Boxing: Baku
We’ll have to wait until Sunday for Katie Taylor’s opener, but three of the 12-strong Irish boxing team are opening their 2015 Baku European Games accounts in today’s sessions.
Limerick flyweight Myles Casey has already gotten the Irish off to a great start with a unanimous decision victory (29-28 on all cards), making his own little piece of history with a victory in the opening bout of the Games, against Ivan Fihurenka from Belarus.
Also in action on day one of the boxing is Ireland captain and heavyweight Darren O’Neill (who faces the Romanian Ionut Jitaru) and also bantamweight Kurt Walker (who faces the Russian Nazirov Bakhtovar).
Taylor starts her campaign off on Sunday against old lightweight rival Denista Eliseeva from Bulgaria – the last boxer to actually defeat Taylor, over four years ago, albeit in highly dubious circumstances.
GAA: Jim McGuinness
Tuesday is here and with that Jimmy McGuinness’ eagerly anticipated column; he was impressed by both Mayo and his native Donegal at the weekend but sees one major flaw which he believes will prevent one of the two from mounting a major challenge on Sam Maguire.
Unless the 2012 and 2013 finalists can re-adjust their defensive system McGuinness sees them being torn apart by the likes of Dublin.
“Their man-to-man system works extremely well high up the field when they press and in the middle third of the field. But once the ball goes deep, I don’t see that ruthless, relentless hunger among the middle-third players to get back and help out the full backs.”
Meanwhile Michael Fennelly’s troublesome lower back problem may curtail his role or even possible involvement at Nowlan Park this Sunday, for Kilkenny’s championship opener against Wexford.
Rugby: Under-20 World Cup
A disastrous start for Ireland seen them disposed of by Wales in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship fifth place play-off last night.
19-0 down after just 15 minutes Ireland did turn things around somewhat, but a 22-12 defeat means they now face Scotland once more in a seventh place play-off.
Soccer: Chelsea
Plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge could mean new temporary home for league champions Chelsea for anything up to two years.
Twickenham has been mentioned as a potential venue, and discussions have taken place in the past with Ian Ritchie, the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, though there are likely to be objections from residents at the prospect of regular matches at the stadium. Wembley is another option club would explore, though it would not be feasible under Brent council’s existing policy.
Golf: US Open
TheChambers Bay course is set to test the very best at the US Openthis week.
Graeme McDowell, like Rory McIlroy and others, spent a considerable amount of time working out his pace putting during their practice on Sunday and Monday.
“It doesn’t really feel like there’s a lot of birdie opportunities,” he says, “you really have to play it smartly. It is not like a regular US Open. This is all about the second shot, in and around the greens. You have got to be conscious of where you are missing your irons, keeping [the ball]to the correct side of the flags.
Racing: Ascot
Aidan O'Brien quickly overcame a brief flirtation with running Gleneagles in the Derby and that decision will pay off with a vengeance if the dual-Guineas hero joins an elite club by landing the St James's Palace Stakes on Day One of Royal Ascot.
What to watch out for:
The Baku 2015 European Games is running all day, with three Irish boxers involved.
Setanta, 4.50am-8pm
BT Sport, 6am-7.30pm
The action from Royal Ascot, including the Queen Anne Stakes begins in the early afternoon.
Channel 4 from 1.40pm-6pm
