The Morning Sports Briefing

Soccer: Premier League

Manchester City's very slim title chances were ended last night with a shock defeat to Crystal Palace, the same team who last season held Liverpool to a draw which more or less ensured the Premier League title for City. How things change in 12 months.

The loss amazingly moves them down to fourth in the table, with Arsenal now looking the favourites for second and City in danger of even falling behind neighbours Manchester United in the end-of-season standings.

Yaya Toure and co are now really paying for their lack of consistency.

Golf: Masters

Tiger Woods remains the box office event as a never-before-seen crowd for an afternoon practice two-ball gathered to see the four-time Masters champion tee off. Woods attracted crowds 10 deep at the first tee and he says he's feeling positive after a dismal few months;

“It’s been a process. But I’m on the good side now. It’s progression. I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament and it’s finally there.”

Having celebrated his 28th birthday last week, Shane Lowry's upward graph in world golf means that the fear factor that works its way into Augusta rookies may not impact so much upon him this week.

He’s realising a lifetime ambition to be teeing it up at the Masters, and his aim for now is to get to know the renowned course, “I’m generally quite good at getting to know courses. I think I will be okay”.

Rugby: Pro12

Connacht coach Pat Lam was able to enjoy a largely positive medical prognosis ahead of Saturday's crucial Guinness Pro12 game against Ulster at the Sportsground - New Zealand centre Bundee Aki, who hasn't played since undergoing ankle surgery in the second week of January, is available.

As is winger Matt Healy who suffered a rib contusion and was replaced during last Friday’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Gloucester, Andrew Brown, flanker Eoin McKeon and prop Ronan Loughney also return to training this week.

Racing: Grand National

Something seismic was necessary to shift Tony McCoy off Fairyhouse's centre-stage but Katie Walsh managed it with aplomb in a dramatic Boylesports Irish Grand National success on the Sandra Hughes-trained Thunder And Roses - only the third woman to ever win the race.

GAA: Allianz League

Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan isn't letting last weekend's defeat to Dublin have an affect on his team's preparations for their league semi final against the same opposition. If Monaghan can cut our their mistakes and close the space for the Dublin attack they can pull of a win against a team who have now handed out heavy beatings to them in their last two meetings.

What to watch out for:

John O'Sullivan is at the Leinster press conference this morning and he'll have the latest team news from there.

Third placed Atletico Madrid host David Moyes' Real Sociedad tonight in the mid-week La Liga game.

Sky Sports 5 from 6.55pm

Staying on the European soccer front and Juventus look to turn around their first leg deficit against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia semi final.

Sky Sports 3 from 7.40pm