1. #IT’S HERE After seven years of preparation, London will tonight host the Olympics opening ceremony to officially begin the 2012 Games.
One billion people worldwide are expected to watch the spectacular show, which Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle was recruited to oversee. It begins at 9pm.
2. #MIXED FORTUNES An extra-time goal from striker Christy Fagan was enough for St Patrick’s Athletic to advance to the third round qualifiers of the Europa League, following a 3-2 aggregate win against Siroki Brijeg. John Russell had given the home side a first half lead before Ivica Dzidic levelled the terms.
The Saints will face German side Hannover 96 in the next round.
Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, crashed out of the competition, following a 1-1 draw (4-2 on aggregate) with Spartak Trnava at the Showgrounds.
3. #APPEAL Denis Lynch has made an 11th-hour decision to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport about his exclusion from the Olympic Games. The showjumper was controversially replaced on the Irish team by Cian O’Connor recently, after his horse tested positive for hypersensitivity.
4. #TEAM NEWS Ahead of a busy weekend for the GAA, the Cork hurlers have made three changes for their All-Ireland quarter-final against Waterford. Stephen McDonnell comes in at full back, while Seán Óg O hAilpín also returns and Daniel Kearney makes his first start in midfield. See confirmed hurling line-ups here, and here’s some football team news.
5. #NEW REGIME Paul Grimley has been announced as the new Armagh senior football manager after he was ratified by the county board last night. Read more here.
