Leona Maguire makes a solid start; Jackie Tyrrell backs Clare to beat Waterford

Leona Maguire's opening round of level-par 72 provided a solid start to the Women's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club where American Lizette Salas used her power game to good effect in claiming the first round lead with a five-under-par 67. The Cavan native is on a hot streak of form, which has seen her finish tied-ninth in the Mediheal Championship and runner-up in the Meijer Classic in back-to-back weeks.

In his column this morning (Subscriber Only) Jackie Tyrrell explains why in modern hurling warfare, Clare's variety can take down Waterford as championship hurling returns this weekend: "I have a really good feeling for Clare here. That would have seemed a silly thing to say after such a disastrous start to the year for them, both on and off the field. But they have the one thing everybody is dying to bring into the championship with them – they have momentum." Ciarán Kilkenny appears to have put to bed any rumours that Stephen Cluxton has retired from intercounty football by saying that the Dublin goalkeeper is back training with the panel ahead of this year's championship.

Burnley have begun their summer recruitment with the signing of Stoke's Republic of Ireland under-21 defender Nathan Collins. Clarets chairman Alan Pace said they were pleased to have beaten off competition for the "much sought-after" Collins. Liverpool and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has pledged to continue pushing first-choice Alisson Becker after signing a new five-year contract. Uefa has abolished the away goals rule for all of its club competitions from next season.

Meanwhile, Tadhg Furlong will start for the British and Irish Lions against Japan on Saturday after Zander Fagerson became the second Scotland international to be ruled out of action. There's plenty of motivation for Irish and Scottish players as the Lions face Japan tomorrow afternoon. The Ireland Under-20s make six changes as the challenge steps up against Wales in tonight's round two Six Nations match.