Michael Carrick's first, and perhaps only, domestic match in charge of Manchester United ended in a draw yesterday evening, as his side held Premier League leaders Chelsea 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. The visitors took the lead in the 50th minute after Jadon Sancho capitalised on a mistake by Jorginho to score at the Shed End. However the Italian midfielder later atoned from the penalty spot after Aaron Wan Bissaka had clumsily fouled Thiago Silva. Afterwards Carrick insisted incoming interim manager Ralf Rangnick had no influence in his team selection - the German could be in the Old Trafford dugout for Thursday's clash with Arsenal. Elsewhere yesterday Manchester City beat West Ham 2-1 in a blizzard at the Etihad, while Claudio Ranieri's Watford were beaten 4-2 by Leicester on his return to the King Power Stadium. There was mutiny in the away end as Everton were beaten 1-0 at Brentford - the Toffees have now lost five of their last six under Rafael Benitez - while Burnley against Spurs was called off due to heavy snowfall at Turf Moor.
It was heartbreak for Bohemians and ecstasy for St Patrick's Athletic yesterday, as the Inchicore club lifted the FAI Cup for a fourth time following a 4-3 win on penalties. The final, played in front of a record crowd of 37,126, went to extra-time after both sides played out a goalless draw at the Aviva Stadium. Chris Forrester gave Pat's the lead in the 107th minute before Rory Feely brought Bohs back from the dead with a 116th minute header. However, it was Pat's who held their nerve in the shootout with Robbie Benson scoring the winning spot kick. Gavin Cummiskey was at the Aviva, for an evening he believes thrust domestic Irish football into the spotlight, he writes: "The occasion looked and sounded like a major sporting event. It looked and sounded like the FAI are generating a sustainable football industry. All the pieces linked together, for a few hours. The soccer supporters were real, flare-throwing disciples of a league long hidden from view of a wider audience who believes that Manchester United or Liverpool are the only clubs worth following."
Munster's Champions Cup fixtures away to Wasps on December 12th and at home to Castres on December 18th are in serious doubt, with the province's playing squad currently stranded in South Africa after a round of PCR testing returned one positive case of Covid-19. It is not known if the positive case was for the Omicron variant, but when Munster are allowed to leave South Africa they will then have to undergo 10 days of hotel quarantine on their return to Ireland. The detection of the Omicron variant has left the United Rugby Championship on the brink, as Gerry Thornley writes: "Meanwhile, the URC itself is in disarray as the vagaries entailed in a competition played in six countries and both hemispheres in a time of a pandemic have again been exposed. With South Africa placed on a travelling red list by Europe and Britain indefinitely, it's difficult to see how the URC can proceed as planned or with their quartet of Super Rugby franchises sides taking any further part this season."
Elsewhere Honeysuckle stretched her unbeaten record to 13 yesterday, as she started her season in style with an eight-length victory in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Rachael Blackmore did the steering again as Henry de Bromhead's star won at 2-5 before returning to the winners' enclosure and an adoring crowd. Afterwards, De Bromhead said: "The reception she's got from everyone here is amazing. I'm at the stage now where I tell myself 'she's going to get beaten this time.' I'm nervous before she runs but we're so lucky to have here. I had myself convinced all week she was going to get beaten. I think it will be the Irish Champion Hurdle next and touch wood she'll be OK."
And Loughmore-Castleiney completed the Tipperary double yesterday, with their hurlers edging Thurles Sarsfield 2-14 to 2-13 after John McGrath's late free from the angle. Loughmore-Castleiney's double success comes a year after they lost both the senior football and hurling finals in injury-time, and 15 of the 19 panellists used played in both teams. Sean Moran was at Semple Stadium.
