VICTORY OVER.LEEDS IN DUBLIN | MANCHESTER UNITED VS. LEEDS UNITED | HIGHLIGHTS

 

PITCH INVADERS TAKE SELFIES WITH FERNANDES DURING MAN UTD FRIENDLY

Dublin (AFP) – Normal time in Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Leeds at Dublin's Croke Park on Wednesday ended in bizarre fashion when two young fans ran on to the pitch to take selfies with Bruno Fernandes.

A pitch invader takes a selfie with Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes during a pre-season friendly against Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin © Paul Faith / AFP

When security did not immediately intervene, at least three other pitch invaders joined in and play did not restart before referee Neil Doyle blew for full-time.

The match, the first game of association soccer at the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2009, was played in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 80,000.

It ended 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes after Joshua Zirkzee gave United a 16th-minute lead before Leeds equalised just before the half-hour mark, with Brenden Aaronson scoring after good work from former United winger Daniel James.

Noussair Mazraoui scored the decisive spot-kick as Manchester United won 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.

"First half we were really dangerous and could've had a number of goals," United manager Michael Carrick told ITV. "We played some really good football.

"They came back into the game, and in the second half there were a few changes and it was important to get some minutes in some of our lads.

"The young lads did well, it was everything we expected of them. Winning the game is always nice."

Fernandes missed from the spot before it went to sudden death, but after James Justin's effort struck the crossbar, Mazraoui saw United to victory.

Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were among those watching on, not involved after only joining the training camp at the start of the week following the World Cup.

Before the match, Carrick said he was holding the trio "in reserve" for Saturday's friendly against former boss Ruben Amorim and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland -- potentially Rashford's first appearance in a United shirt since December 2024.

"He's our player," said former United and England midfielder Carrick of Rashford, now back at Old Trafford after a loan spell at Barcelona.

"He's come back great, like any other player. I've known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different.

"He's been in great spirits since he's come back."

After several half-time changes, including a debut for United's new 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson, Leeds should have gone ahead six minutes in when Joe Rodon's low cross found Harry Wilson, but the summer signing shot straight at Senne Lammens.

Fernandes was among six United players to come onto the field on the hour and, having seen one effort ruled out for offside, he hit the crossbar with a curling shot five minutes from time.

TALKS ARE UNDERWAY FOR TYSON FURY V ANTHONY JOSHUA FIGHT AT CROCK PARK IN WHAT COULD BE KATIE TAYLOR'S FAREWELL SHOW

 

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be set to meet at Croke Park (Zac Goodwin/Bradley Collyer/PA)

Rumours that Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited heavyweight fight against Tyson Fury could be staged in Dublin later this year have been rippling through the boxing grapevine over the last few weeks and now it has been confirmed that talks are underway to stage the contest at Croke Park in September.

Fury will make his return to boxing when he takes on Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night and he has been speaking about the prospect of finally facing Joshua later this year in the build-up to the fight.

The two British fighters have come close to a showdown on numerous occasions in the past, but deals for the fight to take place have fallen through.

Now influential Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh is pushing to get the fight into the diary at last, with Dublin appearing to be the favoured venue for the fight.

A Joshua vs Fury bout in Dublin would also give Katie Taylor a chance to realise her last big dream of a fight at Croke Park, with the stadium’s chief executive Peter McKenna telling the BBC that a deal is being negotiated.

"The real hope is that we will get Tyson Fury here later on in the year. That would be such a world-billing event that we would be able to facilitate a Katie Taylor fight here," said McKenna.

"A lot of stars need to align. Katie's manager needs to agree, Katie's promoter needs to agree, Tyson Fury's promoter needs to agree.

"I am very confident that all three are coming to the sense that this is one of Ireland's greatest sporting athletes and it would be such a 'wow' to have her here and for her to finish her career here."

Security costs have been cited as one of the reasons why Taylor has been denied the chance to fight at Croke Park throughout her professional career, with her promoter Eddie Hearn failing to reach an agreement to allow the Bray-born boxer to fight in front of what is certain to be a sell-out crowd.

Joshua’s last fight came against YouTuber Jake Paul last December and he has yet to confirm when he will make a return to the ring after he was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

- Kevin Palmer

CHALLENGE CUP POOL DRAW DETAILS

The pool draw for the 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup will be staged at the Premier Sports studios in Dublin on Tuesday, 1st July.

The draw will be streamed live on epcrugby.com and the event, which will be co-presented by Elma Smit and Vincent Pochulu, will start at 13.30 (UK-Irish time) / 14.30 (European/South African time) / 16.30 (Georgian time).

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool draw

The 2025/26 EPCR Challenge Cup will once again have 18 clubs – eight from the URC, six from the TOP 14, two from the Gallagher Premiership and two invited clubs, Black Lion from Georgia and the Toyota Cheetahs from South Africa – competing in three pools of six, Pool 1, Pool 2 and Pool 3. (See all clubs below)

The following are the key principles integral to the EPCR Challenge Cup draw:

• Each pool of six will contain two TOP 14 clubs.

• As the draw will include three Welsh clubs – Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys and Dragons RFC – each pool will have one Welsh representative.

• The Italian clubs Benetton Rugby and Zebre Parma, who are from the same URC Shield, cannot be in the same pool.

• Connacht Rugby and Ulster Rugby, who are from the same URC Shield, cannot be in the same pool.

• Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons, the two Gallagher Premiership qualifiers, cannot be in the same pool.

• The Lions from South Africa, as well as the two invited clubs, Black Lion and the Toyota Cheetahs, cannot be in the same pool.

• A maximum of three URC clubs can be included in the same pool

• Clubs will play four different opponents home or away during the pool stage and a limited number of same-league fixtures will be unavoidable.

To start the process, all 18 club balls will be placed in the drum, and any three balls will be drawn separately with the first club out of the drum going into Pool 1, the second club out of the drum going into Pool 2 and the third club out of the drum going into Pool 3.

The draw will then continue on an ‘open’ basis with the next club out of the drum going into Pool 1, the following club out of the drum going into Pool 2, and so on in ascending numerical order until all club balls are drawn or allocated provided that the key principles are adhered to. 

If a club cannot be drawn into a pool in accordance with the key principles, then the club will be allocated to the next available pool. The process will then re-start at the pool into which the initial club could not be drawn.

The 2025/26 fixture schedules for both tournaments with dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced as soon as possible. Fixtures will be determined using an algorithm which will take into consideration league calendar restrictions, individual club calendar restrictions, broadcast requirements and the pool draws.

2025/26 EPCR CHALLENGE CUP QUALIFIERS

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Lions, Ospreys, Connacht Rugby, Ulster Rugby, Zebre Parma, Dragons RFC

TOP 14: Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Racing 92, Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Stade Français Paris, USAP, US Montauban

Gallagher Premiership: Exeter Chiefs, Newcastle Falcons

Invited: Black Lion, Toyota Cheetahs

2025/26 weekends

Round 1 – 5/6/7 December 2025

Round 2 – 12/13/14 December 2025

Round 3 – 9/10/11 January 2026

Round 4 – 16/17/18 January 2026

Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026

Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026

Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026

EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 May

- Connacht Rugby 🏉 

BOXER JOHN COONEY DIES AT 28 AFTER SUFFERING BRAIN INJURY DURING FIGHT AF FAMILY SPEAK OF THEIR 'DEVASTATION'

28-year-old boxer John Cooney has died after suffering a brain injury during a fight last weekend.

The sporting star’s family and his his fiancee Emmaleen have spoken out about their “complete devastation” after his death.

His death was announced in a statement published by promoter Mark Dunlop, on behalf of Cooney’s loved ones on Saturday night (February 8). It read: “After a week of battling for his life John Cooney has sadly passed away

“Mr and Mrs Cooney and his fiancee Emmaleen would like to thank the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital who have worked tirelessly to save John’s life and for everyone who has sent messages of support and prayers. He was a much loved son, brother and partner and it will take us all a lifetime to forget how special he was. RIP John ‘the Kid’ Cooney.”

File photo dated 22/11/23 of Irish boxer John Cooney, who has died, his promoter Mark Dunlop has announced. Issue date: Saturday February 8, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story BOXING Cooney. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire | Niall Carson/PA Wire

Cooney, from Galway, had been treated at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital after his defeat to Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall last Saturday (February 1). The bout, Cooney’s first defence of the Celtic super-featherweight title, was stopped in the ninth round.

A statement on Monday (February 3) said he was in intensive care. He underwent surgery after it was discovered he had an intracranial haemorrhage, also known as a bleed on the brain.

Cooney won the title with a win over Liam Gaynor in Dublin in November 2023, but spent a year out of the ring with a hand injury. He returned in October with a victory over Tampela Maharusi.

- Rochelle Barrand

IRISH CIVIL JURY FINDS MCGREGOR LIABLE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer

A jury ruled in favor of a woman who accused UFC superstar Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in December 2018.

The High Court in Dublin ordered McGregor to pay the complainant 248,000 euros, or around $257,000.

The jury had deliberated on the case since Thursday. McGregor, who denied the accusations and said he had consensual sex with the accuser, is not currently facing any criminal charges from the incident.

According to Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, the woman told the High Court she met McGregor at a Christmas party in Dublin. She accused the former two-weight UFC champion of forcing her onto a bed, choking her and making her fear for her life. A paramedic who treated the woman's injuries the next morning told the courtroom he had never seen such intense bruising on a victim, according to BBC News.

The woman's lawyer, John Gordon, said she never pretended to be a saint and had gone out looking for a good time that ended up turning into a nightmare. Gordon said McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client.

"He's not a man, he's a coward," Gordon told jurors. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is."

The woman had to take several breaks in her emotional testimony as she said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter.

McGregor put her in a choke hold several times and later told her, "Now you know how I felt in the Octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to an Ultimate Fighting Championship when he had to admit defeat, she said.

She said she feared she would die and never see her daughter again.

"He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she said. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he sexually assaulted her. Police investigated the woman's complaint, but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely.

McGregor said the two had sex that was athletic and vigorous, but not rough. He said, "She never said 'no' or stopped," and testified that everything she said was a lie.

"It is a full-blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings."

McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter.

"You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him -- there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch."

Ultimately, the jury of eight women and four men ruled against his version of the event.

McGregor released a statement saying he will appeal.

I will be appealing today's decision. The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future....

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2024

The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McGregor has not fought since he broke his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was scheduled for a highly anticipated return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June but withdrew in the weeks leading up to the event with an injured toe. He has teased the "greatest comeback" in sports history for years. He is 1-3 in his past four appearances, going back to 2018.

McGregor has four children with his longtime fiancée, Dee Devlin.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

- Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer

ROAD TO DUBLIN | BRACKET | UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE 2024

 

FORMULA 1 ORACLE RED BULL | DUBLIN 2023

RIHANA: NYOTA WA MCHEZO WA NGUMI ZA UFC CONOR MCGREGORY AMEFURAHI KUKUTANA NA RIHANA NDANI YA DUBLIN

Baada ya concert ya mwanamuziki maarufu sana duniani Rihanna nchini Ireland jiji la Dublin alikutana na nyota wa ngumi za UFC Conor McGregory...McGregor aliacha tizi kali la kujifua ngumi na kukutana na Rihanna...

Pia McGregor alihudhuria concert ya Rihanna ya Album ya ANTI na mpenzi wake Dee Devlin...

Rihanna alifurahi kukutana na McGregor na kumshukuru kwa maneno mazuri...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.