of the league
The League of Ireland, with its sellout crowds and unparalleled atmosphere on this island, has always been about community and footballing spirit.
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Dorothy Wall: Ireland 'taking lumps out of each other' in training
Dorothy Wall believes there's no comparison between this Ireland team and the one which fell to a heavy defeat to Wales in last year's Guinness Women's Six Nations.
LOI preview: Shebourne aim to maintain lead at top in televised Dublin derby
The second series of matches in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division matches begin tonight, with league leaders Shelbourne hosting Bohemians in a Dublin derby in front of the RTÉ cameras.
'I'm not out of it' - Mixed emotions for Rory McIlroy after Day 1
Rory McIlroy had mixed emotions after carding a one-under-par 71 on a windswept opening day of the 88th Masters. McIlroy, carded four birdies and three bogeys in his lowest opening round since 2018, but ended the day five shots behind playing partner Scottie Scheffler and six adrift of clubhouse leader Bryson DeChambeau. "It's satisfying in one sense because it's a decent start compared to the way I've played here recently, but I felt like it could have been two or three better," McIlroy, who is making his 10th attempt to win a green jacket and complete the career grand slam, said. "I think after the slow start making a few birdies around the turn was good. A little wasteful coming in. I had a good chance for birdie on 15 in the middle of the fairway and didn't take that. "Missed a shortish one on 16 and then the bogey on 17. But overall still not a bad score, and obviously a lot of golf left to play. "I'm definitely not out of the tournament and not chasing anything tomorrow. I'm playing with Scottie so can keep an eye on what he's doing and I'm looking forward to getting back out there. "If you look at Scottie compared to the rest of the field, the amount of bogey-free rounds he shoots is phenomenal, and that's the secret to winning major championships. "I made three bogeys today, which is fine out there in these conditions, but just need to tidy it up a little bit to try to keep up with him."
Bryson DeChambeau leads at Augusta but the relentless Scottie Scheffler is on his tail
Bryson DeChambeau beat his personal par by two shots as a relentless Scottie Scheffler made an ominous start to his bid for a second Masters title. Almost three and a half years after claiming that Augusta National was a "par 67 for me" due to his prodigious hitting, DeChambeau carded a seven-under-par 65 on a windswept opening day which followed a lengthy weather delay. But that was only good enough for a one-shot lead over Scheffler, the world number one and 2022 champion posting a bogey-free 66 that left playing partner Rory McIlroy trailing in his wake. McIlroy, who is making his 10th attempt to win the Masters and complete a career grand slam, made four birdies and three bogeys in his 71, while defending champion Jon Rahm bogeyed the last two holes in a 73.
McCluskey: Fermanagh have 2018 template to turn over Armagh
Fermanagh can upset Armagh in this weekend's Ulster championship clash, but they will need to adopt a defensive display similar to the 2018 display that saw them turn over the Orchard County according to former player Ryan McCluskey.
Bayer Leverkusen strike late to take control against Hammers
West Ham were breached by two late goals as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final at Bayer Leverkusen. The Hammers had defended heroically for 83 minutes before goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was finally beaten by substitute Jonas Hoffman. A one-goal deficit might have given David Moyes' side hope going into next week's second leg at the London Stadium, despite facing a side unbeaten all season. But disaster struck in stoppage time when a second substitute, Victor Boniface, headed home Hofmann's cross, to leave West Ham's hopes of a third consecutive European semi-final looking horribly slim. A yellow card for Lucas Paqueta, ruling the Brazil international out of the second leg, only adds to the task facing the east Londoners. The Hammers, without injured top scorer Jarrod Bowen and defensive midfield linchpin Edson Alvarez through suspension, were almost undone in the seventh minute when Josip Stanisic's wayward shot was flicked towards goal by Patrik Schick but the ball went straight to Fabianski. But Leverkusen were given a warning of West Ham's prowess on the counter-attack moments later when Michail Antonio outstripped Jonathan Tah on the left wing and produced the best chance of the first half. The burly frontman squared the ball to Mohammed Kudus, but the Ghana winger's first-time strike was comfortably held by Matej Kovar. However, West Ham were largely camped in their own penalty area and Fabianski palmed away Jeremie Frimpong's curler before Exequiel Palacios's drive was deflected over. Paqueta's over-enthusiastic challenge on Amine Adli earned him his booking - the Brazilian survived a red card check - and provoked a mild skirmish on the touchline. Fabianski might have
Jurgen Klopp brands Atalanta defeat a 'low point' in Liverpool's season
Jurgen Klopp called Thursday's 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta a "low point" in Liverpool's season as their Europa League hopes were left hanging by a thread. Liverpool looked flat throughout the quarter-final first leg and ended the night perhaps fortunate Atalanta had not taken one of the many late chances they had to add to a lead given to them by Gianluca Scamacca's brace and a late Mario Pasalic goal. Harvey Elliott hit the post in the first half and Mo Salah had a goal ruled out for offside in the second, but Liverpool lacked the spark needed to beat a well-organised Atalanta side, who will be confident of finishing the job next Thursday in Bergamo. Before Klopp can think about that match, he must lift his players for Sunday's visit of Crystal Palace in the tight battle at the top of the Premier League table. "It was a really bad game, oh my God," Klopp said after Liverpool's first home defeat in nearly 14 months. "We started well, really well and then didn't continue. They broke, they scored and we just lost the plot a little bit.