Jamie Heaslip shakes hands with players at the 2016 American Football Showcase at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin today. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

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• Ireland’s cricketers are leading the race to qualify for Test status.
  
• Ireland are among four countries to officially bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
• An All-Black legend has hit back at Brian O’Driscoll’s criticism of World Rugby.
• Ex-Leinster player Cian Kelleher is to make his Connacht debut in their Pro12 opener, while Dan Goggin will make his Munster bow.

Away

• Sergio Aguero is officially out of the Manchester derby
• New concussion technology will make its debut in the English Premiership this season.
• Anthony Joshua has announced his world title defence for November.
• Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane last night joined Colin Kaepernick by sitting during the US national anthem.

The Best Thing We Shared

The Defence Forces will have six soldiers in Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

On The Record

We were the oldest squad (at the Euros), but we were also the most experienced. What will help us is the experienced lads who are still around. If you think for one second they’re going to be giving up their positions in the starting XI for any young player coming through, you’re sadly mistaken.”

Roy Keane defends the absence of certain younger players from the Irish squad.

Where we were today

Ben Blake was at the Ireland press conference ahead of the team’s trip to Serbia.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The Fixture List

• It’s a big weekend in GAA, with Kilkenny taking on Tipperary in the All-Ireland SHC final, as well the Ladies Football senior semi between Cork v Monaghan among other fixtures.
• There are a couple of League of Ireland games this weekend, with Sligo Rovers taking on Finn Harps.
• There’s more Pro12 action, including Scarlets v Munster.
• The College Football Classic takes place at the Aviva, with Boston College up against Georgia Tech.
• UFC Fight Night Hamburg is on Saturday.
• The US Open continues this weekend.
• Deutsche Bank Days 2 and 3 are set to take place, with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell among the golfers in action.
• There are a couple of World Cup qualifiers on Sunday, including Czech Republic v Northern Ireland.

Showbiz, Baby!

38-year-old Frank Lampard continues his remarkable resurgence in New York.

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