The Morning Sports Briefing

Liverpool in Europa League final

Liverpoolare through to the final of the Europa League after they eased past Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield last night.

The Yellow Submarine proved yellow-bellied as they tamely surrendered their one goal advantage from the first leg and goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana, after Bruno Soriano’s early own goal, were enough to put the home side one game away from lifting Europe’s second tier competition.

They will face defending champions Sevilla in the final after the competition specialists kept up their pursuit of a third straight title with a 3-1 win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, the La Liga side progressing 5-3 on aggregate.

Liam Toland on CJ Stander’s feedback

In his column today Liam Toland looks at the importance of feedback from your peers, something CJ Stander received in abundance when he was named the IRUPA Players' Player of the Year earlier this week.

He writes: “What value is this for the man? Well when he walks back into the Munster dressing room or more specifically the Ireland dressing room he does so in the knowledge that the players sitting with him accept him as the best. That’s quality feedback!”

Slaying the stripy dragon

And today John Allen reflects on Clare and Waterford's draw last weekend and how a new style of hurling is being developed, one which has the goal of sinking Kilkenny.

He writes: “Like it or lump it, the end game is slaying the stripy dragon and keeping it slayed. How it is achieved is what is being worked on.”

McIlroy has work to do

Rory McIlroy has work to do if he wants to retain his Wells Fargo Championship title after an opening round of 73 left him eight shots off the hot pace set by American leaders Steve Wheatcroft and Andrew Loupe who both sit at seven under par.

McIlroy is the pick of the Irish after the first round however with Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry both sitting a shot further back.

What to watch out for:

Football

There are three League of Ireland fixtures tonight, with Dundalk playing Galway (Setanta, 8pm ko), Finn Harps facing Bohemians and St Pat’s welcoming Derry.

Golf

The second round of the Wells Fargo Championship continues with Shane Lowry out at 1.10pm (GMT), Padraig Harrington at 5.50pm (GMT) and Rory McIlroy at 6.10pm (GMT) (SS4 9pm-12am)