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Dublin equal All Starts record; James McClean will never choose least resistance

The Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with ‘The Irish Times’ sports team

Manchester’s Daniel James celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the Europa League win over Real Sociedad. Photo: Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP

Ruaidhrí Croke's face
Ruaidhrí Croke
Fri Feb 19 2021 - 07:33

It's another record for the Dublin footballers this morning as Dessie Farrell's side equal the record nine All Stars haul of their predecessors in 1977 and Kerry in 1981. The balance is made up of players from Cavan, with three, Mayo, two, and one for Tipperary. For a full breakdown of the team you can read Seán Moran's report. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the GAA All Stars and this morning we look back on that very first ceremony which was devised by sports writers and sponsored by a tobacco company.

Moving to rugby and Gavin Cummiskey writes this morning that yesterday's news of Lynne Cantwell being appointed South Africa's women's high performance director is very much their gain and the IRFU's loss. "That Ireland's most capped female (86) has been "lured" to the southern hemisphere in a "departmental rejigging" shows how highly regarded Cantwell is in rugby circles," he writes. Elsewhere, Leo Cullen spoke yesterday on the concussion issue which continues to dominate rugby at the moment with the Leinster coach saying that it is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Meanwhile, Andy Farrell appears somewhat reluctant to use next week's Six Nations clash with Italy as an opportunity to blood some uncapped youngsters.

On to soccer and Johnny Watterson writes this morning that James McClean will never choose the path of least resistance after the Derryman hit the headlines this week discussing some of the horrendous abuse he has received throughout his career in England. "For McClean to deny his history and keep his head down, whether in what he says or his actions in declining to wear a poppy, or what is inked on his body, would be to be unfaithful to what he is and what he represents," he writes. On the pitch last night Manchester United made light work of Real Sociedad with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side running out 4-0 winners in the first leg of their last-32 clash in Turin. Elsewhere, Arsenal drew with Benfica, Leicester came away from Slavia Prague with a scoreless draw and Tottenham saw off Wolfsberger 4-1 with Gareth Bale on target.

In cycling, Ian O'Riordan looks ahead to the season as Sam Bennett puts a new shoe to the pedal at the UAE Tour which begins on Thursday while, in golf, Rory McIlroy struggled in the opening round of the Genesis Invitational where Sam Burns leads.