1. #KICK-OFF Football fans rejoice, for the first day of the new domestic season is upon us. The 2011 Airtricity League kicks off tonight with a full programme of league games including a couple of real beauts.
Defending champions Shamrock Rovers have a tricky opener when Ian Foster and Dundalk visit Tallaght Stadium tonight, while Sligo’s trip to newly-promoted Derry City is the pick of the rest.
We’ve already previewed eight of the ten teams – we’ll add Galway and Rovers today, completing the set. We’ll also have an opening day preview from Alan Smith in a few minutes.
2. #RISING STARS The College GAA calendar reaches its climax this weekend as the 100th Sigerson Cup takes place in UCD.
Yesterday’s quarter-final action brought one big shock as holders DCU crashed out to UCC in a reversal of last year’s final, the Corkmen victorious by a score of 1-12 to 0-14 this time around.
UCC will now face hosts UCD in one of today’s two semi-finals. The other semi sees NUI Maynooth meet my personal tip for the title, UUJ.
More importantly, has anyone seen Ricky Nixon skulking around Belfield?
3. #FORE! Following the excitement of last week’s PGA Championship, the Honda Classic got underway yesterday at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
It wasn’t a great day for the Irish. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell both finished on three-over par alongside last week’s winner Luke Donald.
The trio are six shots off the lead which is held outright by American Spencer Levin who carded an opening-day 67.
4. #DRUGS BUST Manchester City defender Kolo Touré has been suspended by the club after failing a drugs test. Touré tested positive for a “specified substance” which is a category of drug “more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation”. Or so I’m told.
Touré’s plight is no laughing matter, but it has inspired a few amusing tweets. As always, @LiterallyJamie was quick off the mark.
5. #EURO VISION The NBA comes to London this weekend as the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors play regular season games at London’s O2 Arena tonight and tomorrow night.
They may only be here for a weekend break, but NBA chiefs are still hopeful that they’ll have a few franchises based in Europe in the not-too-distant future.
6. #MAGNIFICENT SEVEN We’re still absolutely buzzing following Ireland’s cricket win on Friday. How long will it last? Probably until the game on Sunday against India gets underway.
As a tribute to Kevin O’Brien’s fastest ever World Cup century, this week’s Magnificent Seven column will pick out seven other great individual performances.
To whet your appetite, here’s a clip of one of the seven.
