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Poland snatch a draw late on; Dublin dominate All Star nominations

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

Ireland players thank the travelling fans after their draw with Poland at Stadion Miejski. Photograph: Inpho

Wed Sep 12 2018 - 07:40

Aiden O'Brien marked his senior international debut with a goal as the Republic of Ireland came within minutes of ending a turbulent week with a morale-boosting victory in Poland. Substitute Mateusz Klich's 87th-minute equaliser snatched a 1-1 draw. Irish captain Séamus Coleman is now a major doubt for next month's Nations League games against Denmark and Wales after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot.

All-Ireland football champions Dublin have had 12 of their players nominated for PwC GAA All Stars - while the vote for Footballer of the Year will also be a localised All-Dublin affair. Brian Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny and Jack McCaffrey are the three names in contention, and the Young Footballer of the Year award is between David Clifford, Brian Howard and Tyrone's Michael McKernan. In his column this morning, Sean Moran explains why football's growing hopelessness needs to be addressed: "Competition is arguably more of an issue than the quality of the football but there comes a stage at which intervention is necessary."

Kerry full-forward Kieran 'Star' Donaghy has retired from intercounty football - the 35 year-old has won three All Stars, four All-Irelands and in 2006 was named Footballer of the Year. According to Keith Duggan, he was "simultaneously, one of the most unorthodox and unique attacking talents to ever lace up a pair of football boots." The Irish Times' Eamon Donoghue writes about meeting the great man in his 'Underdogs' diary this morning, ahead of tomorrow night's second episode.

In rugby news Ulster's Jordi Murphy has been ruled out of Sunday's game with the Isuzu Southern Kings by an ankle ligament issue. There's good news for Connacht however with Ireland centre Bundee Aki set to make his first appearance of the season when Andy Friend's squad face Edinburgh on Friday evening.

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Nicolas Roche's BMC Racing teammate Rohan Dennis was the winner of Tuesday's La Vuelta stage 16 time trial in Torrelavega - Roche was 45th in the race against the clock, three minutes and four seconds back. Simon Yates finished a solid 13th to inch his overall lead upwards.

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