The Morning Sports Briefing

Soccer

This evening is the first leg of Ireland’s biggest match in years and, without a doubt, the most important of Martin O’Neill’s reign. The Irish squad touched down in Zenica yesterday with a number of absentees through injury and suspension.

O'Neill acknowledges that the scale of Ireland's task is quite considerable and that a lot of people seem to be underestimating the Bosnians. Ireland are without John O'Shea, Jonathan Walters, Shane Long, Rob Elliot, David Meyler, Paul McShane, Shay Given and Keiren Westwood for tonight's match and O'Neill says he has stressed to the players that the most important objective is still being in the tie come Monday night.

As Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time top scorer Edin Dzeko is a terrifying prospect for any defender but Richard Keogh is unfazed. Speaking in Zenica yesterday Keogh said that he is relishing the challenge of coming up against Dzeko.

The Roma striker was speaking himself about how the location of the first leg is a huge boost to his side.

“We won so many games here and hopefully we can do more tomorrow. I don’t think you have been missing me because of the results. In the last two matches we showed we can play even without important players. We are at home and we are in Zenica – and I really love to say that: we are at home here – and I hope we are going to win,” he said.

In his column today Brian Kerr has stressed the importance of Martin o'Neill's team selection, especially in defence.

Kerr says that it is vital O’Neill comes up with the right defensive combination in the absence of John O’Shea.

Rugby

This evening sees the start of this year’s Champions Cup as Leicester Tigers take on Stade Francais in Munster’s pool. Both Munster and Ulster play tomorrow while Leinster get their campaign underway on Sunday.

Seán Cronin has been speaking about the huge lift the squad have got from the return of Isa Nacewa. Leinster take on Wasps at the RDS on Sunday and Cronin says that a lot of the squad look up to Nacewa hugely and that he is "a fabulous leader".

In his column Liam Toland has been discussing how the 'win-at-all-costs' mentality of underage rugby needs to change.

“There is no end to the football ability on this island so it’s simply a matter of early coaching intervention aligned to appropriate underage competitions and not the win -at-all-costs rugby which parents are often pushing hard for on the sideline.”

GAA

A last-ditch attempt to convene discussions between Galway hurlers and county officials failed on Thursday with the Anthony Cunningham debacle set to rumble on for some time yet.

The discussion will now go to the county board meeting on Monday. The Galway players, who have been holding out for the resignation of Cunningham, are not believed to be interested in pursuing compromise on the matter.

In club matters Killarney Legion will take on Nemo Rangers in the Munster semi-final after the Kerry county board's nomination was given the green light yesterday.

Difficulties arose because the Kerry county championship has not yet concluded and Legion have been nominated by the county despite having a county final replay against South Kerry scheduled for next weekend. However, those difficulties have now been solved and Legion will play.

Onto international rules and selector Pádraic Joyce has sounded a warning to the Irish players, saying that better kicking and avoiding normal Gaelic football tactics will be vital to success over Australia later this month.

Golf

It was a hugely disappointing day for Shane Lowry in Shangai this morning as the Offaly man slumped to a 75 to sit well off the pace at one over par.

Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard leads on 12 under after a 66, two shots ahead of Thongchai Jaidee and Sergio Garcia.

Paul McGinley matched yesterday’s 71 with another round of the same number to go into the weekend on two under par.

On the PGA Tour Graeme McDowell opened with a good round of 67 to sit two shots off the leader, Justin Leonard, at the OHL Classic.

Hockey

After securing qualification for next year's Rio Olympics the Irish men's hockey team have moved up to 12th in the world rankings – an all-time high.

Ireland will take on Spain in a three match series in Barcelona at the end of this month as Olympics preparation steps up a gear.

What to watch out for

Soccer: Ireland take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first leg of the Euro 2016 play-offs in Zenica. RTÉ 2 and Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.

Wales and England are both in friendly action this evening with the Welsh taking on Holland (BBC 2 Wales from 7.30pm) while England face Spain (ITV from 7.30).

Rugby: The Champions Cup gets underway as Leicester welcome Stade Francais. BT Sport Europe from 7pm.

Golf: Graeme McDowell sits tied-ninth at the Mayakoba Classic on the PGA Tour. Sky Sports 4 from 6pm. Coverage of the third round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai begins at 3am on Saturday morning.

Cricket: England take on Pakistan in their second ODI in Abu Dhabi. Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am.