FOR THE FIRST time in the county’s history, the Clare men’s football team reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals this year.

Indeed, they previously qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions in 1992 but this is the furthest the county has advanced since the introduction of the back-door system.

The Banner’s Niamh O’Dea had two brothers (Cian and Jack) involved in that impressive run and she also played a pivotal role in steering the Clare ladies to an All-Ireland Intermediate final against Kildare this year.

Later today, she’s back on club duty as the Banner converge on Mallow to battle it out for a senior Munster title. Standing in their way, however, are Mourneabbey of Cork, who are seeking their third consecutive title.

The last game for 2016 in @MunsterLGFA is going to be a good one! Tomorrow in Mallow at 3pm @banner_ladies take on @MourneabbeyLFC pic.twitter.com/wzAtxxgETH

— Munster LGFA (@MunsterLGFA) November 4, 2016

It’s a repeat of the 2014 provincial decider where the Clare side were defeated, and O’Dea says they’ve learned valuable lessons from that loss.

“There’s no getting around it,” she told The42, “they’re a good team and they’ve been in the last two All-Ireland finals. But, look, at the end of the day, we’ll worry about our own game. If we can perform on the day there’s nothing that can stop us. Obviously they’ve a few key players to look out for but it all comes down to ourselves and how we play and how we can get the best performance out of ourselves.

We went up for long stretches of the last game but, typical Cork team, they never give up. Their strong players really performed that day. But if we focus on ourselves, we know they have key players but we know we’ve a good panel and we’re all a year older and a year wiser so hopefully that’ll play into our hands.”

The Banner were crowned the Clare county champions for the sixth successive time earlier this year, and wins in the Munster B Championship against Southern Gaels (Kerry) and Ballymacarbry (Waterford) granted them the chance to atone for that loss two years ago.

O’Dea says that each fixture has brought more improvements to their game.

“The year has gone good so far,” she says, “no complaints. The game against Southern Gaels was probably the most open we’ve had in a long time, it really ebbed and flowed up and down. We’d a lot of goals and a lot of scores. It was a good game to come out on top of because they were a good strong team.

What a great day for our seniors beating Ballymac 4-9 to 1-12 in the Munster B final. Well done girls. We are so proud @ClareFM @Clarelgfa pic.twitter.com/GaKq7j3LLc

— Banner Ladies (@banner_ladies) October 23, 2016

“Against Ballymacarbry, we’ve played them a lot over the last six years and it’s been back and forward all along. But they’ve all been tough games and very different games. It was ideal preparation because in every single game there were different tactics and that,” O’Dea added.

The UL student, who is currently doing a Masters in Sports Performance, turned 23 last week and a win today would be a birthday present worth waiting for. Her father, JJ, forms part of the Banner management team and her sister, Eva, would be lining out today but for an extensive injury she sustained while playing for Clare in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Tipperary.

And with brothers Cian and Jack also playing for Clare, there’s a good blend of rows and laughs whenever football is discussed in the O’Dea household.

“There’s a good bit of banter. Eva got injured there and she’d be a key player for us and the father is involved as well and he loves it. There’s a bit of everything but it’s been all positive so far in the household. This is a big year for football in Clare, the men’s and women’s team did very well. There’s a few rows but it’s all good.”

Cian and Jack even organised a supporters’ bus to travel to Croke Park and support their sister in the All-Ireland final.

“They had a group coming up from home and that and there was other Clare lads as well so there’s been good support this year and we can’t complain about that.”

Niamh O’Dea on the attack against Kildare in the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate final

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

As for the wounds left by that threadbare defeat to Kildare, O’Dea admits that while the hurt still lingers, it also offers her motivation to ensure her club side make the most of the opportunity presented to them today.

“We had big expectations going into that game and then it didn’t happen on the day. It was disappointing for us because, looking back, we didn’t do ourselves justice. I suppose today is a chance to prove ourselves again. It would be a bit of redemption because we know we’re good enough, we know we’re capable so it’s just about going out and performing to our capabilities.”

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Home

Source: John Locher

• Mayo’s Lee Keegan has been named GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and Waterford’s Austin Gleeson Hurler of the Year at the All-Star awards.
• Gleeson was also named Young Hurler of the Year and Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor Young Footballer of the Year at tonight’s ceremony.
• Seven players from Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning team were named in the All-Star hurling team.
• World football’s governing body, Fifa, has charged the FAI over wearing a political symbol to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, during March’s friendly against Switzerland.
• Ireland 7s captain and Lansdowne club man Tom Daly will make his debut for Leinster against Zebre tomorrow.
• Former Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell looks set to play his first match of the season when he takes the field for Brighton’s U23 side.
• A New Zealand journalist mistook Ireland prop Jack McGrath for Rory Best, in an awkward moment in the pre-match press conference.
• Conor McGregor has promised to punish Eddie Alvarez for suggesting the Dubliner will make for an “easy fight” next week.

 Away

Source: Tim Goode

• Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has welcomed Yaya Toure’s apology for agent Dimitri Seluk’s outbursts against the former Barcelona manager.
• Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes thinks things will get worse, before they get better for his former club.
• Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson as the coach of Shanghai SIPG, earning a cool £11m a year.
• Kevin Durant came back to haunt his former side by scoring 39 points in Golden State Warriors’ victory over Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Best Thing We Shared

Former German international goalkeeper Tim Wiese made a successful debut in WWE.

Source: Watch News 2/YouTube

On The Record

New Zealand legend Dan Carter was left disappointed by his recent doping allegations:

It was as simple as that within the WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] regulations. Unfortunately some details got leaked and a story was made of it. I obviously had done nothing wrong and it has been proven now. Just kind of all moved from all that really.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Where we were today

Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell are in Chicago to get all the latest news on the eve of Ireland’s Test match against New Zealand.

Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

While Sinead Farrell attended Lynn Harvey’s weigh-in ahead of her fight against Mary Romero at the National Boxing Stadium.

The Fixture List

•  The November internationals get underway with Ireland aiming to make history against New Zealand (kick-off at 8.00pm), while Wales entertain Australia earlier in the day (kick-off 2.30pm).
• Not forgetting the Pro12 with Leinster in Italy to take on Zebre (kick-off 4.05pm).
• There’s plenty of club GAA matches to keep us entertained with Castleknock looking to shock St Vincent’s in the Dublin SFC final (throw-in 3.00pm) on Saturday, with Ballyea against Thurles Sarsfields (throw-in 2.00pm) in the Munster SHC, the pick of Sunday’s action.
• Two-time Olympic medalist Paddy Barnes will make his pro debut in Belfast at the Titanic Centre on Saturday evening, while Lynn Harvey fights her second pro fight in Dublin.
• The showpiece footballing event of the year takes place on Sunday, with Dundalk aiming for a second consecutive double, when they face Cork City in the FAI Cup final (kick-off 3.40pm), while Wexford Youths face Shelbourne in the women’s final (kick-off 12:00pm).
• The pick of the Premier League matches takes place at the Emirates when North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham go head-t0-head at noon on Sunday/
• UFC Mexico takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning, while Jessie Vargas meets Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Showbiz, Baby!

The man himself, Eamon Dunphy, along with some familiar faces, are to launch a new football podcast.

Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube

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Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan with Galway’s Daithi Burke

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

SEVEN PLAYERS FROM All-Ireland champions Tipperary and four from beaten finalists Kilkenny have been honoured in the 2016 GAA-GPA All-Star hurling team.

There are two winners apiece from beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists in Galway and Waterford.

Kingpins Tipperary have winners in Cathal Barrett, James Barry, Ronan, Padraic and Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan and John McGrath.

Kilkenny’s recipients are Eoin Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan.

Daithi and David Burke are honoured from Galway while Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson are the successful players from Waterford.

FOR THE FIRST time in the history of the All-Stars, both the Footballer of the Year and Hurler of the Year have come from counties who didn’t win the All-Ireland title the same year.

Mayo defender Lee Keegan and Waterford star Austin Gleeson picked up the highest individual honours in the game at the GAA/GPA All-Stars tonight at Dublin’s Convention Centre.

Only five times in the past did the hurling and football champions fail to produce the Player of the Year, but that figure now rises to seven as Keegan and Gleeson claim the big awards.

Keegan beat off competition from Brian Fenton and Ciaran Kilkenny, both of whom played for All-Ireland champions Dublin, for the accolade.

Gleeson topped the list in the three-man hurling poll, seeing off Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan and Padraic Maher for the prize.

Players of the Year who didn’t win an All-Ireland the same year

Footballer of the Year

• 2016 – Lee Keegan (Dublin are All-Ireland champions)
• 2010 – Bernard Brogan (Cork were All-Ireland champions)
• 2003 – Steven McDonnell (Tyrone were All-Ireland champions)
• 1995 – Peter Canavan (Dublin were All-Ireland champions)

Hurler of the Year

• 2016 – Austin Gleeson (Tipperary are All-Ireland champions)
• 2007 – Dan Shanahan (Kilkenny were All-Ireland champions)
• 1998 – Tony Browne (Offaly were All-Ireland champions)

The 27-year-old Keegan was a colossus in defence for Mayo on their route to the All-Ireland final, while he also provided plenty of moments of inspiration in attack.

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Elsewhere Gleeson enjoyed a phenomenal year, evolving into one of the finest hurlers in the land. Waterford were pipped by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final replay, but Gleeson was outstanding in both games.

He also became the first hurler since Tony Kelly in 2013 to win both Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year in the same year.

Keegan picked up his fourth All-Star on the night, while Gleeson won his first.

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MAYO’S DIARMUID O’CONNOR and Deise star Austin Gleeson were honoured with the prestigious Young Player of the Year awards at tonight’s GAA/GPA Opel Allstar bash at the Convention Centre in the capital.

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21-year-old O’Connor picked up his second straight Young Footballer of the Year and now stands level with big brother Cillian as two-time winners of the award.

The year ultimately ended in defeat for O’Connor and Mayo after their narrow All-Ireland final replay loss to Dublin in October. However, O’Connor did lead the Mayo U21s to All-Ireland glory back in April.

He enjoyed another fine year in the green and red of Mayo, scoring a wonderful goal against Kildare in the qualifiers.

Gleeson, meanwhile, enjoyed another outstanding season with Waterford. The Mount Sion youngster confirmed his status as one of the elite hurlers on the country and he also led his county to All-Ireland U21 honours.

Gleeson, also 21, played a starring role as Derek McGrath’s Waterford ran Kilkenny to an All-Ireland semi-final replay, where they fell short by a single point.

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NESTLED IN NORTH Cork, just off the Mallow-Cork road lies a close-knit rural ladies football team with a huge drive and hunger to succeed.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Mourneabbey is a club of many successes, but it’s the All-Ireland heartbreak that often overshadows them. A small community wounded by many other heartbreaking events over the past few years but bonded through sport.

The Clyda side have come out on the worst end of the past two All-Ireland senior finals, losing to Termon and Donaghmoyne respectively.

This year, the side are hoping it’s a case of third time’s a charm. Having beaten rival club St Vals by a single point in the county final, it’s onto the more serious end of business.

With two consecutive provincial titles under their belt, Mourneabbey will be hoping to claim their third against Clare side The Banner on Saturday.

The last time the teams met on the provincial stage was two years ago. Off the back of their first senior county final win, Mourneabbey lined out against the defending Munster champions as complete underdogs. This time, things are probably the opposite way around, with the Cork force as strong favourites.

A win on Saturday would also mean one step closer to a much sought after All-Ireland senior title.

“Looking back on it, it would be third time’s a charm but we can’t look beyond the Banner. That is a cliche but it’s so true,” team manager Dominic Gallagher tells The42.

“We haven’t looked beyond any game this year and we’re going to continue with that. We decided very early on that we were just going to go game by game.”

“Winning Cork is massive and that would have been our target at the start of the year. To go any further than that, we’re in bonus territory now.”

It’s been an outstanding story for the small club from the Rebel county. Their rise to where they find themselves today began in 2005 when they were crowned All-Ireland junior champions.

Two years later came the next big step on the ladder, winning the intermediate All-Ireland club championship and making the highly anticipated leap to senior level.

The high standard of ladies football in Cork meant that it took a few years to bridge the gap and settle into the rhythm of senior football.

Then came the management team, which includes Dominic Gallagher and Shane Ronayne, the men that have helped them get where they are today.

2014 brought the first of three consecutive county senior titles. That year, anything after that stage was a huge bonus. Little did they know they’d find themselves crowned Munster champions, never mind in an All-Ireland final weeks later, but this time at the highest grade.

A heartbreaking defeat to Donegal side Termon meant that Mourneabbey’s dream was over. Until it started again the following year.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Another county final win over St Vals and a provincial title victory at the hands of Waterford’s Ballymacarbry meant that Mourneabbey were within touching distance of another All-Ireland final just 12 months on.

The semi-final saw them paired with Connacht champions and Galway side Kilkerrin/Clonberne. They come out on the successful side of the tale by a single point.

And there they were again. Just 60 minutes away from getting their hands on the Dolores Tyrell Cup and banishing the memories and nightmares of the previous year.

Seven minutes on the clock. Eight points a piece. This could have been Mourneabbey’s time.

But despite having just 13 players on the field, Donaghmoyne pushed on to win by three and to crush the dreams of the Cork side yet again.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

This is the point where most teams would crumble. But Mourneabbey are a different class. They’re on another level. And they’re back for more.

“They’re a seriously dedicated bunch of players. They work extremely hard, they’re very focused in what they do as well as being extremely talented,” Gallagher said.

“But not without the hard work of course, they put in the hours on the pitch — that’s it in a nutshell really.”

On motivating his troops year in year out, team coach Shane Ronayne says that it’s not as hard as it may appear.

“The girls are very good that way. They’re very driven to succeed and self-motivated.

“We had two very long campaigns, they were successful up to a point. We were very disappointed with the way things were in the last two All-Ireland finals.

“I suppose we gave them a good break there after Christmas, we didn’t go back too early. We tried to change it up in training by doing different things and bringing a bit of fun in if we can.

Gallagher feels that a lot of it is down to the players themselves.

“It’s very reliant on the individuals making their individual sacrifices that make up your team ones.

“It’s down to individuals turning up on the wet nights at the start of the year and putting in the hard slog, even away from the training pitch. Doing the right thing in preparation — their food, their hydration, their lifestyle in general.

“They make big sacrifices there as well. They’re a strong unit, they talk to each other, they motivate each other and they decided at the start of the year they wanted to go again. It’s a credit to them.”

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

You get the sense that one of the contributing factors of the club’s success is how close the girls themselves are.

“It’s a small club, they’re in one parish. They’ve all played with each other from a young age,” Gallagher continues. “They socialise together, they are quite tight.”

“We’ve had a few younger players coming in this year to freshen it up a bit, they’ve been welcomed in and they’re prepared to put in the hard shift as well. As long as you’re willing to do that, you’re welcomed in.”

Mourneabbey are not lying down until they get their senior All-Ireland title, until they’re the first club in the country to win titles at junior, intermediate and senior levels. Some of the players involved from 2005 are still on the panel.

“That’s a driving force for them (winning a senior title). They’d love to be able to have won the three but we had to kind of stop talking about All-Irelands and that early on,” Ronayne explains.

“The experience that they do have is fantastic. They’re very good to the younger players they’re great to give them advice.”

With regards training and the tactical end of things, what Ronayne is doing is obviously working.

“We do a fair bit of running at training at different times, but we wouldn’t do any stuff in the gym really, girls would be doing a bit themselves,” the coach told The42. “We do a lot of ball work and conditioning at the end (of training) and things like that.

“We try to stick to what we know, things we’ve done the past few years. We try to change it up a small bit to be sure that we have a presence up the field for attacking and things like that but we stick to basic stuff.

“It’s worked the last few years and the girls are happy with that. They know there’ll be no surprises.

“We’ve done a little bit of tweaking of things and hopefully those tweaks can get us onto that next step.”

When asked to describe their team in just a few words, the Cork native doesn’t hesitate.

“Highly-motivated, driven and a never-say-die attitude.”

“Driven, dedicated and extremely hard-working. Honest is probably a good word — dedicated, driven and honest” was Gallagher’s response on the other hand.

Turning their focus to Saturday’s clash in Mallow, Ronayne and Gallagher are confident in their side’s ability despite the strong challenge ahead of them.

“We’re happy with the way we’re going ourselves. If we play like we did in the first half and the start of the second half (of the county final), we’d be very happy with that performance, but we can’t afford to sit back like we did towards the end,” Ronayne said.

One thing’s for sure, they won’t be short of support. The entire parish will be out donning the black and amber of Mourneabbey.

“It worked out nicely for us that we haven’t got a far distance to travel but our supporters have travelled everywhere for us. Two years ago, we had to go to London to play a game and a massive crowd followed us over,” Gallagher recalls.

“Wherever we went, they supported us and it’ll be the same Saturday. Hopefully we have success and do the job for them.”

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CASTLEKNOCK, A WEST-Dublin club only in its late-teens is not the most likely candidate for supremecy in the highly competitive Dublin senior football championship.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

And yet, remarkably, the club which finds itself nestled beside powerhouses St Brigid’s and St Oliver Plunkett’s is just one game away from lifting the biggest prize in Dublin club football.

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How did they get here? As is often the case in Irish life, a meeting in a local bar was the starting point. Johnny Corcoran, Fergus Hamill, and John Conway agreed in Myos Bar in April 1998 that the influx of young families to the area required a local GAA club.

The once rural village in western Dublin experienced rapid population growth in the area with housing estates transforming the formerly green fields to a part of Dublin’s suburban fabric.

First, Corcoran, Hamill and Conway had to prove to the county board they wouldn’t be taking players from the catchment areas of the concerned neighbouring clubs.

Once an agreement was put in place, the members of the newly founded club were mobilized. Doors were knocked on and leaflets handed out to every household in the area.

Twenty three kids showed up to the first training session on a green in the middle of a housing estate dubbed Tír Na nÓg. Among the kids in attendance that day were current senior stalwarts Graham Hannigan, Shane Boland and future two-time All-Star winner Ciaran Kilkenny.

“That is where we all started,”says Boland. “We have all been there from the first day that the club ever started. First training session, that is how long we have been around.”

In a few short weeks there were 130 local youngsters regularly turning up to training.

The first time they entered an adult competition in 1998, Castleknock found themselves in Divison 10. From there, the ball started rolling.

Castleknock’s Shane Boland at the Dublin SFC final media event.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Over the following 18 years, Castleknock moved up the ranks. Much of that was due to the groundwork with underage sides. For the likes of Kilkenny, Hannigan and Boland, success was a regular visitor at underage level.

Boland continues: “It is kind of a weird one because my age group – we are the 1993 age group – and basically ever since we were six or seven, or whenever the club was founded, we have always been Division One.

“[We] have always been there or thereabouts every single year so when it came to adult, we had a mentality that we should be there or thereabouts. And that has stood to us as we progressed through the levels.”

Tom Quinn and Rory Corcoran are another two who represented the Dubs at underage levels. In 2007 that group won the All-Ireland Feile na nOg Division 1 – the top competition at the U14 grade in the country.

“The core group of this adult team is basically from that team, there is a lot of us that would have played on that team and would have played a lot of football and hurling growing up.

“And we won the minor football as well. Brian Fenton’s Raheny beat us in the football Feíle as well.

“We were always there or thereabouts in both codes and when you have that winning mentality embedded in you, it kind of sticks to you as you move up the grades.”

Boland went on to play minor hurling for Dublin and won an U21 football All-Ireland with the Boys in Blue under Dessie Farrell in 2014.

Once those Castleknock youngsters started to make their mark at adult level, the club’s first team started to win trophies. They lifted the Dublin and Leinster JFC titles in 2012, and two years later were crowned Dublin IFC champions.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Last year they won promotion from the AFL Division 2, when Kilkenny fisted a last-minute goal to secure a draw with Ballinteer St John’s.

“Ciarán would be one of my best mates and he’s one of those chaps; whatever he seems to pick up he seems to be good at,” continues Boland.

“It was one of those things that was very annoying when we were younger. We’d play table-tennis and all of a sudden he was unbelievable at table tennis, and when we played snooker he was unbelievable.

“He’s just one of those blokes who seems to have a knack for every sporting endeavour he does. When we were younger say 11 or 12, you are two points down and say ‘what will we do?’

“We would try and get the ball to Ciarán and more often than not he’d sort of produce this moment of magic out of nowhere. So I’m not overly surprised of what he’s achieved and I think there’s a bit more in the tank.”

With a new €1.1 million clubhouse on the horizon and a long-term lease signed on 24 acres of land, which includes two full-pitches, a juvenile pitch and an all-weather surface, the club’s future looks secure.

Now the small matter of taking on Giants St Vincent’s in the county final awaits them. Vincent’s, with their Dublin SFC 27 titles and three All-Irelands.

“We were actually joking about that last night at training, saying the likes of Mossy Quinn and Diarmuid Connolly have probably never even seen a Castleknock jersey before.

“We used to play them a little bit when we were underage and stuff like that but we have absolutely no experience of playing the likes of Diarmuid Connolly and Mossy Quinn and this unbelievable Vincent’s team that they’ve built over the last couple of years.”

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“It’s been hard to gauge what’s going to happen because we’ve never played them at all. We don’t really know what to expect on Saturday, all we can do is work hard and see where that takes us.”

The club suffered a hammer-blow in November 2012 when Kilkenny signed a contract with AFL club Hawthorn.

The prospect of the then 19-year-old ever lining out in a Castleknock jersey again appeared in jeopardy.

“I would like to come back at some stage but I do not know what the future holds for me.,” Kilkenny said at the time.

“Hopefully I will be back in six or eight years time and I will be able to put an All-Ireland medal in my back pocket, and I will be back in the off seasons to play with the club and give them a hand in any way I can.”

When Kilkenny announced his return home after spending just six weeks Down Under, he drafted a short statement with the help of an old teacher.

He signed off with the Irish proverb: “Ní glaise iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn i gcónaí!”

It roughly translates as: “Distant hills are not always greener.”

The Footballer of the Year nominee is back home among friends, having led his club to their maiden senior county final.

The streets of Castleknock have never looked so green.

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Home

Dundalk’s Chris Shields.

Source: Mikhail Kireev/INPHO

• Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk once again won plenty of admirers but were beaten 2-1 away to Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League tonight.
• Joe Schmidt has named Rob Kearney at fullback for Ireland’s clash with New Zealand on Saturday while Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery could make their international debuts from the bench.
• Six players from Dublin and four from beaten finalists Mayo have been included on the 2016 GAA-GPA All-Star football team.
• It looks like in-form Ireland U21 defender Tommie Hoban has played his last game of the season after the Blackburn Rovers defender dislocated his shoulder in training.
• New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has named his starting XV for Saturday’s Test while the All Blacks chief has also paid his respects to the late Anthony Foley.
• Waterford United could be set for a cash injection after it emerged the club is discussing a potential takeover with an overseas investor.
• Everton boss Ronald Koeman has reignited his war of words with Martin O’Neill after he called on James McCarthy to withdraw from the Ireland squad.
• Another member of the Olympic Council of Ireland Executive Committee has departed after Ciarán Ó Catháin resigned from his position.
• Mayo footballer Aidan O’Shea is returning to basketball with the Sligo All-Stars after seven years out of the game.
• New signing Rhys Marshall has been named on the Munster bench as Rassie Erasmus makes four changes for their clash against the Ospreys in the Guinness Pro12 tomorrow.
• Ulster are without Paddy Jackson, Darren Cave and Roger Wilson for their tie against Edinburgh tomorrow night.
• Kiwi centre Bundee Aki has returned to the Connacht starting line-up for tomorrow’s fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons.
• Fifa is reportedly set to punish Ireland for wearing a political symbol, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, on their football shirts in a March friendly against Switzerland.

Away

Mainz’s fans celebrate a goal against Anderlecht.

Source: Olivier Matthys

• It’s been another miserable night for Jose Mourinho as his Manchester United side fell to a 2-1 Europa League defeat against Fenerbahce.
• West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has hailed Andy Carroll’s bravery after the striker was targeted in an attempted armed robbery.
• Swansea City boss Bob Bradley is reportedly interested in bringing former Spurs and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov to the Liberty Stadium.
• Former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese is preparing for a WWE debut alongside Ireland’s Sheamus in Munich tonight.
• Fullback Leigh Halfpenny will start his first international Test match in 14 months when Wales take on Australia on Saturday.

The Best Thing We Shared

Daryl Horgan proved his class once again tonight with this stunning goal against Zenit St Petersburg. It was just a shame the result didn’t go Dundalk’s way.

Source: Zizoo HdGoal/YouTube

On The Record

Is it arrogant for me to say that it’s just because of me? People are going to say it is, but let’s call a spade a spade: I’m the one this is about.

Bellator star James Gallagher is under no illusions as to how valuable he is to the promotion. Sounds familiar…

Where we were today

Ryan Bailey caught up with Racing 92 out-half Dan Carter today. The former All Black was in Dublin to announce his new role as a brand ambassador for SoftCo, a finance software provider. You’ll be able to see the piece on The42 tomorrow morning.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell are soaking up that winning feeling in Chicago and, of course, attending team announcements ahead of Ireland’s Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Jonathan Sexton with Josh van der Flier at training in Chicago today.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The Fixture List

• Three of the Irish provinces are in action in the Guinness Pro12 tomorrow night, minus their Ireland internationals of course — Newport Gwent Dragons v Connacht (7.15pm), Munster v Ospreys (7.35pm) and Edinburgh v Ulster (7.35pm)
• Drogheda United host Wexford Youths in the second leg of their promotion/relegation playoff for a spot in next season’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division. Wexford take a 2-0 lead into the tie.
• In golf, Pádraig Harrington is in action at the Turkish Airlines Open while Seamus Power and Graeme McDowell are in Las Vegas for the Shriners Hospital for Children Open

Showbiz, Baby!

Moussa Sow’s overhead volley put Fenerbahce 1-0 up against Manchester United in just the second minute tonight. Pick it out.

Source: Fenerbahçe gol/Vine

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Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

THE FINEST HURLERS from around the country will descend on Dublin’s Convention Centre for the latest installment of the GAA/GPA All-Stars.

The football awards were already announced but the awards for the small ball code will be announced live on Friday night. The ceremony is live on RTE 1 from 7pm. You can check out the full list of nominees here.

Our writers have had a stab at predicting the 15 players who will be honoured on the 2016 All-Star team.  Let us know what you think.

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JACKIE CAHILL

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)

2. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
3. James Barry (Tipperary)
4. Daithí Burke (Galway)

5. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)

8. Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
9. David Burke (Galway)

10. Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
11. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
12. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)

13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. John McGrath (Tipperary)

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

ALAN WALDRON

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)

2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
3. Daithi Burke (Galway)
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)

5. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)

8. Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
9. David Burke (Galway)

10. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
11. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
12. Noel McGrath (Tipperary)

13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. John McGrath (Tipperary)

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

KEVIN O’BRIEN

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)

2. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
3. James Barry (Tipperary)
4. Daithi Burke (Galway)

5. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)

8. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
9. David Burke (Galway)

10. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
11. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
12. Noel McGrath (Tipperary)

13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. John McGrath (Tipperary)

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

FINTAN O’TOOLE

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)

2. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
3. James Barry (Tipperary)
4. Daithi Burke (Galway)

5. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)

8. Jamie Barron (Waterford)
9. David Burke (Galway)

10. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
11. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
12. Pauric Mahony (Waterford)

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13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. John McGrath (Tipperary)

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

SINEAD FARRELL

1. Darren Gleeson (Tipperary)

2. Daithi Burke (Galway)
3. Shane Fives (Waterford)
4. James Barry (Tipperary)

5. Tadgh De Burca (Waterford)
6. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)
7. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny)

8. David Burke (Galway)
9. Michael Breen (Tipperary)

10. Pauric Mahony (Waterford)
11. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)
12. Noel McGrath (Tipperary)

13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
15. John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer (Tipperary)

AIDAN O’SHEA WILL spend the winter honing his handling skills on the basketball court after EJ’s Sligo All-Stars announced they’ve signed the 26-year-old Mayo star.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

An avid basketball fan, O’Shea hasn’t played on the hardcourt since he featured for St Declan’s basketball club in Dublin in 2009. He also played schools basketball in Castlebar.

The 6’4″ talent took a full-part in the All-Stars’ practice yesterday and is set to play in their National League Division One trip to the Dublin Lions on Sunday.

“I always played basketball as a young fella and I was mad into it,” he told Ocean FM. “I probably played up until I was 18 when I left school and I played a small bit in Dublin when I went to college.

“I haven’t really played since obviously because football has kind of taken over.

“I met Shane [O’Meara, Sligo coach] last year just by chance and he was obviously telling me about Sligo All-Stars. As the summer wore on this year, I knew there was going to be no International Rules and the club was over as well.”