Cian Healy is well-known as a talented rugby player, despite his myriad of other skills, including DJing, artistry, knifemaking, and acting as a pitmaster and chef at barbecues. The upcoming semi-final of the Champions Cup between Leinster and Northampton at Croke Park on Saturday might see him being selected as a substitute. If he manages to participate in the game, he will surpass all other players by marking his 111th appearance in the competition. Currently, he shares the record of 110 matches played with Ronan O’Gara. John O’Sullivan recalls Healy’s impressive career, which started 17 years ago when he was still a teenager playing for Leinster. Healy focuses more on his achievements, as he stated, “When my career ends, I’ll tally up the medals, not the games played”. He has already collected four Champions Cup medals and Northampton is dead set against letting him win his fifth this Saturday. Fraser Dingwall, their England centre, discusses the upcoming game in an interview with Johnny Watterson.
Jude McAtamney always dreamt of making it big as a kicker in the NFL, an aspiration that once seemed unattainable for the former Derry junior footballer. However, his recent signing with the New York Giants has landed him an opportunity of becoming the team’s leading kicker in the next season. His story is recapped by Nathan Johns. In a separate note, Ciarán Murphy disputes the idea that either Galway or Mayo would wish to lose the upcoming Connacht final on Sunday in order to be part of a less challenging All-Ireland group. After all, it gives them the chance to gain bragging rights and experience the unique delight of outperforming the opponent. The Munster hurling championship game between Tipperary and Waterford on Saturday promises to be a heated contest, given the intense rivalry between Managers Liam Cahill and Davy Fitzgerald. The stage is set by Gordon Manning.
From across the Atlantic, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are gearing up for their Texas “mock bout” in July, a spectacle viewed by Dave Hannigan as the peak of society’s decline into reality TV. It’s safe to say he’s not exactly excited about it. Meanwhile, a distinctly different sports event is kicking off in Texas, with the Byron Nelson golf tournament. Séamus Power is competing, and as Philip Reid notes, a strong performance could secure his place in the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in two weeks.
Over in Ireland, the Punchestown Festival is moving into its third day. Brian O’Connor is deliberating the chances of Teahupoo becoming the first horse in a quarter of a century to secure the Cheltenham-Punchestown Stayers double. He also reminisces about Fastorslow’s victory over long-standing competitor Galopin Des Champs in the preceding Wednesday’s Gold Cup.
The absence of Sexton’s leadership will undoubtedly be felt as Leinster struggles to channel the spirit of the La Rochelle match.
TV coverage of the Punchestown Festival continues on RTÉ 2 from 4pm-7pm. There are also three Europa League and Europa Conference League semi-finals taking place tonight, all commencing at 8.0 – Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen (TNT Sports 2 and Virgin Media More), Aston Villa vs. Olympiakos Piraeus (TNT Sports 1 and Virgin Media Two), and Marseille vs. Atalanta (TNT Sports 3). As well as this, the Premier League face-off between Chelsea and Spurs will be broadcasted on Sky Sports at 7.30, with both teams keen to see the season conclude.