The Morning Sports Briefing

Farrell set to pip Sexton in only change from NZ Maori win, Darragh Ó Sé asks; who in their right mind would be manager?

Sport

Wed, Jun 21, 2017, 08:28 Wed, Jun 21, 2017, 08:28

Owen Farrell is expected to pip Johnny Sexton to the Lions number 10 jersey for Saturday’s opening Test against New Zealand.

In Gerry Thornley’s probable XV, and he’s rarely too far off with these things, Farrell’s inclusion is the only change to the team that overcame the NZ Maori last weekend. The official team announcement is due this evening.

There’s an interesting piece in this morning’s pages from Rob Cole, about the Irishman Ronnie Dawson; the only captain to lead the Lions to victory over the All Blacks at Eden Park. 

“As far as omens go for the British and Irish Lions in their Test opener against the All Blacks this weekend, Warren Gatland could do no better than to pick Munster’s Peter O’Mahony as his captain . . . “

In his column this morning Darragh Ó Sé asks; who in their right mind would be a manager?

He feels for the likes of Andy McEntee and Rory Gallagher this week - “watching a total non-performance and that goes deeper than trying to make a few switches. You may as well be standing in front of a train asking it politely to stop.”

Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald is considering staying in the stands after serving his suspension. 

“I felt back that night I could see the game way better. There must be logic in why the rugby managers do what they do. Soccer, it’s a little different, it’s a lot slower.”

Meanwhile Irish success on Tuesday on day one at Royal Ascot was confined to jumps maestro Willie Mullins who won the Ascot Stakes with 4-1 favourite Thomas Hobson. 

Racing correspondent Brian O’Connor thinks that Queen’s Trust could ultimately prove a value alternative at double-figure odds for today’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. The “drop back to mile-and-a-quarter makes Highland Reel and Jack Hobbs vulnerable.”

Justin Bieber brings glitz to Bushy Park with impromptu game

Hundreds of ‘Beliebers’ gather in south Dublin park to see popstar play basketball

Offbeat

Aine McMahon

Tue, Jun 20, 2017, 21:07 Tue, Jun 20, 2017, 21:55

Canadian popstar Justin Bieber brought some showbiz to a normally tranquil Bushy Park in south Dublin on Tuesday when he dropped in to shoot hoops with his entourage.

Ahead of his concert in the RDS in Dublin on Wednesday night, Bieber enjoyed a game of basketball with members of his travelling crew.

Fans took to social media to share pictures and videos of the the star playing in the Terenure park.

When Bieber and his entorurage went to leave, they got stuck for 20 minutes on Rathdown Avenue and hundreds of excited fans - a small fraction of the star’s global army of “Beliebers” - gathered around his car.

“He didn’t roll down the window or engage with the fans but, to be fair, there were hundreds of them and they were all a bit excited,” said one eyewitness.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bieber was spotting having a bite to eat in in Picadero’s Spanish restaurant in Maynooth Co Kildare.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Brooks Koepka wins US Open, Gordon D’Arcy says Lions must remember the All Blacks are just men, Cork hurling revival continues

Sport

Mon, Jun 19, 2017, 08:16 Mon, Jun 19, 2017, 08:16

Golf

Brooks Koepka produced a stunning display of ball-striking for a 67 on the final day at Erin Hills to capture the US Open title and his first major win.

The American equaled Rory McIlroy’s low scoring record from 2011 with a -16 total in Wisconsin, pulling away from Brian Harman on the back nine to win by three shots. Koepka’s win means the last seven majors have been won by players for the first time and is further evidence of the incredible strength in depth of golf at the moment.

GAA

Cork continued their hurling revival with a win over Waterford - that sees them into the Munster final against Clare.

The young rebels proved too sharp and hungry for a flat Waterford team, playing their first competitive match in three months.

Also on Sunday, Tyrone were comfortable winners over Donegal in the Ulster football championship. A nine point win for Tyrone and a total of 1-21, not the usual dogfight you’d expect between those two.

Roscommon progressed to the Connacht final after a 17 point win over Leitrim in Hyde Park, while the Galway hurlers smashed Offaly 0-33 to 1-11. Ouch.

The football round two qualifier draw is this morning at 8.30; both Donegal and Mayo are in the pot but cannot face one another.

Rugby

To win, the Lions need to remember that the All Blacks are just men. That’s the message from Gordon D’Arcy this morning.

He believes that Warren Gatland will remind his squad that the Lions have superior game managers ahead of the weekend’s first Test against New Zealand.

“The “All Blacks” is a persona they created for themselves. This is the New Zealand national rugby team, made up of men, just men. When we were turning the tide at Leinster against perceived greats of European rugby, we always played against the man not the jersey.”

Gerry Thornley thinks Peter O’Mahony is the front-runner to captain the team in the first test next Saturday, “if one reads between the lines” of the tourists’ selection to face the Chiefs tomorrow.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Rory McIlroy has a nightmare start to US Open, Jackie Tyrrell explains why Waterford are too nice

Sport

Fri, Jun 16, 2017, 08:46 Fri, Jun 16, 2017, 08:46

Rory McIlroy ran up a horrid US Open opening round of six-over-par 78 yesterday, to leave him all of 13 strokes behind first round leader Rickie Fowler.

He faces a tough ask if he is to survive the cut, which features the top 60 and ties, McIlroy – who was 143rd of the 156 players after the first round – claimed: “I feel like I’m capable. As I said, I just need to get the ball on the fairway.”

In his column this morning, Jackie Tyrrell is analysing Waterford, and he thinks Derek McGrath has put all the eggs in the championship basket; now it’s time to deliver.

“My impression of Waterford all along is that they’re a nice team. You’d love your sister to be going out with one of them. Bigger teams can get away with looking down on them.”

Gerry Thornley believes that Warren Gatland’s choice of captain for Saturday’s Lions match against the Maori All Blacks is a fitting honour for Munster stalwart Peter O’Mahony, after a difficult 12 months.

“I just wanted to get back training for the lads and get stuck in. And that’s what I did. It’s been a bit of a mad season,” explained the Irish flanker.

Meanwhile Gatland has revealed he is set to radically overhaul the Lions team to play the Chiefs in Hamilton next Tuesday, by calling up half a dozen players or more from the Welsh and Scottish squads which are touring in the vicinity.

While ahead of Ireland’s Test against Japan on Saturday morning, Joe Schmidt is ‘excited’ to see how his inexperienced squad handle their fatigue, with an eye on the 2019 World Cup.

“Some guys are flat because they are waking up at 1am or 2am and they can’t get back to sleep.”

The Morning Sports Briefing

Ken Early on Ireland, Gordon D’Arcy on the Lions, Nicky English on Wexford and more

Sport

Mon, Jun 12, 2017, 07:43 Mon, Jun 12, 2017, 07:43

First to football and Ireland managed to salvage a draw from a poor performance against Austria at the Aviva Stadium yesterday thanks to Jonathan Walters’ late equaliser – leaving them second to Serbia on goal difference after they drew with 1-1 Wales in Belgrade.

Ken Early writes that, as opposed to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign when Ireland fought back with nothing to lose, the rest of this campaign is about clinging on to what they’ve got.

“They [Ireland]had started the day expecting to win. Austria were missing several first-teamers; morale within Austrian soccer had collapsed to the point where players were prioritising things like their weddings ahead of the game,” he writes.

Meanwhile, Keith Duggan writes that it was Ireland’s sheer strength of will that got them back into the game on a day when Austria were, largely, the better team.

On to rugby and Gerry Thornley writes from Dunedin that Stuart Hogg is the only Lions’ injury concern ahead of tomorrow morning’s clash with the Highlanders (you can follow all of the action on our liveblog from 7.30am).

Meanwhile, Gordon D’Arcy looks into how the Lions have played so far and asks the question of where the variation is if everyone plays the same?

After a weekend of stellar GAA action – with Wexford’s win over Kilkenny the pick – Nicky English heaps praise on Davy Fitzgerald’s team as they finally reached the big time again with a famous victory.

Yesterday, Galway saw off Mayo in a thriller at Pearse Stadium, Monaghan saw off Cavan, Kerry beat Clare and Offaly let Westmeath off the hook to set up a replay.

In other news, Lewis Hamilton won the Canadian Grand Prix to cut the gap to Sebastian Vettel at the top of the standings, Rafael Nadal clinched his 10th French Open title and Dan Martin pipped Chris Froome to a third place podium finish at the Criterium du Dauphine in France.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Murray and Farrell have come a long way, Zlatan to leave United, Jackie Tyrrell column and more

Sport

Fri, Jun 09, 2017, 07:40 Fri, Jun 09, 2017, 07:40

First to rugby this morning and, writing from Christchurch, Gerry Thornley looks at how Conor Murray and Owen Farrell have come a long way since the last time they partnered together for the Lions in 2013. The pair will join together tomorrow morning for the Lions' clash with Crusaders. You can follow all of the action from that third warm-up match on our liveblog from 7.30am. You can also follow all of our Lions coverage on our dedicated site.

Over 12 hours later on Saturday night Ireland will come up against the US Eagles in the first of their summer tour matches and Joe Schmidt yesterday said that he is happy to give youth its chance in New Jersey with Jacob Stockdale among those ready to make his debut.

In soccer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will leave Manchester United today when the club releases its retained list. The Swede had the option of a second year at Old Trafford but his cruciate ligament injury has put paid to that.

On the international front, Seamus Coleman yesterday linked back up with the Ireland squad ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria. The injured right-back will lend his support to the team as he continues to recover from a broken leg.

On to GAA and Jackie Tyrrell writes in his column this morning that Brian Cody has been backed into a corner - and he therefore expects the Cats to show their claws.

“Come championship time, you were fighting so hard in Kilkenny training to get on the team that complacency never really came into it,” he writes.

In golf, Seámus Power and Graeme McDowell enjoyed steady starts to the St Jude Classic in Memphis, the final tournament outing before next week’s US Open.

Finally, this week Alan Bonner from Co Meath became the third person to die in this year’s Isle of Man TT race. Tragedy is a part of the fabric of the famously dangerous circuit but, as Johnny Watterson writes, that doesn’t discourage the riders’ devotion.

Madrid tackles ‘el manspreading’ with new public transport signs

Authorities want to encourage men to respect boundaries on bus seats and keep legs closed

Offbeat

Sam Jones in Madrid

Thu, Jun 08, 2017, 13:47 Thu, Jun 08, 2017, 13:53

Madrid’s transport authorities are taking a stand against seated male selfishness with a campaign to tackle the social scourge that is manspreading.

Fed up with men whose thighs fail to respect the boundaries of bus seats, the Spanish capital’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT) is to put up signs discouraging the practice.

The EMT - which explains that “el manspreading” is “an English term that describes the posture of men who open their legs too wide and take up neighbouring seats” - said the new signs are intended to remind people of the need to respect the space of all bus passengers.

Would-be manspreaders will hopefully be deterred by small pictures of a thoughtless, faceless red man invading the seat to his right .

“This new information sign is similar to those that already exist in other transport systems around the world to stop people adopting a posture that makes others uncomfortable,” the company said in a statement.

The EMT said it had come up with the initiative in partnership with Madrid city council’s equality department and the Microrrelatos Feministas collective, a women’s group that has launched an online petition for such signs to be installed.

Their petition, which has attracted more than 11,500 signatures, says: “All public transport has stickers explaining that room needs to be made for pregnant women, people with buggies, older people and those with disabilities, but there’s something that affects all of us practically every time we use public transport: manspreading.”

Similar initiatives have been launched around the world. Three years ago, the New York subway system began its own crackdown on the problem with a campaign entitled “Dude, stop the spread please. It’s a space issue”.

Seattle’s Sound Transit agency, meanwhile has used a sprawlingly self-centred purple octopus to plead for public transport courtesy.

Guardian News and Media

The Morning Sports Briefing

Follow Blues v Lions live, a quieter affair for Ireland in USA, Darragh Ó Sé on Cork and more

Sport

Wed, Jun 07, 2017, 07:29 Wed, Jun 07, 2017, 07:29

The Lions face their second warm-up match this morning and they will face a much sterner test than the Provincial Barbarians when they come up against Super Rugby franchise the Auckland Blues.

You can follow all of the action from Eden Park live from 7.45am with Patrick Madden on our liveblog, before catching all of the reports and reaction throughout the morning from our man in New Zealand Gerry Thornley.

With the likes of Sonny Bill Williams in their ranks and former Connacht coach Dave Ellis on the sidelines, the Blues will be a serious examination for the Lions. Yesterday Gerry Thornley sat down with Ellis to discuss the nomadic lifestyle which has seen him swap Galway for Auckland.

Meanwhile, it’s safe to say it’s a slightly quieter affair stateside where the Ireland squad have pitched up in New Jersey to little or no fanfare. Gavin Cummiskey spoke to Cian Healy about his frustrations with such a lack of game time at Leinster this season.

On to GAA and, in his column this morning, Darragh Ó Sé writes that Cork must beat Tipperary this Saturday or else they run the risk of going under. Beat them, he says, and they’ll have a Munster final in the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Lose and they’ll face a qualifier for a second year in a row. How many will come to see them? Would they get 4,000?

In disciplinary matters, Dublin’s Diarmuid Connolly is facing the prospect of a 12-week ban for pushing an official during Saturday’s win over Carlow, following yesterday’s meeting of the CCCC. Sean Moran writes that this case shows the limitations of the GAA’s disciplinary process.

In soccer, Jeff Hendrick looks set for a key role in this Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria while Patrick Madden last night attended one of the more unusual international friendlies when New Zealand took on Cabinteely in Blackrock.

Alleged drug dealer flashing cash on Facebook Live is arrested

Armed police burst in after man shows friends wads of cash, saying: ‘It don’t stop, man’

Offbeat

Sat, Jun 03, 2017, 16:50 Sat, Jun 03, 2017, 16:57

A Florida man joyfully flashing money live on the internet got a surprise when police officers barged in and arrested him for allegedly selling drugs.

A man identified by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as 22-year-old Breon Hollings went on Facebook Live to show friends a handful of money, saying: “It don’t stop, man, it don’t stop.”

He then retrieves more money from another room and starts shuffling it when he hears officers warning over a loudspeaker they are about to raid the house.

A stunned Hollings runs out of the room. Seconds later, officers barge in. Hollings is arrested off camera.

Hollings faces numerous drug charges and was being held on bail on Saturday.

AP

Clinton jokes Trump’s ‘covfefe’ tweet was ‘hidden message to Russians’

Democratic presidential candidate suggests Trump is using social media as distraction

Offbeat

Thu, Jun 01, 2017, 12:03 Thu, Jun 01, 2017, 12:04

Hillary Clinton has a hunch about Donald Trump’s mysterious tweet, “covfefe”.

“I thought it was a hidden message to the Russians,” the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate joked.

The former US first lady and New York senator later turned more serious during an interview at a conference near Los Angeles hosted by tech blog Recode.

She suggested that President Trump and his allies were using Twitter and other social media to sidetrack Americans’ attention from the investigations into the influence of Russia during the election campaign or the Republican health care bill.

“You can’t let Trump and his allies be a diversion. They are a threat,” Mrs Clinton said.

“They want to influence your reality. And that is what we’re up against and we can’t let that go unanswered, whether it’s on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere else.”

Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday that “Despite the constant negative press covfefe”. The tweet ended there.

Mrs Clinton talked at length about Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential contest, referring to US intelligence assessments that Russia not only meddled in the election, but did so to help Mr Trump defeat her.

With multiple investigations under way, she asked:

“How did they know what messages to deliver? Who told them? Who were they co-ordinating with, or colluding with?”

To pull it off, Russians would have needed to be “guided by Americans,” she added later.

AP

The Morning Sports Briefing

Tiger Woods arrest footage released, IRFU foreign-player policy clearly seen and more

Sport

Thu, Jun 01, 2017, 07:57 Thu, Jun 01, 2017, 07:57

First to rugby this morning and Warren Gatland last night selected three Irish players in his first Lions team to take on the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday.

Johnny Sexton, Rory Best and Iain Henderson will all line out from the start while Tadhg Furlong and Jared Payne are on the bench. Writing from Auckland, Gerry Thornley says that Gatland’s opening selection is looking to lay down a marker with a healthy blend of youth and experience.

On the domestic front, Gavin Cummiskey writes that the IRFU’s policy on foreign-based players is very clearly seen in Joe Schmidt’s squad selection for the tour of USA and Japan.

“It means that Donnacha Ryan’s time in Munster red and, as a result Ireland green, almost certainly ended last Saturday at the Aviva Stadium,” he writes.

On to golf and police dashcam footage has emerged of Tiger Woods being arrested in Florida on Monday night after he was found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes on the hard shoulder with two flat tyres.

In the footage – which, sadly, will most likely be the lingering image of perhaps the greatest golfer ever to play the game – the 14-time major winner stumbles through a number of sobriety tests before being handcuffed and put in the back of a police car.

Staying stateside and Martin O’Neill said last night that the result of tomorrow’s friendly with Mexico (1am Irish time on Friday morning) does not concern him so much; the Ireland manager instead putting the premium on his team benefitting from a good run out as well as giving fringe players a chance ahead of the World Cup qualifier with Austria on Sunday week.

Finally, in our women in sport pages Sonia O’Sullivan writes about learning how to run all over again. The former Olympic silver medallist speaks of completing a 5km fun run in Melbourne on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Cliona Foley speaks to Irish paralympian Kate Kerr-Horan about how a life-changing accident as a child didn’t stop her pursuing her equestrian dream.

Áras an uachtar reoite: Did the President buy everyone a 99 today?

Answer: No, he didn’t. Not even one. But that doesn’t mean it’s not all over Twitter.

Offbeat

Aine McMahon

Wed, May 31, 2017, 21:42 Wed, May 31, 2017, 21:55

No trip to Dún Laoghaire is complete without a visit to Teddy’s ice cream store where queues have been known to stretch as far as Howth. Almost.

And it seems even our President isn’t immune to the charms of a 99 on a sunny day.

Earlier on Wednesday, a photo appeared on Twitter claiming Michael D Higgins had bought everyone a 99 in Teddy’s.

He was in the area to open the 200th anniversary of Dún Laoghaire harbour celebrations but despite the tweet going viral, the story was too good to be true.

A spokesman for the President said an offer was made by Donal Marren, MC of the event, on behalf of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company after the President made a speech.

“No, the President did not buy ice creams for everyone but I’m sure his speech may have inspired the general feeling of goodwill that gave rise to the offer,” the spokesman said.

No 99s were delivered to The Irish Times.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Arsene Wenger agrees two year deal, Gordon D’Arcy on what Lions need from Saturday, and why GAA need more than fear and paranoia to stave off threat of doping

Sport

Wed, May 31, 2017, 08:30 Wed, May 31, 2017, 08:30

Months of speculation were put to bed last night with the news that Arsène Wenger has agreed a new two-year contract at Arsenal. There will be an announcement today to confirm the news.

The Arsenal board believe that certain structures and personnel around the manager need to change and improve, with a sporting director-type role to relieve pressure on Wenger being an option. But it remains to be seen to which specific changes have been agreed.

James McClean says that captaining Ireland in what will be his 50th appearance for his country, against Mexico in New Jersey on Thursday, will be a proud moment for him and his family.

“If I am fit and feeling good then I want to play, no matter what time it is, I want to play. Without singling too many players out, there has been players in the past who pulled out of games with injuries but always seem to be fit for their club side on the Saturday.”

Gordon D’Arcy believes that the Lions need not worry about showing their hand too early in the tour.

“For whatever reason the natural assumption is the Lions won’t gel quickly so they need to keep moves hidden to spring a surprise in the Tests. Yet, the better they perform the harder it will be for New Zealand to plan how to defend against them.”

In his column this morning, Darragh Ó Sé explains why the GAA needs more than fear and paranoia to stave off the very real threat of doping.

“There was a couple of years when I didn’t get the flu jab during the winter because I was half-afraid I’d do a drug test somewhere along the way and something would show up. It was the height of ignorance on my part.”

While Seán Moran thinks that the GAA are right to protect players during ongoing doping cases, as they have done with Brendan O’Sullivan over the past year.

“At the moment everyone is shooting in the dark as regards details because the ‘reasoned decision’ of the IADDP hasn’t been released nor has the finding of the GAA’s Anti-Doping Hearing Committee.

“What’s left is speculation about what actually happened, which is unfair on the player.”

Donald Trump deletes baffling late-night ‘covfefe’ tweet

Tweet by US president leads to much confusion and speculation on its meaning

Offbeat

Wed, May 31, 2017, 07:42 Wed, May 31, 2017, 22:39

Just after midnight in Washington, Donald Trump tweeted: “despite the constant negative press covfefe”. That was it. No more. Just that word ‘covfefe’ left hanging there.

It left many of his 31 million followers on Twitter baffled, and slightly concerned.

The tweet was active on Trump’s account without comment or clarification earlier on Wednesday, but was deleted several hours later.

It received more than the usual level of interest attracted by Trump’s tweets.

That it had not been immediately deleted was confusing to users, who leapt to speculate what, exactly, Trump might have meant by “covfefe”.

The Urban Dictionary promptly made an entry for the word, defining it as: “When you want to say “coverage” but your hands are too small to hit all the letters on your keyboard”.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary, which has a track record of fact-checking Trump’s tweets and neologisms on Twitter, decided to sit this one out.

Others suggested the tweet had taken the heat off US comedian Kathy Griffin, who had earlier been under fire for posting a video in which she held a replica of Trump’s severed bloody head.

Asked at a briefing whether people should be concerned that the president sent out an incoherent Tweet and left it up for hours, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: “No.”

“I think the president and a small group of people know exactly what he meant,” Spicer added when asked why the Tweet remained uncorrected for so long on Trump’s personal @realDonaldTrump account.

Kristina Wong, a US comedian, observed that the domain Covefefe. com had been promptly snapped up.

The actor, Zach Braff, predicted Sean Spicer’s wholehearted defence of the word.

“Covfefe” was trending in the US as Twitter rushed to get its gags in.

Trump has been known to tweet on both Android and Apple devices in the past, but the “covfefe” tweet in question had been sent from the Twitter app on an iPhone.

The news site Axios had reported on Thursday that the POTUS’ current device was an iPhone with only one app: Twitter.

It cited anonymous White House officials who said that limiting screen time was key to “forcing a more disciplined President Trump,” as witnessed on his overseas tour:

“In Trump’s case, it’s curtailing his time watching TV and banging out tweets on his iPhone. Trump himself has been pushing staff to give him more free time.

“But staff does everything it can to load up his schedule to keep him from getting worked up watching cable coverage, which often precipitates his tweets. It has worked well overseas so far.”

Guardian

Five things you need to know today

Morning briefing: school waiting lists, May gets a grilling

Irish News

Tue, May 30, 2017, 08:47 Tue, May 30, 2017, 08:48

Parents who have put down their children’s names years in advance for fee-paying secondary schools will lose their advantage under new legislation which will phase out such waiting lists within about three to five years.

It is understood Department of Education officials are planning to introduce a relatively short lead-in time for the phasing out of waiting lists under amendments to school admissions legislation.

While Irish tech firms and skilled IT workers are nervous about plans by US president Donald Trump to overhaul work-visa programmes, they could ultimately benefit from any possible immigration reform, Ireland’s outgoing consul general for San Francisco has said.

The Mercantile hospitality group behind top Dublin nightspots such as Cafe en Seine and the George is lining up a €20 million investment programme, after its warring shareholder blocs formally ended a bitter legal wrangle on Monday.

Three sets of proceedings, involving former chief executive Frank Gleeson and a US-Irish consortium that owned the majority of Mercantile, were struck out by the High Court.

Ethical guidelines based on Catholic canon law will cease to apply within the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, one of the most important hospital providers in Dublin, following the decision by the Sisters of Charity to withdraw from ownership of its hospitals after 183 years. The move to guidelines based on current laws and best clinical practice is likely to result in the hospital providing procedures, such as elective sterilisation, that were hitherto considered incompatible with its Catholic ethos.

British prime minister Theresa May faced laughter, jeers and heckling from a studio audience on Monday night as she struggled to answer questions about her record during a TV interview with Jeremy Paxman. When Mr Paxman suggested that negotiators in Brussels would view her as “a blowhard who collapses at the first sign of gunfire”, the audience applauded.

An English family has upped sticks and moved from their home outside London to an island off Donegal after purchasing their new house on eBay. Sam McGowan and her partner Jamie Walker were living in London’s commuter belt in Rainham, Kent with their two children, Logan, age 5, and Mia, age 8, and looking to broaden their horizons.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Tiger veers from core values again, Paul Dunne qualifies for US Open, and Jim McGuinness compares Mickey Harte and Brendan Rodgers

Sport

Tue, May 30, 2017, 08:30 Tue, May 30, 2017, 08:30

Golf

Paul Dunne earned his ticket to the US Open yesterday evening, after competing in 36-holes of the qualifying tournament in London, and then emerging from a seven-man play-off for the final four spots.

He becomes the fourth Irish player to earn his place in the field, joining Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell.

Dominating the headlines this morning though, 14-time Major winner Tiger Woods was arrested yesterday on a charge of drink driving.

Philip Reid asks; “Is it to be that the salient image in our minds will now be of that police mug shot, a photograph of a man staring into the abyss which flew around mainstream and social media, rather than of his iconic punched fist hitting the air in celebration of a holed putt, or lifting one trophy after another?”

Soccer

Huddersfield won the world’s most valuable football match in Wembley yesterday, beating Reading in the Championship play-off to earn promotion to the Premiership.

A scoreless 120 minutes of action was decided in a penalty shootout, with Huddersfield holding their nerve to end a 45 year absence from England’s top flight.

James McClean is likely to captain Ireland for Thursday’s friendly against Mexico in New Jersey.

Manager Martin O’Neill has been impressed by the winger’s maturity and improved defensive concentration. “His attitude is brilliant. In the way that you could say Jon Walters was very much our player for the Euros in the qualification stages, James has taken on that mantle in this campaign.”

GAA

In his column this morning Jim McGuinness explains how Mickey Harte and Brendan Rodgers share the same vision.

“For me, Brendan is a person who has over a long period of time actively reflected on the game as he sees it. So it comes from that absolute clarity of his vision. And I feel this is a quality which differentiates the good from the great and also winners from second place.”

Sport Ireland confirmed on Monday that Kerry footballer Brendan O’Sullivan has served a 21 week doping ban.

O’Sullivan’s doping ban shows how hard it is to make GAA sanctions stick.

Malachy Clerkin: “The GAA has always come across as fulfilling its anti-doping duties at the point of a bayonet. It hasn’t done a good enough job of educating its members on the dangers, the pitfalls and the very basic fact that GAA players aren’t the world’s only amateur sportspeople.”

Rugby

Meanwhile the Lions have left for New Zealand with Welsh outhalf Dan Biggar relishing working with Jonathan Sexton and Owen Farrell.

“The most important thing is not the battle for places but that we do everything on and off the field and back whoever is playing in all the games because we have the chance to achieve something historic.”

The Morning Sports Briefing

Roy Keane on Manchester’s resilience; Tyrrell on getting in shape; Toland pinpoints Scarlets’ improvement; Rás and rowing

Sport

Fri, May 26, 2017, 08:25 Fri, May 26, 2017, 08:25

Soccer

Roy Keane has admitted that the events of this week in Manchester have shocked him but he is unsure if football has the ability to ease the kind of pain suffered by the city’s inhabitants.

Speaking at the Republic of Ireland’s training camp in Fota Island, Keane admitted the reaction from the people of Manchester has not surprised him.

“The reaction has been nice but it’s not going to bring the people back who have been killed or badly injured. I am not surprised by the reaction of the city in the last few days. Manchester is a good city and there are lots of good cities out there and obviously people will come together. Manchester has had its ups and downs like everything else. It kind of tells you how unimportant football is in a sense.”

Gaelic games

In his column, Jackie Tyrrell looks back on his intercounty playing career and the battle to get down to his Championship fighting weight every year.

Jackie writes: “Like most GAA players, January was head-down time for me. Get the slog and the long running done, be very strict on my diet. I used make my girlfriend keep any chocolate in the house upstairs so that I wouldn’t see it. I didn’t mind her eating it in front of me – I’m not a psychopath – but I just didn’t want it sitting around the kitchen so that I’d be tempted.”

Rugby

In his weekly column, Liam Toland looks back at Scarlets ’ Pro 12 semi-final win over Leinster to try and figure out how they halted Leo Cullen’s free-scoring side at the RDS and how Munster can counter it in Saturday’s final.

Liam writes: “Keep your eyes peeled on their openside and the value he brings to the Scarlets’ defence. He may not get the turnover but watch the recycle clock.”

Gerry Thornley has been following the Lions’ tour preparations in Carton House this week and hears how the coaching staff have made the most of the limited time together ahead of departure for New Zealand.

Golf

Shane Lowry made a promising start in the PGA Championships at Wentworth and will start his second round two shots off the lead of Sweden’s Johan Carlsson.Philip Reid reports from the West Course.

Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell is just one shot off the leadat the Dean & DeLuca Invitational in Texas after an opening four-under 66.

Cycling

The hopes of the An Post Chainreactionof winning the Rás fell away on Thursday despite a stage win for Regan Gough in Dungloe.

Shane Stokes reports from Donegal as British rider James Gullen (Britain JLT Condor) took over the race leader’s jersey

And Irish Times journalist Killian Doyle has got his hands dirty this week by taking on the role as mechanic with one of the Rás teams. Read all about the thrills and the spills . . . and the cable ties.

Rowing

The O’Donovan brothers are back on the water this morning as they start the defence of their European title in the Czech Republic. Their heat gets underway at 10.30am Irish time. You can read Liam Gorman’s preview here.

Aerosol cans could explode on window sills in hot weather, warns fire brigade

Dublin Fire Brigade warns against leaving mirrors or aerosol cans near direct sunlight

Offbeat

Thu, May 25, 2017, 10:57 Thu, May 25, 2017, 11:29

Dublin Fire Brigade has warned people not to leave any aerosol cans on their window sills today as temperatures are set to reach 25 degrees.

The fire brigade also warned against leaving mirrors or reflective beads anywhere near direct sunlight as this can cause a fire or explosion.

The warnings come as the country experiences some of the sunniest weather we have had all year.

Met Éireann forecaster Liz Gavin said the highest temperatures today would be around the midlands and Leinster and would exceed those of Wednesday.

Wednesday was hot and sunny with temperatures of up to 24 degrees in parts.

“We’re expecting longer spells of sunshine [today]. Temperatures will be anything from 19 to 25 degrees generally.

“Temperatures will be at their highest in the midlands and in east Connacht, and in parts of the northwest,” Ms Gavin said.

She said it could “possibly be the hottest day of the year.”

The Morning Sports Briefing

Manchester United get the job done in Stockholm, Sonia O’Sullivan on the Cork mindset, Shane Lowry ready for Wentworth

Sport

Thu, May 25, 2017, 08:25 Thu, May 25, 2017, 08:25

Soccer

Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0 in an emotion-filled Europa League final in the Friends Arena outside Stockholm last night.

The win sees them qualify for the Champions League after a season to forget at Old Trafford, and after Monday’s terror attacks in Manchester killed 22 people and injured many more, this was exactly what the city of Manchester needed. Job done on all fronts.

Ken Early reports on a game in which José Mourinho’s team frustrated their young opponents; “This is the way Mourinho likes to win. It’s essentially Italian football of the old school, measured and clinical, not what many United fans would have identified as United football.”

Paul Pogba, whose deflected first half shot broke the deadlock, said after the game; “We played for England, we played for Manchester, and we played for the people who died.”

GAA

In her column this morning, Sonia O’Sullivan explains how there is something special about the Cork psyche.

The county’s hurlers’ victory against Tipperary last weekend was just the latest reminder of how the sports-mad county relishes success.

“If you are from Cork then you are owned by Cork, and there is no denying where you are from. And with that comes a little extra pressure to win in front of your home crowd.”

While Ciarán Murphy believes Cork’s surprise win over the champions alters all the Munster and All-Ireland permutations.

“The impact of one big result is seismic – and while Cork people are scrambling to adjust to the new reality of a fresh young team and even a possible Liam McCarthy, everyone else is catching up too.”

Rugby

Munster hooker Niall Scannell says he is relishing a shot at Pro12 glory against Scarlets this weekend. “There is no animosity between the teams or anything like that, but we used to always say to ourselves, we need to work on our breakdown in the week leading into the Scarlets.”

Golf

Shane Lowry is hoping that the PGA European Tour’s flagship championship at Wentworth will inspire a return to form for him.

“I’m just trying to play myself down and play my game and see where it takes me. Obviously, I love it around here.”

An Post Rás

Stage winner on Tuesday, race leader on Wednesday: for Irish rider Matthew Teggart, this An Post Rás has got off to a start he didn’t anticipate.

“I actually can’t believe it,” he told The Irish Times in Buncrana.

The Morning Sports Briefing

Stakes risen for Manchester United in Stockholm, way too much democracy in GAA, and Gordon D’Arcy on why Munster deserve the title

Sport

Wed, May 24, 2017, 08:15 Wed, May 24, 2017, 08:17

Manchester United face an entirely unfamiliar emotional pressure in tonight’s Europa League final against Ajax – your city is grieving, you must not let your people down.

After Monday night’s terror attacks in Manchester killed 22 people and injured many more, the stakes have risen above the pursuit of silverware, or Champions League qualification. Jose Mourinho’s team now must patch together more than just their disappointing season.

Ken Early is in Stockholm: “Maybe it’s only after something terrible has happened that you also appreciate the calming quality of football, its ritual reassurance. In its regularity and formal predictability, the game is a welcome counterpoint to a reality that is ever more frightening, chaotic and unfathomable.”

Meanwhile last night, Sam Allardyce confirmed that he has left his job as Crystal Palace manager. Days after the former England manager saved the club from relegation, he released a statement claiming that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and had no plans to take on another job. 

In his column this morning, Gordon D’Arcy writes that after everything that has transpired, if any team deserves to end this season with success it is Munster.

As for Leinster, he feels their back-to-back semi-final defeats will stand to them down the line.

“If winning a trophy is the only measure we judge Leinster by then we have the wrong model in place for that to be a realistic expectation every season, even if it is remains their stated goal both internally and publicly.”

Darragh Ó Sé believes there’s way too much democracy in the GAA, questioning the role of Congress in every single rule change. 

“I looked around to see how other sports change their rules and there’s never any of this carry-on. Soccer and rugby change rules all the time and there’s never a word about it.”

Matthew Teggart took stage three of the An Post Rás into Bundoran on Tuesday, underlining both his and the Chain Reaction team’s quality, after their main sponsor flagged their departure.