Friday Morning Headlines

GAELIC GAMES

Offaly manager Emmet McDonnell has made four changes from the side that lost to Limerick ahead of Sunday's National Football League Division Four encounter with Clare

Anton Sullivan, David Hanlon, Ross Brady and Sean Pender are out while Paul McConway, John Moloney, Willie Mulhall and Peter Cunningham come into the team

Sullivan is out for the year with a shoulder injury that will require surgery

Alan Mulhall is in goal, Tullamore's Paul McConway is full back, Brian Darby and Eoin Rigney are in the corners

John Moloney is centre half back, Graham Guilfoyle and Michael Brazil retain their places in the wing back positions

Brian Connor, who played with Leinster last week, is in midfield with Alan McNamee

The half forwards are Derek Kelly, Willie Mulhall and Eoin Carroll

Captain Niall McNamee is full forward with Bernard Allen and Peter Cunningham in the corners

We'll have commentary on Sunday with thanks to Michael Moore Car Sales Portarlington.

Darragh Nelson and Declan O'Mahony come into the Dublin team for their Allianz Football League Division 1 clash with Mayo at Croke Park tomorrow night.

Nelson replaces Rory O'Carroll who plays in the Fitzgibbon Cup later today.

O'Mahony is in for the suspended Michael Darragh Macauley in midfield.

The Cork footballers have made three changes for Sunday’s trip to Down.

Tomás Clancy and Noel O’Leary come into the half-back line, while Barry O'Driscoll starts at corner forward.

Crossmaglen pair Aaron Kernan and Jamie Clarke go straight back into the Armagh team for their game with Longford tomorrow night.

It's semi final day in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

First up at 12.45, Waterford IT take on Mary I

UCC and UCD meet at 2:30

DCU claimed the Freshers A Football Championship yesterday with a 1-19 to 2-15 win over UCD after extra time

Killeshin's Stephen Attrite started at corner back for the Ross Munnelly managed DCU side, Mullingar Shamrock's Killian Daly and Mountmellick's Niall Mullen both came on

LADIES FOOTBALL

Laois' ladies footballers aim to bounce back from their defeat to Dublin with the O'Moores welcome Mayo to Stradbally for a 2 O'Clock throw in on Sunday

5 teams are locked at the top of the Division One table on 6 points

Westmeath have a two point lead at the summit of Division Two after their opening three games, Martin Flanagan's side welcome All-Ireland finalists Kerry to Cusack Park

While Offaly, who also have also made a 100 per cent start, are away to Carlow

All three games are at 2pm

Leinster champions Scoil Criost Ri, Portlaoise take on Scoil Bhride, Tuam in the All-Ireland Schools Ladies Football Senior Semi Finals tomorrow afternoon

The game throws in at 1 O'Clock in Banagher

SOCCER

Chelsea's interim manager Rafa Benitez will face the media today for the first time since his outburst on Wednesday evening.

He lashed out at the fans who've protested against him, and the board for calling him interim manager.

However, last night Benitez claimed to have a good relationship with owner Roman Abramovich.

Swindon have named former Republic of Ireland assistant Kevin MacDonald as their new manager.

The 52-year old, who was caretaker manager at Aston Villa in 2010, succeeds Paolo Di Canio, who resigned last week.

MacDonald's first game in charge of the League One side will be at Coventry on Saturday.

RUGBY

Ulster, Leinster and Connacht are all in Rabo Direct Pro12 action this evening.

Paddy Jackson starts at fly-half for league leaders Ulster who host Treviso.

Mullingar’s Mark Flanagan is in the second row for Leinster who are away to the Dragons and Connacht welcome Zebre to the Sportsground, Athlone’s Rob Henshaw starts at full back for Connacht

The Cistercian College Roscrea take on Blackrock in the semi finals of the Leinster Schools Cup at Donnybrook this Sunday afternoon

Roscrea lost out to Rock in the 1999 Final and also suffered final heartbreak against St Michaels two years ago

Tullamore will receive the Leinster League Division One title on their 75th birthday tomorrow, the All-Ireland Junior Cup winners finish out the season with a home game against Newbridge

On Sunday it's third against fourth in Division One B as Longford host Portarlington in an all Midlands clash

There's also an all Midlands affair in Two A as Portlaoise host Mullingar, Roscrea are at home to Kilkenny

Towns Cup Quarter Finalists Edenderry host Arklow in Two B

And in Division Three it's Birr against Tallaght and Midland Warriors against West Offaly Lions

All those games are at 3pm 

GOLF

Birr's Stephen Grant is the joint leader at 7 under par going into today's final round at the Golf Slinger.com Tour event in South Florida

Shane Lowry resumes at 1 under

Both watched Rory McIlroy begin the defence of his Honda Classic title with an opening round of level par.

The world number 1 is six shots behind leader Camilo Villegas

Graeme McDowell is only three shots back on 3 under par

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

The IAFL Division 1 gets underway this Sunday afternoon

At Tullamore rugby club there's a meeting of two title contenders, Drogheda Lightning and Tullamore Phoenix at 1pm

BOXING

The British Lionhearts team can consolidate their place in the playoff spots in the World Series of Boxing's Group B this evening

Moate's Joe Ward is in action for the Lionhearts, the Irish and European light heavyweight champion faces Ukraine's Denys Solonenko who has yet to win a bout this season

Ward is currently fifth on the individual boxing standings at light heavyweight

Boxing gets underway at York Hall at 8 O'Clock

RACING

The €12,5000 Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Race is the highlight of Dundalk's action tonight

The Tracey Collins-trained Captain Joy has enjoyed a terrific winter and he chases a hat-trick of wins in that feature contest at 7.20pm under Rhode jockey Pat Smullen.

His biggest danger looks to be the ultra-consistent Akasaka.

The eight-race card commences at 5.50pm.

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