We'll Leave It There So: Gold for Ireland in Rio and the rest of today's sport

Here’s what the world of sport conjured up on Friday.

CJ Stander arrives for the match CJ Stander arrives at Musgrave Park for Munster's Guinness Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues. INPHO / Billy Stickland INPHO / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland

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Ireland’s Jason Smyth won the gold medal — his fifth! — in the Men’s 100m T13 Final today at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The youngest member of Ireland’s Paralympic team, 14-year-old Nicole Turner, defied her relative years to qualify for the S6 50m butterfly final.
Corkman Conor Hourihane has been earning plenty of plaudits for his displays at Barnsley this season and this morning he was named Championship Player of the Month.
There are two changes for Galway and one for Waterford for tomorrow’s All-Ireland U21 hurling final in Thurles.
John O’Mahony will be part of the Leitrim footballers’ new management team, it has been confirmed.
Joey Carbery is set to make his first away start at out-half as Leinster take on Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun Stadium tomorrow.
Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion are back in the Connacht team for Saturday’s Pro12 fixture with Ospreys.
Promising 19-year-old Rob Lyttle has been rewarded for his fine recent form and been handed a start ahead of Ulster’s trip to Benetton Treviso.

PA-28582897 Frankie Dettori celebrates with Ardad after winning the Pepsi Max Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. Anna Gowthorpe / PA Wire Anna Gowthorpe / PA Wire / PA Wire

Away

Denver Broncos kicked off the NFL season by rallying from a 10-point half-time deficit to defeat the Carolina Panthers 21-20 in a Super Bowl rematch.
Karolina Pliskova shattered Serena Williams’ bid for a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title, her 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win setting up a US Open final against Angelique Kerber.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has laughed off criticism levelled at him from outspoken agent Mino Raiola over his treatment of Mario Balotelli.

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Diarmuid Connolly has never thrown a kettle over a pub, but he has kicked a football over the Liffey.

Where We Were Today

Fintan O’Toole was at Croke Park to chat to James Horan and Ray Cosgrove ahead of next weekend’s All-Ireland senior football final, Murray Kinsella is at Musgrave Park for Munster’s clash with Cardiff Blues and Ryan Bailey was in Rio to see Jason Smyth winning his fifth Paralympic gold medal.

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On The Record

People ask me would I recommend it for young footballers. I always say it depends on the person. I wouldn’t shoehorn anyone into spending time in college if it wasn’t for them. It’s a very tough process. There is no point shoving someone into a college if they don’t want to be there just because it gives them an opportunity to play football as well.

Ben Blake spoke to Dundalk’s Robbie Benson, the man with a masters degree and 600 points in his Leaving Cert who’s about to play in the group stages of the Europa League.

The Fixture List

Galway take on Waterford tomorrow at Semple Stadium in the All-Ireland U21 hurling final at 5pm, preceded at 3pm by the B final between Meath and Mayo.
St Patrick’s Athletic host Cobh Ramblers at 4pm in the FAI Cup quarter-finals, while Longford Town host Bray Wanderers in the Premier Division at 7.30pm.
There are eight games down for decision in the English Premier League, including Manchester United v Manchester City (12.30pm) and Liverpool v Leicester City (5.30pm).
In Scotland, Celtic face Rangers at Parkhead (12pm) in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
Leinster (v Glasgow Warriors, 3pm), Ulster (v Treviso, 6.05pm) and Connacht (v Ospreys, 7.35pm) are all in Guinness Pro12 action.

Showbiz, Baby!

The new NFL season got off to a cracking start last night in Denver.

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