Griffin retirement another blow for Ireland; 50 years of the All-Ireland club final

Ciara Griffin's retirement represents another challenge for Ireland to overcome as they look to continue to counteract a difficult few weeks off the pitch by winning on it. Griffin, the side's talismanic captain, described herself as "the happiest person in Ireland' after her team beat the USA at the end of a week that started with Anthony Eddy, director of women's rugby, shipping the blame for the recent World Cup disappointment onto the players and away from the IRFU. Griffin, aged just 27, says Eddy's comments had nothing to do with her decision, but rather the pandemic and ensuing lockdown had first made her consider life away from international rugby. The failure to qualify for the World Cup appears to have hastened her decision. Saturday's Test against Japan at the RDS will be her last in a green jersey. In his column this morning, Gordan D'Arcy offers his take on Ireland's win over the All Blacks, with the side's backrow coming in for particularly strong praise: "During my time with Ireland the backrow of Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip was arguably the best and one that provided the best balance in blended skillsets for that unit. Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan look like being pretty serious rivals."

This Sunday marks the 50-year anniversary of the All-Ireland club final. That season ended with East Kerry beating Bryansford of Down to win the football crown. Seán Moran takes a deep dive into the history of the competition, starting with his own initial experience of it in 1990. As Moran puts it: "Clichés aren't difficult to find when looking at the club championship from 'it's the real GAA' to how special it is 'playing with the lads you grew up with' as well as the more idiosyncratic, 'they'd climb a tree to get after a fella'. Yet all the well-worn phrases have the ring of truth." Elsewhere, one of the less sexy motions on the clár for the recent Special Congress was the introduction of audit and risk committees in counties. It comprises an independent committee, operating outside the county board and reports to Croke Park on spending and was voted in by 91 per cent by congress. Declan Bogue looks at the astronomical costs of running a club, using the case of Omagh in Tyrone to show how important to the association's future the introduction of such a committee may well be.

Last night saw a dramatic win for the Republic of Ireland under-21 side as Ollie O'Neill's late winner secured a 1-0 victory over Sweden. The result in Tallaght was a particularly important one that kept the side's qualification hopes for the European Championships alive. David Wilson reports from the Tallaght Stadium. In other soccer action, a Gareth Bale-less Wales drew at home to Belgium in Cardiff, a result that ensures they will have home advantage in their World Cup playoff semi-final.

Irish cricket received a boost yesterday when it was announced that the country will co-host the 2030 T20 World Cup alongside England, Wales and Scotland. Plans had been made in the background for the development of a permanent cricket stadium before the news was announced, but it appears as if the 2030 date has now given more clarity as to when a new facility may be built by at the National Sport Campus in Abbotstown. In hockey, Ireland's World Cup participation may be in doubt as 20 Ulster clubs challenge a new membership fees structure. The model has changed to one of paying per individual player rather than per club, a shift that was needed in order to sustain funding of the sport on the island, but is now under threat after this challenge.