The Morning Sports Briefing

Dundalk a step closer to the Champions League

Champions League after they drew 2-2 with Iceland’s FH Hafnarfjordur last night, progressing on away goals.

David McMillan was the hero for the Lilywhites, scoring twice in the second half, and now Stephen Kenny’s side will face BATE Borisov of Belarus in the next round - the team who dumped them at out the same stage last year.

Elsewhere Brendan Rodgers and Celtic were spared further blushes in the second leg of their tie against the Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, winning 3-0 at Parkhead.

Big Sam gets the big job

Sam Allardyce is set to be named the new England manager today, with the current Sunderland boss expected to sign a two-year deal with the English FA who feel he has the ability to restore the nation’s “missing identity.” David Moyes is the favourite to replace Allardyce on Wearside.

Lowry looking to bounce back

Shane Lowry has endured a difficult recent spell culminating in missing the cut in the Open at Royal Troon, in his column he writes: “I’m looking to put the last three weeks behind me, and where better than at the US PGA in Baltsurol next week?”

Sonia O’Sullivan

In her column today Sonia O’Sullivan reflects on the recent Monaco athletics meeting as the Olympics edges ever closer, and she suggests the issue of intersex athletes will be prevalent in Rio, she writes: “Once again Caster Semenya led the charge, and finished with the fastest women’s 800m time for eight years with her 1:55.33.

“She will be very hard to beat in Rio, and her results hard to accept too, without raising eyebrows and wondering about the validity of it all.”

GAA stats

And in today’s GAA statistics column Eamon Donoghue looks at the increasing importance of handpassing in football, with 70 minute GAA games now seeing more use of the hands to distribute the ball than in high-level rugby games.

What to watch out for:

Cycling

Stage 18 of the Tour de France (TG4 1.10pm-4.55pm, Eurosport 1 2pm-5pm, ITV4 2pm-5pm)

Golf

The Canadian Open gets underway (SS4 9pm-midnight)