Robinson reclaims fortress Aviva; Munster mark Foley’s five year anniversary

It feels like it's been a long time coming, but Stephen Kenny's Ireland are on the board having finally won a game in front of their home faithful in Dublin. On a night where Callum Robinson continued his goalscoring exploits, earning praise from his manager in the process, a dominant display against a hapless Qatar allowed Ireland to shift the narrative surrounding the Kenny era into a largely positive one after back-to-back wins. "Just like the fiercest Irish teams that have come before, there is a surging belief that they can turn Lansdowne Road into a fortress once again," writes Gavin Cummiskey. Meanwhile over in London, violence marred England's 1-1 draw at home against Hungary as visiting supporters clashed with the police at Wembley.

This Saturday's meeting of Munster and Connacht marks the first interpro of the season but also the five year anniversary of Anthony Foley's passing. "Time passes quickly indeed," writes Gerry Thornley this morning, "but it is entirely apt and fitting that this poignant date coincides exactly with a competitive Munster match at the citadel which Foley graced on so many occasions, for St Munchin's College, Shannon and Munster, and that supporters will be able to attend in significant numbers for only the third time since Covid restrictions were lifted." Elsewhere, Gordon D'Arcy delves into Ireland's outhalf depth chart, describing the good form of Johnny Sexton as both a problem and a solution. The recent displays from Munster's Joey Carbery plus the durability concerns that surround Sexton's provincial teammate Harry Byrne have ensured that no one has started the season by putting any great pressure on the Ireland captain.

Andy McEntee survived a vote on his future as Meath football manager at a meeting of the county board in Trim. A total of 73 votes were cast, with just 27 in favour of sacking McEntee after five seasons, compared to 46 against, a result that signals the third time in 11 years that a county board vote has gone against the wishes of the county's executive committee with regard to team management. Seán Moran's column this morning outlines how the Gaelic Players' Association conducted a detailed briefing session for media to promote their advocacy of Option B - the league-based proposal - in the football championship reform debate. Despite this improved level of organisation from the players, it appears as if GPA support won't be enough for the proposal to pass through congress since many in the older generation, which is of course more likely to include decision makers, believe that provincial championships are important because of the tradition and the interest of counties in playing their neighbours.

Then in golf, the R&A and the USGA, who jointly preside over the sport's rules, have moved to limit the permitted driver length to 46 inches starting from January 1st. The decision is largely seen as one to "Bryson-proof" tournaments after American Bryson DeChambeau displayed some ferocious hitting distances while experimenting with a 48 inch driver, one which could soon be illegal.