Sheffield United's hopes of European football were handed a massive boost last night after Ireland centre-half John Egan scored his second crucial goal in as many games, his 93rd-minute header giving the Blades a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane. The result was a big blow for Wolves' hopes of a Champions League spot, with Manchester United able to open up a six-point gap to sixth when they take on Aston Villa tonight (kick-off 8.15pm). Elsewhere Manchester City submitted Newcastle to their first defeat since the lockdown with a 5-0 romp at the Etihad, while Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Brighton on the south coast thanks to a Mohamed Salah brace. Meanwhile West Ham remain firmly in the relegation mire after they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley at the London Stadium. In tonight's other games, Spurs travel to play Bournemouth and Everton welcome Southampton to Goodison Park (6pm kick-offs).
New Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny spoke to the press yesterday, as he starts to plot a route into next summer's European Championships via the play-offs. In a rarity for the Irish management, Kenny and his coaching set-up will be based out of Abbotstown - something which could provide the FAI with some sorely needed stability. And Kenny is keen to impose his own philosophy on the Republic as soon as possible, with the opportunity to play in a major tournament on home soil too good to miss out on. He said: "I am looking forward to working with the group of players and making a vibrant and exciting team, a cohesive team, with an attacking threat."
The 2020 Ryder Cup has been postponed to 2021, it was confirmed yesterday. The news came as no surprise, with spectators unlikely to have been able to attend the event due to the coronavirus crisis. With the tournament at Whistling Straits being moved back to 2021, the 2022 tournament in Rome will now take place in 2023, meaning the Ryder Cup will remain a biannual event. And this will work in the favour of Co Limerick course Mount Juliet, who now get to host the centenary edition in 2027, writes Philip Reid. Elsewhere Shane Lowry is back in action later today, as the Workday Charity Open gets underway at Muirfield Village, Ohio. Lowry tees off at 12.23pm Irish time with Graeme McDowell also in the field. He missed last week's Travelers Championship after his caddie Kenny Comboy tested positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile the European Tour resumes today - the first event back is the Austrian Open.
Elsewhere this morning Dave Hannigan has looked at the controversial Leprechaun emblem of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish football team - a logo which is worth millions to the Indiana College. He writes: "If what looks outdated and cringeworthy to someone in Dublin, Ireland is somehow regarded a symbol of cultural heritage to a guy in Dublin, Ohio, there are some who see through the shameless shamroguery."
In her column today Joanne O'Riordan has looked at the fine line most sports are treading in order to get up and running again, and suggests it wouldn't take much for everything to come falling down quickly. She writes: "Some of the restarts might even start off on shaky ground. There could be several cases in rapid succession on one team or outbreaks on several teams at the same time. A top player could get sick. Once you start bringing in fans in higher numbers, you must even go as far as what could happen if the unthinkable were to happen and someone suffers complications and dies."
The cricket season got off to a belated start yesterday, but rain dominated the opening day of the first Test match between England and the West Indies in Southampton. Both sets of players took a knee in a poignant moment but they were then left frustrated by the weather, with England reaching 35-1 off just 17.4 overs. Play resumes today at 11am.
And this morning Sonia O'Sullivan reflects on her recent reading of the book 'Swoosh' and the 'shoe wars' of the early 90s, when Michael Jordan rescued Nike and helped propel a struggling manufacturer to the top of the pile. "In some ways I wish I had read this book back when it was more relevant in my life, the players behind the scene and on the athletic field, although it all makes much more sense now."
