Gordon Manning’s take on the All-Ireland championship group stage draw is that it was a straightforward, no-nonsense event. For those wanting a more dazzling spectacle, they would be better off attending a Taylor Swift concert at Croke Park. The draw did, however, present a few puzzles for some of the teams, with Galway and Mayo in particular in a bind – the loser of their final Connacht fixture will find themselves in a more favourable group.
Manning also made sardonic observations about Dublin and Kerry’s assignment to an easy ride towards the All-Ireland quarter-finals, a much needed respite after gruelling provincial contests. Seán Moran, on the other hand, has been perplexed as to why the draw wasn’t postponed until after the provincial matches had finished. He raises concerns over some chatter that certain teams may opt to purposely lose their finals. The consequence? The link between the provincial football championships and the All-Ireland now hangs by a thread.
Adding to the conversation, Darragh Ó Sé gave his opinions on the draw and each team. He observed with apprehension that Dublin, despite flying under the radar, are looking even better than last year and their young players are maturing. Even after Derry was defeated by Donegal, he didn’t write them off from contention. This sentiment was echoed by Derry defender Eoin McEvoy when discussing his county’s chances with Manning.
Turning to rugby, there’s strong optimism about the Leinster’s odds of outplaying Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final. Gordon D’Arcy argues that Leinster’s mix of experience, aspiration, and determination, coupled with the sting of recent losses, should propel them towards earning their fifth star. Key to their advancement has been the form of Ross Byrne, who returned from injury in February, according to comments made by Gerry Thornley, who interviewed the outhalf before the crucial match.
Brian O’Connor concluded the initial day of the Punchestown festival, marking JJ Slevin’s impressive pedigree in high-stakes racing with a thrilling eleventh-hour win on Banbridge in the Champion Chase. He also previews today’s headline event, where Galopin Des Champs is poise to clinch an exceptional Gold Cup ‘Triple Crown’.
In another development, Ian O’Riordan discusses with Mia Griffin, a Kilkenny woman who transitioned from county-level camogie to becoming a member of the Irish track cycling team that secured its Paris entry last month, embarking on a distinctive Olympic sojourn.
On the TV front, RTÉ 2 will provide additional coverage from the Punchestown Festival in the afternoon (3.30). In contrast, the Munster under-20 football final between Cork and Kerry will be broadcast by TG4 later tonight (7.30). Also, spectators can tune into Virgin Two and TNT Sports for the initial round of the Champions League semi-final featuring Borussia Dortmund battling PSG (8.0).