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.
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'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.
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
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.
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.
Villa take slender lead to Lille in Conference League
Aston Villa beat Lille 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final at Villa Park. Goals in either half from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn saw Villa lead their first European last-eight tie since 1998 and give boss Unai Emery victory in his 1,000th match as a manager. Bafode Diakite's late header gave Lille a lifeline just as it looked like they would head home frustrated by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who had made a string of big saves. Villa must now go to northern France next week and finish the job if they are to make their first European semi-final since they won the European Cup in 1982. That will not be an easy task as the French football federation have postponed Lille's Ligue 1 game this weekend to give them extra time to prepare and they have only been beaten once at home all season. After an early scare, which required a vital intervention from Pau Torres to deny Hakon Arnar Haraldsson a tap-in following Diego Carlos' error, Villa took command. Lille boss Paulo Fonseca, perenially linked with a move to England, said in his pre-match press conference that his side would pay special attention to Watkins, but allowed him three quickfire chances. The first came after Watkins capitalised on Leny Yoro's dive and was denied by Benjamin Andre's last-ditch tackle, with the England striker shooting straight at Lucas Chevalier from the resulting corner. It was from another corner that Watkins did get on the scoresheet in the 13th minute, as he was left unmarked from McGinn's corner to power home a header from close range, though Lille thought there was a foul by Morgan Rogers. Only another last-ditch tackle from Diakhite denied Watkins a second after Douglas Luiz had played him in, but
RTÉ GAA Podcast: Can Fermanagh upset Armagh? | The battle to play second fiddle to Dublin
Former Fermanagh footballer Ryan McCluskey joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to preview the weekend's action including his own county's attempt to pull off an upset against Armagh as well as the quarter-final battles in Leinster as teams vie to play second fiddle to Dublin, who are up against Meath.