NEED TO CATCH up? TheScore.ie brings you a round-up of today’s sports news…

McIlroy chips out of a bunker on the 16th hole. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

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• Rory McIlroy leads the Open Championship on Day 1 at Royal Liverpool after a bogey-free 66. 
• FAI chief executive John Delaney has signed a new five-year contract worth a reported €360,000 per year.
• Simon Easterby has been confirmed as Ireland’s new forward coach by the IRFU.
• GAA president Liam O’Neill accepts that a rethink is needed for the GAA qualifier system.
• Here’s what was said at the UFC Dublin pre-fight press conference, where Conor McGregor and Diego Brandao were questioned ahead of Saturday’s headline fight.
• Ireland remain in 70th place in the latest FIFA world rankings released today.
• Sligo Rovers recorded a remarkable 2-1 away win over Rosenborg in the Europa League second qualifying round.

Away

Alexander Kristoff crosses the finish line. Laurent Cipriani Laurent Cipriani

•  Norway’s Alexander Kristoff pipped Peter Sagan to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France. 
• Louis van Gaal held his first press conference as Manchester United manager at Old Trafford — and revealed that Michael Carrick has suffered ankle ligament damage.
• There were a number of transfer deals completed today — including Mathieu Debuchy to Arsenal, Toni Kroos to Real Madrid and Enner Valencia to West Ham.

The best thing we shared

Tiger Woods wasn’t best pleased with the photographers snapping away while he attempted a shot at the Open.
https://vine.co/v/MQrXgQK2zrx

On the record

 To anyone out there, especially young people feeling like they don’t fit in, and will never be accepted, please know this: great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself” -  Michael Sam, the first openly gay professional American football player, delivered a moving speech at the annual ESPYs.

The fixture list

•  There are two SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games tomorrow night — Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers (7.45pm) and Cork City v UCD (8.05pm) as well as two in the First Division — Waterford v Wexford Youths (7.45pm) and Finn Harps v Galway (8pm). 
• It’s Day 2 of the Open Championship at Hoylake.
• The Girls in Green face England in the U19 European Championships in Norway (6pm).

Showbiz, Baby!

Bohemians FC are doing their bit for fans disappointed by Garth Brooks’ cancelled gigs by hosting ‘The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience’ tribute gig at Dalymount Park on 26 July.

(L-R) JP Gilbourne, co-presenter, The Ray Foley Breakfast Show; Daniel Lambert, Bohemian FC; Trevor Smith; Ray Foley. Patrick O'Leary Patrick O'Leary

You’ll always have people finding sticks to beat others with.”