Rugby: World Cup
Robbie Henshaw is set to be replaced at inside centre by Luke Fitzgerald for Ireland's World Cup opener against Canada, the severity of his injury should become apparent at Thursday's team announcement but the Connacht centre has not made Joe Schmidt's opening World Cup team to face Canada at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after pulling up in training this week.
Meanwhile Rob Kearney is passed fit to start after some pre-season concerns over his hamstring/knee and Conor Murray has recovered from his latest bout of concussion.
GAA: Championship
This week's GAA Statistics column is focusing on the decreasing impact of Paul Flynn this summer, and how his early season injury lay-off, Dublin's kickout strategy against Mayo, and their new defensive screen has impacted on his individual influence.
Before being taken off in the semi-final replay he had only 11 involvements in the game, including two fouls - the statistics show that his ability to last the 70 minutes, his scoring ratio and frequency have all reduced this year and in the drawn game against Mayo he only made contact in terms of tackling an opposition player once over the 70 plus minutes. Will the Kerry game allow him to rediscover his form though?
Great piece this morning from Dave Hannigan looking ahead to November's super11s hurling exhibition between Dublin and Galway in Boston's Fenway Park - a venue he explains is steeped in Ireland's own troubled past.
I918 Fenway Park: “In different pockets, rival bands from various corners of New England bashed out a cacophony of traditional Irish tunes, firing up a stadium rendered almost technicolour by the profusion of tricolours billowing in the summer breeze alongside so many stars and stripes. Shortly after 3pm, three mounted policemen finally started to clear a path through the canyon of people so Eamon de Valera, the headline act, could make his way to a temporary stage erected over home plate.”
Soccer: Champions League
Chelsea defied their domestic form to thrash Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 last night at Stamford Bridge - a clean sheet and goals from out of form Diego Costa in particular will help raise spirits despite the low quality opposition.
Arsenal meanwhile fell to their latest embarrassing European defeat - Olivier Giroud's needless red card had them on the back foot in first half and they eventually fell 2-1 away to Dinamo Zagreb meaning Chelsea were the only English side to come away from game week one with a win.
Golf
With the "Big Three" of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day dominating the game at the top level, the latest chapter in their battle for supremacy will unfold at this week's BMW Championship.
World number one McIlroy, second-ranked Spieth and Jason Day (third) are all in the elite field of 70 players at Conway Farms for the third of the PGA Tour’s four FedEx Cup playoff events as they look to end their respective seasons with additional wins.
Colin Byrne's column this morning is discussing Ireland's Walker Cup heroes as they embark upon professionalism - turning pro can be scary he says, 'but I have no fear for these players'.
What to watch out for:
The Irish rugby team is set to be named at lunchtime today, our crew will be there to give you all the updates as the happen.
Soccer manager Martin O'Neill too picks his Irish squad for next month's European qualifiers against Germany and Poland, that's this afternoon at the FAI's headquarters in Abbotstown.
And to remain in the theme of team announcements, Kerry will also announce their XV for Sunday's All-Ireland final, that will appear online at 9pm.
Liverpool are in Europa League action against Bordeaux tonight, a chance for some of their fringe players to step and show Brendan Rodgers how they can help pull the side out of its current slump.
Setanta 1 from 5.45pm
