Friday morning headlines

GAELIC GAMES

Donegal have named an unchanged team for Sunday's All-Ireland Football final against Mayo at Croke Park.

Ryan Bradley is selected in the half forward line despite concerns over a shoulder injury he sustained in the semi-final win over Cork.

Mayo are expected to name their side later today.

The Connacht champions could be without wing back Colm Boyle.

Clonaslee St Manmans have been relegated to the Laois Intermediate Football Championship for next year

The Heath won the relegation playoff at Portarlington by 2-8 to 2-5

This evening O'Moore Park hosts the first two Sparrow Insurance Laois Senior Football Quarter Finals

It's St Josephs against Portarlington at 6.45 while it's Portlaoise against Stradbally at 8

LADIES FOOTBALL

Timahoe and Sarsfields meet in the Laois Senior Ladies Football Final for the 6th year in a row tomorrow evening

Sarsfields are the current holders of the Lulu Carroll Cup but Timahoe have had the edge in the meetings in recent years winning 4 of those 6 finals

The final throws in at 6 O'Clock at Crettyard

Park Ratheniska and St Conleths meet in the curtain raising Senior B Final at 4 O'Clock

SOCCER

Liverpool got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start, but Newcastle and Tottenham both had to settle for draws.

Liverpool won 5-3 away to Young Boys of Switzerland.

Jonjo Shelvey came off the bench to score twice for the Reds.

Tottenham and Newcastle were both held to scoreless draws.

Spurs were at home to Lazio where three players were subject to racist abuse from the away support while Newcastle were away to Maritimo

Athlone Town seek to put the disappointment of last week's drubbing by Wexford behind them when they host Mervue this evening

Town, who haven't won in 10 games, can call upon Stephen Relihan and Garvan Broughall who both impressed before a stint in the United States

Captain Noel McGee remains sidelined with injury but his former St Peters strike partner Mark Sherlock returns for the 7.45 kick off

There's one game this evening in the CCFL's Premier Division

Willow Park B host Mullingar Athletic B at 8 O'Clock

Sligo Rovers can move one step closer to a first top flight title since 1977 tonight.

The Airtricity League Premier Division leaders are away to Bray Wanderers at 7.05.

Elsewhere tonight Bohemians host Cork City, Derry City and UCD meet at the Brandywell and Shelbourne make the trip to Dundalk

Those three games kick off at 7:45.

RUGBY UNION

Rob Henshaw's club coach Hendre Marnitz feels tonight's Rabo Direct Pro 12 start will be an important step in the centre's development

Henshaw makes his first competitive start for Connacht in this evening's game away to Glasgow

Marnitz is delighted that coach Eric Elwood has handed the 19 year old a start

Connacht Eagles defeated Munster A 19-15 at Garryowen last evening

Tadhg Leader was Connacht's chief scorer with the boot while Jerome Harimate also scored a try

Buccaneers players Conor Finn, Callum Boland, Danny Qualter, Eoghan Grace and Dave Heffernan were involved with the Eagles

While Birr's Shane Delahunt will captain Leinster Under 19s against Ulster at Old Belvedere tomorrow

Peter Dooley also starts in the front row

Portlaoise's womens team open their All-Ireland League Division Two South campaign against Galbally on Sunday

Kick off at Togher is 2pm

GOLF

Rory McIlroy is three shots off the lead after the first round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The world number 1 finished up on 1 under par.

One of his rivals for the Fed Ex Cup series, Tiger Woods has a share of the lead on 4 under alongside Justin Rose.

Offaly's Stephen Grant is targeting a round of 67 in order to progress at the European Tour Qualifying School event in Germany

The former pro footballer is 2 over after 3 rounds having shot a level par 72 yesterday

Niall Kearney is well placed to advance, he goes into today at 2 under

NFL

Eli Manning produced another superb display as the New York Giants thumped the Carolina Panthers 36-7 in Charlotte last night

Manning completed completed 27 out of 35 passes for 288 yards with one touchdown pass for Martellus Bennett.

RACING

Rhode's Pat Smullen has two rides at Listowel this afternoon as he looks to further close the gap on Joseph O'Brien in the flat jockey's title race

O'Brien currently leads by 2 winners, the 8 race card gets underway at 5 to 2 with the going still soft to heavy

This afternoon's meeting at Ayr goes ahead after the track passed a 6.30am inspection.

Thursday's meeting at the Scottish venue was abandoned due to a waterlogged track but conditions have improved sufficiently to race today.

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