Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins lift the Champion Hurdle Challenge trophy. Source: David Davies
CheltenhamRuby Walsh and Willie Mullins dominated Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival as they combined to claim three races, including the feature, this afternoon.Walsh rode Faugheen (4-5f) to the Champion Hurdle with Arctic Fire (20-1) runner-up and Hurrican Fly (8-1) finishing third in a 1-2-3 for Mullins. AP McCoy was fourth on Jezki on his final appearance in the Champion Hurdle.Walsh and Mullins also earned victory in the Novice’s Hurdle with Douvan (2-1f) and the Arkle Chase with Un De Sceauz (4-6f).However, a fall at the last on Annie Power (1-2f) saw Glens Melody (6-1) and Paul Townsend take the Mares’ Hurdle.Home
Seddon Park, where Ireland played India. Source: John Cowpland/www.photosport.co.nz
Click Here: Toni Kroos Jersey Sale Ireland’s cricketers suffered their second defeat of the World Cup, losing by eight wickets to India in Hamilton, New Zealand. Jonathan Sexton participated fully in training at Carton House today and Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt believes he will be ready for his weekend’s trip to Cardiff.Dublin could have a big name back for Saturday’s Allianz Football League meeting with Mayo as St Vincent’s forward Diarmuid Connolly is in contention to feature.We spoke to Ireland’s Shane Lowry ahead of his Masters debut in Augusta next month.AwayThere are two Champions League round of 16 second legs being played tonight with Real Madrid hosting Schalke and Basel away to Porto.Warren Gatland has named an unchanged team for this weekend’s Six Nations clash with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.Police are investigating an alleged racist messaged sent to Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck after he scored in last night’s FA Cup win over Manchester United.The best thing we shared today
Jennifer Malone, from Clane in Kildare, had a day to remember meeting the Ireland players at Carton House.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
On the record
Where we were today
Steve O’Rourke was out meeting Offaly golfer Shane Lowry at the launch of the new Simply Golf app.
Source: Mac Innes Photography
The fixture listThere are two more Champions League knockout games as Chelsea face Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge and Bayern Munich are at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. Fitzgibbon Cup final replay – UL v WIT, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm.
EirGrid U21FC Munster quarter-finals – Limerick v Cork, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm, Clare v Waterford, Milltown Malbay, 7.30pm.Connacht quarter-final – Mayo v Leitrim, Elverys MacHale Park, 7.30pm.Ulster preliminary round – Derry v Down, Celtic Park, 8pm.Showbiz, baby!
The cover of this month’s Golf Digest features Rory McIlory… as Michelangelo’s David:
Source: Twitter/GolfDigest
5 talking points ahead of this week’s Champions League action
WITH HER LEFT hand, Niamh Briggs has a solid hold on a banister as she hobbles down one step at a time. An offer comes to free her right hand of a considerable weight, but she declines.
Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The Six Nations trophy is firmly in her grasp and she’s damned if anyone less deserving is going to carry it out into the fresh air.
About 22 hours previously, Ireland’s captain was in similarly defiant mood after a brief stint of treatment to her knee. Despite wincing throughout the remainder of the half and the game, Briggs wasn’t about to let herself be taken out of the game.
“No. Definitely not,” the fullback says categorically, “I think when you win matches and trophies and Championships like we did yesterday, any injury seems irrelevant until it all settles down.
Ireland went in to this weekend trailing the Championship leaders France – the only side to beat them this year – by a points difference of 20. even before Les Bleus took a 15 -21 win from Twickenham, Saturday provided ample opportunity for distractions.
Instead of getting side-tracked by the men’s game, Briggs and her squad took inspiration from the way deficits were hoovered up, though the captain herself was busy getting kicking practice in while the action was under way in Murrayfield.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“It was kind of bizarre, because in the Wales-Italy match,Wales were all over the shop and they were very jittery, but they managed to come out second half and blow it out of the water. That’s what we were saying to the girls:’look, if the scores don’t come in the first 40-60 minutes, it’s okay.’”
The scores did come in the first 40 and everything was more than just okay. Ireland relentlessly kept a foot on Scotland’s throat and took away try after try to end with a record points haul for Ireland Women.
“It was incredibly clinical and professional and we really wanted to help turn the screw.
“They’re an incredibly proud rugby nation. They’ve put a lot of work in to their under age structures and I’m sure they’ll come good in a few years time.”
She added: “When you come in at half-time or look up at the clock on 60 minutes and there’s 50-odd points up, you’re kind of thinking ‘is this real’ — it was an unbelievable effort by the girls, they played absolutely fantastic yesterday.”
Medals and a Championship trophy make it terrific end to what could have been a difficult year under other circumstances with a raft of new faces and new coaches at the helm. However, Briggs has always been steadfast in where the standards lie for Ireland Women. Before the first kick-off in February she boldly set the target on winning the title.
Now, having celebrated the men’s success with tea and a chocolate bar, she has her hands on the trophy she has craved from the start and can toast vindication with something a little stronger.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“A lot of people wrote us off, and I don’t particularly blame them, there was so much change. But for me, there was still a good core of the squad there together and I made my feelings known to everybody that I wasn’t going to use the changes as an excuse.
“It was just an unbelievable effort by the squad. not even the 23, but the 30-32 that have been training all year. It’s fantastic and we’re delighted we’ve been able to make people sit up and take notice again.”
– First published 15.45
Ireland women win big in ScotlandAnalysis: Ireland’s attacking belief flows to fire them to Six Nations title
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Chris Jericho is Coming to !BANG! TV
Thank you for your help and support – Dory and Marti Funk
!BANG! TV January 12th Presents Chris Jericho – Actor, Musician and World Champion Wrestler. (Dory Funk Jr. !BANG! TV January 12th)
Tickets are Now on Sale – Call now 352-895-4658 or e-mail [email protected]
Chris Jericho comes to the !BANG! TV Sound Stage in Ocala, Florida Saturday, January 12, 2019.
Tickets are $45 for a full night of professional Wrestling and Entertainment – (Meet and Greet Chris Jericho and Dory Funk Jr.) – (Professional Wrestling Card (Two Matches) followed by Chris Jericho’s Podcast with Dory Funk Jr.)
Proceeds will be donated to four charities, Champions for Champions, (Special Needs Children) Marion County Humane Society, Superintendent’s Literacy Fund and Feed the Need. (Food Program for homeless children.)
!BANG! TV Sound Stage in Ocala, Florida (2501 SW 57th Ave unit 605) Saturday January 12, 2019
Doors will open at 5:00pm – For more information, Call now 352-895-4658
Call now for Professional Wrestling training programs 352-895-4658
—
AJ Styles became the new number one contender for the WWE title after he won a fatal 5-way match last night on the New Year’s Day episode of Smackdown.
Styles was joined in the match by Randy Orton, Mustafa Ali, Samoa Joe, and Rey Mysterio, with Styles pinning former WWE champion Randy Orton following a 450 springboard. AJ wrestled Bryan at the TLC pay-per-view last month but came up short after Bryan won clean with a roll-up.
Earlier in the night on Smackdown, Samoa Joe defeated Jeff Hardy for the final spot in the fatal 5-way match.
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1. Matt Riddle defeated Adam Cole
2. Kairi Sane and Xia Li defeated Aliyah and Lacey Evans
3. Keith Lee defeated Dominik Dijakovic
4. Brennan Williams defeated Kona Reeves
5. Six-Man Tag Team Match
EC3 and War Raiders defeated The Undisputed ERA (Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong)
6. NXT North American Championship Match
Ricochet (c) defeated Shane Thorne
7. Bianca Belair defeated Rhea Ripley
8. Aleister Black and The Velveteen Dream defeated Johnny Gargano and Tommaso CiampaClick Here: gold coast titans shirt
IT WAS A Six Nations to remember for Ireland and Paul O’Connell in particular, as Joe Schmidt’s side secured back-to-back titles last week.
O’Connell was subsequently named Six Nations player of the tournament and a video has since been released, capturing why the Munster star was so invaluable to Ireland’s triumph.
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So watch below and savour those moments again, as his dominant performances propel the Irish team to glory.
Source: RBS 6 Nations/YouTube
Mike Ross tells us about #proplife! It’s the sporting tweets of the week>One of England’s biggest World Cup weapons won’t play rugby again this season>
AUSTRALIA’S NRL HAS given us some of our all-time favourite tries over the years.
You might remember this doozy, for example, scored by teenager David Nofoaluma in the summer of 2013:
Source: tugga87/YouTube
Now we’ve been privileged to witness another piece of remarkable craftsmanship that has left our tongues hanging out of our mouths and our jaws on the floor.
Pat Richards — who played for Ireland at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup — literally didn’t put a foot wrong in creating this try for the Wests Tigers on Monday.
Source: NZAUTV Rugby League/YouTube
James Tedesco gets the credit for the finish but look at Richards’s precise footwork to stay in play before keeping the move alive with an instinctive kick just as he is hauled into touch.
Take a bow. In fact, take a few.
Leinster signings ‘in the pipeline’ after Munster and Ulster set toneFoley on new signing Francis Saili: ‘He doesn’t have many weaknesses’
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IRISH RUGBY FANS have been so focused on railing against the spending power of the French and English clubs that they are neglecting to monitor the robust transfer dealings of a club closer to home.
Well, not geographically closer to home but since they compete in the same league as the provinces, it is interesting to see Zebre add another former southern hemisphere international to their squad.
Former Toulouse and Waratahs scrum-half Luke Burgess was always behind Will Genia in the Wallaby queue but he is a sharp passer and a sneaky sniper who should bring a lot to the Italian side.
Add that to Mils Muliaina and that is two seasoned internationals added to Zebre in the last few weeks.
Source: EllliotJackRussel1/YouTube
It would actually be a great thing for the league if Zebre bought a raft of high-profile signings and became competitive. After London Welsh, they have been the worst team in the three main northern hemisphere leagues this season so anything that can change the dynamic of the Pro12 would probably be worth it.
The IRFU better lock down the rest of their big stars before Zebre start planning an audacious raid that takes 50% of the national team to Parma.
If you are an easily frightened Leinster fan, best not to look at Toulon’s team for SundayIt was Sonny Bill v Dan and Richie in New Zealand earlier and the result wasn’t even close
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TABLE TOPPERS LANSDOWNE and defending champions Clontarf were the winners of two closely-fought Ulster Bank League Division 1A semi-finals today, as the pair set up an all-Dublin decider on Saturday, May 9.
But there was disappointment for 2012 champions St Mary’s as they were beaten at home by Garryowen in a relegation playoff so the Limerick side will take the Templeogue based side’s place in Division 1A next season.
After getting relegated last year, Garryowen earned promotion straight back to the top flight with a hard-fought 13-3 away victory. The visitors broke free from a defensive scrum in the first half, taking advantage of poor tackling as scrum half Neil Cronin ran in the game’s only try.
The visitors defence was strong throughout, and the only score they gave up was a Ray Crotty penalty.
Meanwhile, the UBL final will take place on the main pitch at the Aviva Stadium, the scene of Lansdowne’s epic 23-19 extra-time victory over Young Munster where a last-gasp try from hooker Tyrone Moran proved all-important for Mike Ruddock’s men.
It was a heartbreaking finish for Munsters who came into the play-offs as 10/1 outsiders for the league title, but they coped well with two first half yellow cards and Gearoid Lyons’ reliable boot had them within touching distance of the final both in normal time and extra-time.
Former Munster player Scott Deasy booted Lansdowne in front from an early scrum penalty, however his radar was off on a couple of occasions as the hosts failed to take advantage of the Cookies’ high penalty count.
Young Munster centre Lyons equalised with his first successful kick on 25 minutes, the slippery conditions playing their part as attacks at both ends were foiled. The pressure increased on the visitors when they had two players carded in quick succession.
After Diarmaid Dee saw yellow for going off his feet at a ruck, Deasy briefly restored Lansdowne’s three-point advantage before his opposite number Willie Staunton replied with a well-struck drop goal.
Lansdowne did manage to go in at the break with a 13-6 lead thanks to a well-worked converted try from centre Tom Daly. It owed much to a brilliant break from Leinster prospect Cian Kelleher, and supporting winger Ian Fitzpatrick did well to feed Daly with the scoring pass.
Munsters bounced back from that setback with an equally brilliant seven-pointer early in the second period. Right winger Diarmaid McCarthy, who threatened on a number of occasions, darted onto a Staunton grubber kick and beat the covering defender with Lyons converting.
Lyons delighted the travelling support by adding a pinpoint penalty from near the touchline. Lansdowne then turned the screw in the scrum once more, winning a penalty which young replacement Conor McKeon converted to make it 16-all and send the semi-final to extra-time.
It was first blood in extra-time to Munsters as a Lyons’ penalty went over off a post, rewarding scrum half Rob Guerin for a fine initial break and good support work from replacement Kolio Hifo. Now 19-16 down, Lansdowne missed a chance to respond when McKeon was off target with a drop goal.
However, Ruddock’s charges found the answer when it mattered most as they wore down a Munsters defence that was missing the sin-binned Craig O’Hanlon. Moran emerged as the match winner in the very final play, using his strength to power over just to the left of the posts. McKeon converted and with that, Lansdowne’s players and supporters erupted in celebration.
Lansdowne’s players celebrated their late try. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
Next month’s final will see the last two Division 1A champions face off as Lansdowne attempt to lift the trophy for the second time in three years, while Clontarf will be looking to make it back-to-back triumphs.
Three penalty goals from Matt D’Arcy steered ‘Tarf to a gritty 9-0 semi-final success at Terenure College as they bounced back from last week’s Bateman Cup final disappointment in Cork.
D’Arcy, Ireland’s Club international captain this year, missed his first two shots at the posts and Terenure began to make inroads as their back-three of Ian Hanly, James O’Donoghue and Harry Moore handled more ball out wide.
Yet, despite the best efforts of Terenure out-half James Thornton, who was short with an 18th minute penalty, and Clontarf’s Evan Ryan, who cut through midfield on a notable break in the closing stages, the teams played out a scoreless first half.
It was D’Arcy who finally opened the scoring with a well-struck 51st-minute penalty. He failed to convert a subsequent effort and ‘Nure’s powerful lock Fergal Walsh was held up on a drive for the visitors’ try-line, just past the hour mark.
Inside the final quarter hour, Thornton dragged a left-sided penalty to the right and wide and Terenure’s frustration grew as D’Arcy split the posts at the other end with 71 minutes gone.
The hopes of last year’s Division 1B winners took a real hit with yellow cards for lock Kevin O’Dwyer and scrum half Kevin O’Neill in the closing stages. Indeed, O’Neill went close to scoring a try before his exit from the pitch.
O’Dwyer did return to the ‘Nure pack for the conclusion of the contest, but thanks to a routine D’Arcy penalty deep into injury-time, Clontarf’s back-to-back title ambitions remain alive.
The two best teams in the Aviva Premiership clashed today – and there was a decisive winnerThe organisers of the Champions Cup are VERY desperate to shift final tickets
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MANY CLUBS, ACROSS many codes, can fall into the trap of fretting over the exposure a young star can be subjected to.
After all, there’s enough pressure to be found on the field without drawing extra attention from giving honest opinions and soundbites to the media.
Ulster Rugby don’t have that problem, and their latest superstar is – in every sense – big enough to look after himself.
Fresh from a Sunday Times interview where he looked back at everything from minor detonations in a microwave to a mad dash from Northampton after collecting his classic Mini, Iain Henderson sits down with more reporters in Dublin as the young face of Ulster Rugby helping to promote the renamed Kingspan Stadium.
It’s well over two years since Whiff Of Cordite gave Henderson the nickname of ‘New Willie John McBride‘, but even they didn’t foresee him becoming a statesmanlike figure off the pitch for the province so quickly.
Whereas many of his peers seem to second guess themselves before an answer, the 23-year-old happily offers an unapologetic truth. Like when he’s asked about how inter-provincial games can help him rise from impact sub to Test starter.
Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
“It frustrates me having to say it,” Henderson says with shake of the head, “it has become a bit of a cliché, but at the minute everything is geared towards my Ulster season. And not even the Ulster season, these next couple of games before the semi-final.
“[The focus is] just to get those two nailed off: do as best we can, get as many points as we can to try and ensure this home semi-final leading in to the home final.”
Step one on what Ulster hope will be four wins to Pro12 success is Saturday’s home clash with Munster. There Henderson will not only be lined up opposite the man keeping him out of Ireland’s starting line-up, but also the second row he might replace as a long-term pack leader.
“He’s a very smart player,” he says of Peter O’Mahony.
O’Mahony discusses tactics with Henderson at a training session in 2012. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
“He works so well with Paul O’Connell – those two bounce off each other extremely well in terms of the way they play, their work ethic and their detail level and the intensity they both play at.
“In saying that, that’s who you want to be playing against: you want to be playing against the best players. You don’t want to be playing against players week in week out who you know you’re going to just top, or who you know won’t provide you with as much of a challenge as Peter will or the Leinster back row — that’s why the inter-pro series are such intense games because you are playing against the best players in the league.
Henderson adds the qualification ‘if selected’ to the above answer, but he will certainly be in Neil Doak’s starting line-up when it is named today. Since his return from a hip injury in January Henderson has gone from strength to strength, channelling his raw power into demolishing opposition rucks and defences.
Most recently, he punished Leinster with a brilliant line that scythed through the defence to pull Ulster back into the game after trailing 10 – 0 at home. With Leinster proving to be a bête noir to the province at the business end of multiple seasons, Henderson isn’t about to pretend he didn’t feel a touch of satisfaction at seeing them fall out of contention for this year’s Pro12 title.
“Loads, if I’m being honest. We know Leinster this last few years have done a job on Ulster.
“Slightly disappointed it wasn’t in the semi-final, it would have been good to do that.
“It was brilliant beating Leinster. I think what showed throughout our team was character. Not to let them score towards the end of the game when they were pressuring our line so much and we stayed strong. It was defend defend, we did give away a yellow card, however we were able to keep our defence and not let them score which goes to show the character Ulster have in their team and the places we can go.”
Henderson paired off with O’Connell for this drill during this year’s Six Nations. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
The places Henderson has in mind involves them setting up camp in Kingspan Stadium for the coming month, so that the ‘Fortress Ravenhill’ feeling extends from Saturday through a semi-final and on to the final. They must travel to Glasgow on the final day of the season, however, so the Craigavon man knows that now is not the time to think about coasting home. Not for him, not for anyone in the squad.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction,” he says of the Grand Final date set for Belfast with or without the host province.
“I’d say maybe it’s more a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. It’s been a long, hard season and everybody knows there’s been so many injuries, and so many tough times throughout the games…
“Fair play to the players who have played who mightn’t get to play at this business end of the season, and put in the hard yards and winning the games at the start of the season and through the Six Nations which maybe they mightn’t get as much credit for at the end of the season.
Source: Presseye/Darren Kidd/INPHO
“It’s definitely a squad effort – they train every day of the week but don’t get to play at the weekend, and we wouldn’t be able to defeat the teams like Leinster if it wasn’t for them running the Leinster plays and stuff.”
“But [I’m] definitely looking forward to the next few games. As I say I can’t look too far forward but hopefully try and get this home semi, and then the home final would be absolutely fantastic.
“We know what the stadium can be like at full capacity and the atmosphere it can provide, and how much of a boost that gives Ulster. Obviously we have got quite a good record at home this year in the Pro12 anyway.
“There’s no reason, if we get to the final, we can’t beat anyone – whoever we come up against – but there’s a lot to go; three weeks of games before then.”
Half the country should be glued to this Pro12 game tonightGeordan Murphy given 3-year contract in a young looking Leicester Tigers coaching ticket
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