Rio 2016: Irish in action on Thursday

11.41am - Golf

After months of speculation over which of the world’s elite would actually turn up at the Olympics – with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth pulling out due to fears over the Zika Virus – golf finally makes its return to the Games. Ireland’s chief medal hope is three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, and he tees off at 11.41pm alongside New Zealand’s Danny Lee and Matteo Manassero of Italy. Seamus Power is out at 2.47pm with India’s SSP Chawraisa and Taipei’s Wen-Tang Lin.

1.00pm - Rowing

Ireland have two crews competing in semi-finals, which will take place on today following Wednesday’s postponement due to bad weather. Finishing in the top three secures a place in the A Final. The lightweight women’s double of Claire Lambe and Sinead Lynch face a real test to take their place in the top six. The lightweight men’s double (Gary and Paul O’Donovan) are good tips for a place and will hope to continue the form that saw them win their heat.

1.00pm - Badminton

World number 62 Chloe Magee makes her Rio bow against China’s Yihan Wang on a very busy opening day of badminton. This will be Magee’s third Olympics after London and her debut in Beijing – where she became the first ever Irish woman to win a badminton match at the Games. She faces a stern task in her first Group P clash against Wang, who was silver medallist four years ago and a world champion in 2011 – and is currently ranked number two in the world.

2.54pm - Equestrian

A debut that has been a long time coming, Judy Reynolds will finally make a first Olympic appearance in the individual dressage at the Equestrian Centre. The 35-year-old qualified for Beijing in 2008 but passed up the opportunity, feeling she didn’t have the necessary experience. Reynolds then failed to qualify for London four years ago and will get a long-awaited chance on the biggest stage of all on board Vancouver K.

3.00 pm - Hockey

It has been a chastening Olympics thus far for Craig Fulton’s side, who have been beaten by India, the Netherlands and Germany in their first three group games. Thursday’s fixture presents a brilliant chance to get their first win against fellow Group B whipping boys Canada. The Green Machine haven’t played all that badly in Rio, but a failure to convert their chances – spurning numerous penalty corners – has seen their Olympic dream disintegrate. However they have every chance of opening their account against Canada.

4.45pm - Boxing

What is undoubtedly Ireland’s strongest sport at the Olympics has posed nothing but headaches so far, with Michael O’Reilly sent home from the Games and both David Oliver Joyce and Paddy Barnes knocked out in the early rounds. However one of the brightest moments so far was Steven Donelly’s Olympic debut against the Zohir Kedache of Algeria. Donnelly boxed beautifully at times in his first bout, slipping into a lovely rhythm and easily progressing into the second round. Mongolia’s Byambyn Tuvshinbat was impressive as he out-boxed Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta but Donnelly will expect to progress here.

5.12pm - Swimming

Shane Ryan is back in the pool on Thursday in the heats of the men’s 50m freestyle. Ryan is off in heat six, and it is his third event of the Olympics. He reached the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke and exited in the heats of the 100m freestyle.