JD, the next storm in the way has prompted a fixture switch for one of the many county finals in Gaelic games this weekend.

Go away football.

Decider between Moy Cullen and Salt Hill.

Malcolm O'Carra, originally scheduled for tomorrow evening, has been moved to a throw-in time of Sunday at four at Pearce Stadium.

Tonight we've got the Tyrone football final replay.

Eden Dork versus Erica Ciarán.

Remember, Eden Dork have never won the title there.

Finally, J.D., Seamus Power doing well on the PGA Tour?

It's good that we have a bit of depth, isn't it? That you can actually move players around.

Look, it's a very specialised sport, right? But we've had, say, tight end and loose head props.

Andrew Porter can play both positions.

You can have players behind.

the scrum play in different positions.

But maybe to go into the back row from hooker is a bit unusual.

But let's see how it goes.

Michael Carrick staying in charge of Manchester United for now.

[upbeat music] John Duggan, the Champions League continues tonight, and it's, uh, kicking off in about, what, 14 minutes, I think.

Yes, Manchester United away to Como in Italy, and this Italian club, a bigger hit with the locals than Pericomo because they've been a rags to riches story, and they're coached by the ex-Arsenal and Spain midfielder, Cesc Fabregas.

Just checking that you're listening there in the studio, guys.

Uh, but the mood music, uh, when it comes to United, not good.

No wins in six games, only two wins in 10 matches this season.

Uh, Matthijs de Ligt starting a game for Manchester United for the first time in 11 months.

She was, she was so empathetic and sympathetic because he is clearly going through a very difficult time at the moment.

Yes, yeah, he said he was in a bad place in that interview, uh, opening up, um, to Rachel Casey.

JD, the League of Ireland title race continues tonight, and it's exciting.

It is exciting.

Uh, it's great to see a, a competitive title race, uh, Ciara and Shane.

Uh, Shamrock Rovers, the champions, hosting Drogheda at Tallaght Stadium from 8:00.

The Hoops level on points with St Pat's and Bohemians at the summit of the table.

This is their game in hand.

If they avoid defeat, they will go top again.

... have named their teams for this weekend's URC action.

Munster have a new interim chief executive

J.D.? His name is Ivan Lee he's from New Zealand he once played for Clontarf worked for World Rugby in Ireland so he knows Ireland and then was 10 years with the Hurricanes down in the Southern Hemisphere and they won the Super League for the first time under his tutelage so he's got an interim deal for 12 months says he's honoured to have the opportunity to lead Munster and they hope they can achieve great things he replaces Ian Flanagan who's departed the province but as I've always said over recent times Munster was a great brand back to 78 back to those European Cups they're so far off winning the Champions Cup at the moment they're drifting they need this is a crisis for Munster and they need this man to come in here and help turn them back into what they were which is a great great sports brand

that we are entering a world JD where Lionel Messi will never play for Argentina again

the 39 year old played his 208th and last game in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires overnight scoring in Argentina's 3-0 win the last goal 126 goals in the sky blue and white he said in an address to the crowd he was grateful proud and at peace which is a lovely way to to go out.

Obviously, he won the World Cup as captain in 2022.

He'll never be able to take that away from him.

The best of all time, look, people will have their views.

I think for consistency, absolutely.

... guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.

Yeah, so they're, they're brazening it out, uh, Ciara.

They're taking the position that on multiple grounds, the independent commission's opinion contains clear material errors of law, of principle, of fact, and is unsafe.

Uh, the club reiterated in a statement it's innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League, and a comprehensive body of ev- irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to the case.

Now, earlier on today, the English FA said the independent commission's decision has significant impacts for the integrity of football, adding that it's carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.

So City are expected to put forward that it was the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners, uh, that funded these key sponsorship deals.

And finally, what rugby do we have on this weekend?

Well, an unusual situation last weekend, Ciara, in that all the four Irish provinces lost on the opening weekend of the URC, uh, once known as the Celtic League.

Um, JD, Munster Rugby's chief executive has stepped down.

Ian Flanagan to leave his position at the end of the month.

Ciara, uh, the statement to the province said, "Flanagan served Munster Rugby with dedication and commitment during his time as CEO," pointing to a central role in the development and delivery of the 7.3 million center of excellence in Cork.

Now, the governance of Munster has attracted criticism in recent times.

There was the revelation the province was seeking voluntary redundancies, then controversy over the proposed appointment of attack coach Roger Randall, which did not come to pass, and of course, unhappiness about how the team has performed on the pitch.

Munster Rugby was a great brand.

Like, think about the All Blacks game '78, that decade when they were so, uh, doing so well in Europe.

You have rugby team news ahead of this weekend's matches, JD.

How did it go?

Um, I think it'll be forgotten about, to be honest.

Uh, there weren't any smoke and guns out of it.

I mean, it's obviously a strange time for them to be having it.

FAI chief executive David Kell has denied claims that men's senior goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was not protected or was isolated ahead of that match against Israel and Hungary last Saturday and into Sunday.

Uh, the Irish squad met twice over the weekend, understood to have voted as to which players were comfortable with playing.

Eight players are reported to have expressed discomfort in playing the game, a number not disputed by Kell at the Oireachtas committee this afternoon.

And I don't think allowance was made for that in a lot of the analysis.

JD, the Republic of Ireland, of course, playing Kosovo tomorrow, but the match was not the focus of today's press conference.

It was not, Ciara.

The Israel games will overshadow not only this window, but Irish football for considerable time, one would imagine.

It's pretty clear that they're...

Going ahead, these matches, the away game in Adversary Commons in Hungary on Sunday, then Ireland's home match, which has been moved to Serbia on Sunday week.

The opening Nations League group game against Kosovo taking place tomorrow, but it's not what's on people's minds.

I mean, last week, Ireland manager Hamer Holgrimson said that we're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide, we're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel.

Hugely difficult position they find themselves in.

kick off the weekend?

So, if there's an honorary Irish club, it's Brentford with Keith Andrews and Damien Duff and the injured Nathan Collins there in Cleveland, Calair.

They play Chelsea at London Derby.

Ooh, that'll be a tasty one.

That'll be a good one, yeah.

They'll put it up to Chelsea.

Yeah, Brentford, a decent team and, like, I really enjoyed the Bournemouth game last week.

Okay, you've got rugby and boxing news to finish, J.D.

John Duggan, what is happening on day one of the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International in Doonbeg?

Bit of a slow boat to China.

The last group have only just played the fifth hole.

I don't know if they're all going to finish this evening, Shane, but it's not been a doddle.

I mean, the wind is blowing down there in County Clare.

So although it's a par 70, quite a short course of the 137 players that teed it up This morning, only 36 are under par at the moment.

Joaquin Neiman of Chile, who's been playing in Live Golf, which has just gone bankrupt and he's been turning up on Live, is the leader in the clubhouse and five under par, has enjoyed the windy conditions there today.

Oh, OK.

Uh, Trina Murray, the president, uh, distancing herself somewhat from Mary McAleese's comments.

Yes, and GAA president, Charlotte Burns, has had a meeting with Minister for Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, being reported now r- in the last, uh, while by The Irish Independent.

He's denied there's a crisis within the GAA.

He said the association's not gonna get caught into timelines around integration.

I quote, "Time is important, but it's also more important to think that we have an organization that we all want, we can all belong to, because we can't do this twice.

I think the message that I would send out to people who love Gaelic games around the country and around the world is to reiterate our absolute support and commitment to the integration of the three organizations, but to do it in a way that's right and ensures we can achieve the organization we want." He said it was very disappointing what's happened regarding the decision of Mary McAleese to stand down yesterday.

He said, "We're very committed to the process.

No.

John, your summary of what happened last night.

I don't believe I'm exaggerating, Pat and Sarah.

Good morning.

To say I think it was a significant historical moment for the nation.

We've had the Italian 90 homecoming.

We have Ireland play England at Croke Park in 2007 and Rugby International, which was historic.

I almost felt that the fight was not the main act of the play here.

That was Eddie Hearn there.

Auspicious even.

Yes.

Flora Paley of France is who Katie will fight tomorrow at Croke Park for the World Superweight.

Super lightweight titles on the line.

And this is it now.

A last ever bout for Katie Taylor.

80,000 fans.

Which is kind of extraordinary considering the trajectory that you went on to international sports sort of superstar, isn't it?

Bradley Barcala is available to play for Liverpool in the Premier League tomorrow.

He is the new signing, Ciara, from PSG.

£123 million.

It's a bit depressing, to be honest, the amount of largesse in this transfer window.

But anyway, Andoni Araola, the Liverpool boss, says... he's hoping the Frenchman can make an immediate impact.

He is available.

He's not played since the World Cup, the 24-year-old, but Ipswich Town at Portman Road tomorrow night at 8 o'clock, Barcola scored, what, 13 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season, 21 the season before that.

OK. What's happening in the US Open in New York today, J.D.?

What's happening?

Oh, Max Cremin and Zoe Hyde will compete in the medal race in the women's double sculls in Amsterdam just before 6:00 PM Irish time.

So the race delayed due to adverse weather conditions in the Netherlands.

So fingers crossed for the pair of them.

Fintan McCarthy is into the semis of the men's single sculls.

Fiona Murtagh has qualified for the semis of the women's single sculls.

Just a bit of breaking news away from, uh, rowing and cycling.

Um, JD, it's week two of the Premier League beginning this evening.

Um, JD, in golf, what's happening on day one of the Women's Irish Open?

Uh, well, obviously the weather's not great at the moment.

Uh, Cassandra Alexander's South Africa leading on eight under par through 14 holes of her opening round at The K Club in Kildare, two shots ahead of the clubhouse leader, uh, Alessandra Fanale of Italy, and Lily May Humphreys, who's out on course.

So 16 Irish women in the field.

Uh, the best of them at the moment, Anya Donigan, three under with one to go.

Leona Maguire is in the clubhouse on one under after a 71, and Annabel Wilson, the other Irish player, under par following a 71 as well.

In Atlanta, Rory McIlroy tees off his opening round of the Tour Championship shortly.

One of the greatest contemporary racehorses has been retired.

He wouldn't get into speculation around the new head coach, who that person's gonna be when Leo Cullen does step away, uh, as head coach at the end of next season, but he did comment on Leo's departure.

No, it was Leo's decision, so he's the one that came to me in, in March to inform me he wouldn't be renewing po- or wouldn't be in the role post-2027.

So, uh, that's the way it happened.

And, you know, we had a good chat about that and, you know, how, how he felt about the decision, how he came to that decision, and it was clear he'd made up his mind, and then ultimately I fully respected that.

And, uh, as I said, he's, he's given us 15 months, uh, notice, which is incredibly, um, generous, and it just says everything about Leo, that he's Leinster Rugby first and he wants to give us the time to go out to the market to secure a head coach.

We'll do that in a way that we could get the right person, as opposed to rush any decision.

So, um, so we're very grateful to Leo for that.

Looks a player in the World Cup.

What, what does it hold?

It, it, it, it holds that, uh, y- he was such a, maybe a benign dictator of Manchester City, and they're so successful.

Will Enzo Maresca, former coach of the club, have that same, uh, weight of impact just as a personality? 'Cause there was only one Pep.

And to be fair, he needs a chance to show that.

Elliott Anderson has come in.

They've got so much talent, though.

They have, like, Semenyo, Doku, Cherki, Guehi in defense.

A- and finally, first manager to lose his job? [laughs]

Yeah.

And I'd be also...

I, I just think, think about Liverpool won the title two years ago, two seasons ago, and the amount of flux, like Salah leaving, Van Dijk's now 35.

Alexander Isak's under a lot of pressure.

He only scored three goals last season, an injury-hit season.

He needs to recapture that form he showed at Newcastle for two seasons before.

Like, Liverpool had 24 fewer points than the season before last season.

Good stuff.

Um, Shamrock Rovers, JD, looking to put a bad week behind them this evening?

They are.

They've hit turbulence, the Hoops.

They were heading towards the Europa League playoff round before losing 5-1 to Egnatia in Albania in that second leg last week, and then they saw a two-goal lead evaporate against St Pat's in the FA Cup, losing 3-2 after extra time.

And while they do hold a seven-point cushion in the Premier Division, they do need to arrest this negative momentum.

So tonight, a good starting point for them.

Rovers welcoming KuPS of Finland, the Finnish champions, to Tallinna Stadium, an 8 o'clock kickoff in the first leg of their playoff for the group stage of the Conference League, where they've, uh, been successful to get to in recent seasons, so need to bring a lead to Finland we think.

And finally, what's happening racing-wise in York?

John Duggan, we're going to be watching the bill while he's in Seville.

Is Troy Parrott bound for Real Betis? Seems like it, Shane, yeah.

€20 million, believed to be the fee that he will go to the Seville club from AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

So this is big for Troy Parrott because they're in the Champions League.

Real Betis he scored 37 goals for club and country last season the 24 year old he's attracted the interest of the Liga Adfis who finished 5th under Manuel Pellegrini last season good manager as well former City manager yeah led City to the Premier League title 2014 And Betis, they've been very consistent.

They've finished in the last six seasons between fifth and seventh in Spain.

News from the tennis world as well, J.D.

A potentially career-ending one for Nick Kyrgios.

Mm.

So she continues her pursuit of a gold in the women's heptathlon at the, uh, championships in Birmingham this evening, uh, Shane.

So the Dundalk native lines up in the shot put from 25 to 8 before she races in the 200 meters at five to nine.

The silver medalist at the worlds got her campaign underway this morning with a personal best in the 13, uh, point three seconds that she posted in the 100 meters hurdles, enough to seal a fourth place finish in that event, and she then also claimed a new personal best in the high jump, uh, clearing one point eight six meters, so she currently second, as I say.

Uh, Neve Allen and Fiona Everidge, uh, feature in the women's 10,000 meters final at 7:45 tonight.

Earlier today, Andrew Cosgran progressed to the 1,500 meters final.

Cathal Doyle did not qualify from the first round, however, his appeal against his result after he fell during his race was unsuccessful.

Um, what's happening at the European Aquatics Championships this evening?

Yeah.

This is Europe.

This is the European Championships, uh, in athletics.

Let's go through the schedule first for tonight.

Then Rasheedat Adeleye going to the final of the women's 200 meters in Birmingham at 10 minutes to 10:00 tonight.

Mark English runs the final of the men's 800 meters at 9:28 PM.

The first athletes on the track from an Irish perspective this evening, Sean Egbobo and Marcus Lawler, they go in the semis of the men's 200 meters from 8:05.

No.

Mm

...

this year that precluded her from competing in the 400, uh, but she did, uh, run 22.80 seconds to qualify at the National Championships in Santry lately to make this moment for the 23-year-old, hoping to get back on track and get into that final this evening.

But her story's been overshadowed today by the feat of Mark English, the Donegal native, having an Indian summer at 33 years of age, running a European Championship record for the 800 meters and winning the semifinal, a time of 1 minute 43.49 seconds.

That record stood since 1978, so good tidings for Mark English, hopefully to add to the bronze medals he won in '14 and '22.

Maybe even go better.

A foreign game.

[laughs] Yeah, it was once.