Friday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on GAA, golf, soccer, rugby, tennis and racing.

GAA

Kildare Senior Footballers play Westmeath in tonight’s O’Byrne Cup Final - in Cedral St Conleth’s Park, with throw in at 7:30pm.

Kfm will have full live commentary with Ger McNally in association with Hanlon Concrete Robertstown.

On Sunday, Kildare Senior Hurlers play Kilkenny in Callan Kilkenny, from 2pm.

Kfm will have full live commentary of that game with Seamus Dillon. 

This morning Kildare Today at 10:45am and tonight’s Sport’s Preview from 7pm looks ahead to all weekend sporting action.

GOLF
Rory McIlroy leads by one shot early on day two at golf's Dubai Invitational.

The Masters champion is one-under-par through three holes and a stroke clear of the chasing back at six-under.

Offaly's Shane Lowry has opened with two birdies to move to four-under-par.

Padraig Harrington's slipped back to three-over through three holes, with Tom McKibbin on the same score after six.

While McIlroy believes the return of Brooks Koepka (pron: Kepka) to the PGA Tour is an indication that LIV Golf is in decline.

The five-time major winner completed his switch this week, but Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith have pledged their commitment to LIV.

McIlroy says the Saudi-backed Tour haven't recently "signed anyone who moves the needle" in attracting new fans.

SOCCER

Republic of Ireland defender Ade Solanke says he's "over the moon" to sign for Bournemouth.

Solanke came through Shamrock Rovers' academy, and starred for Ireland at the recent under-17 World Cup.

The Czech Republic's new manager Miroslav Koubek says they'll face an Ireland team that play simple and straightforward football in the World Cup playoffs.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland will go to Prague in March, with the winners hosting Denmark or North Macedonia for a place at the tournament.

Koubek added that he's expecting a "tough game" and that Ireland are "very aggressive and intense.
 

RUGBY

Ronan O'Gara says he's "stunned" and "gutted" by New Zealand's decision to sack Scott Robertson.

The All-Blacks opted to part ways with their head coach yesterday, despite winning 20 of their 27 games in his two-year tenure.

TENNIS

World tennis number one Carlos Alcaraz says it was a "mutual" decision for Juan Carlos Ferrero to step down as his coach.

The pair had worked together since Alcaraz was a teenager.

Australian Open, the Spaniard says there are no hard feelings.


RACING

There's a seven-race card at Dundalk later from 4:15pm.