1. #LONDON 2012 After four years of waiting, it’s finally here… sort of. Although the official opening is not until Friday, the 2012 Olympic Games begins as the women’s football tournament gets underway later this afternoon. There are six first-round matches down for decision with hosts Great Britain kicking off the action against New Zealand at 4pm.
Yesterday, four-time world boxing champion Katie Taylor was selected to carry the tricolour and lead Team Ireland into the Olympic Stadium for Friday night’s opening ceremony.
2. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Shamrock Rovers’ European dream was snuffed out last night as the Hoops crashed out against FK Ekranas in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Goals from Marko Andjelković and Žilvinas Kymantas either side of half-time ensured the Lithuanians’ progress despite a late penalty from Gary McCabe to make it 2-1 on the night and on aggregate.
3. #SELECTION SAGA Joanna Mills has insisted that she won’t rush into any major decisions on her international allegiance. The 19-year-old Ballymena athlete was yesterday cut from Ireland’s squad for the 4x400m Olympic relay after an appeals tribunal decided to reinstate Catriona Cuddihy in her place.
“Now is not the time to be making any major decisions such as that,” Mills said of a potential switch to Team GB yesterday.
4. #O’GARA-GATE GAA President Liam O’Neill has stated he has no problem with referees utilizing the big screen in Croke Park to watch replays of incidents when making judgements in inter-county matches. O’Neill’s comments come after Eoin O’Gara’s controversial score during Sunday’s Leinster SFC final between Dublin and Meath reopened the debate on the use of technology in the game.
5. #MORTON GAMES A host of world-class athletes will be in action in Santry tonight as they fine-tune their Olympic preparations at the Morton Games meet. World 1500 metre bronze medallist Matthew Centrowitz and his Team USA colleagues Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp are among the international stars who will make an appearance. The main programme is due to begin at 7.20pm.
