The Morning Sports Briefing

Arsenal draw leaves City’s hopes in balance

Manchester City’s hopes of finishing in the top four and ensuring Pep Guardiola takes over a side playing Champions League football took a major dent yesterday as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal at the Etihad.

It was Manuel Pellegrini’s final home game in charge of City but the club’s second most successful manager of all time found himself giving a speech to an empty stadium as supporters made their feelings known following a result which gives Manchester United the chance to leapfrog their city rivals into fourth place.

In his column today Ken Early looks at the incoming Guardiola’s tenure at Bayern Munich, one which ultimately must be looked on as a failure.

Elsewhere yesterday Tottenham’s brilliant season continued to peter out as they were beaten 2-1 by Southampton at White Hart Lane, while Liverpool beat Watford.

Clare finally edge Waterford

It took a long time to separate the two sides but it was Clare who delivered the telling blow in yesterday’s Allianz Hurling League Divison One final replay against Waterford, with skipper Tony Kelly slotting two late points to give Davy Fitzgerald’s side a 1-23 to 2-19 win at Semple Stadium and dethrone the defending champions.

And in his column Nicky English suggests both sides will be in the mix for the Liam McCarthy Cup come September, he writes: “In fact, It’s been a siginificant league, not just a significant league final, because there’s no question in my mind that both of these teams will have a big say in the All-Ireland.

Rory’s late charge not enough

Rory McIlroy produced a storming final day display at the Wells Fargo Championship but it proved too little too late as his final round of 66 left him on seven under par, two strokes behind eventual winner James Hahn.

Golden day on the water for Ireland

And it was a good day on the water for Ireland yesterday, as Gary and Paul O’Donovan took gold and Sanita Puspure a bronze at the European Rowing Championships in Brandenburg.