BBC to stream both legs of Blues-Shelbourne tie
BBC Sport NI is to broadcast live coverage of both legs of the Champions League first qualifying round tie between Irish Premiership champions Linfield and Irish Premier Division winners Shelbourne.The sides were paired in the recent draw for the European competition.The first leg will be played at Tolka Park in Dublin on Wednesday 9 July, with a 19:45 BST kick-off.The second leg takes place at Windsor Park in Belfast on 16 July, again with a 19:45 start.Both matches will also be available to view on the BBC Sport website and app.The winners of the tie will face Azerbaijan club Qarabag in the second qualifying round, with the losers dropping into the Uefa Conference League second round to play the defeated side between FK Zalgiris of Lithuania and Hamrun Spartans of Malta.Shelbourne, whose title-winning manager Damien Duff resigned on Sunday, collected their first League of Ireland crown in 18 years in 2024.David Healy's Linfield won the Irish Premiership by 22 points in an impressive campaign for the Blues.Linfield last faced Shels in the 2006 Setanta Cup group stages, winning 2-0 at Windsor Park before a goalless draw in the return fixture.One year earlier, David Jeffrey's side won the cross-border tournament by beating Shelbourne 2-0 in the final at Tolka Park.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Leah Williamson to use Arsenal inspiration with Lionesses after World Cup agony
Leah Williamson led England to success at the Euros in 2022, but the following year she missed out on a place at the World Cup after suffering a knee ligament injury There are plenty of reasons why Leah Williamson is 'hungry' for success when the women's Euros begin in Switzerland. Among them is the fact the Lionesses captain was forced to miss World Cup 2023 with a knee ligament injury. But top of the list is that the 28-year-old defender wants another taste of the unexpected glory she enjoyed with her club at the end of last season. Williamson was magnificent in Arsenal's Champions League final victory over Barcelona last month and that win has made her even more motivated going into the Euros. 'One of the greatest things about being an athlete is when you think you're done, you always have that extra part of yourself that you can tap into,' Williamson says. 'It's the same with winning. When you're winning, you want to bathe in that euphoria, but there's always something else coming. 'The best feeling in the world is being hungry for it and wanting to go again. Being reminded of winning the Champions League and what that felt like makes me feel like I can't wait for the next challenge. 'I kind of forget that we won the Champions League. It's in my head and I'll tap into that if needed.' The Champions League success was a special landmark in Williamson's career, having suffered a cruciate ligament rupture towards the end of the 2022-23 season that kept her out of the World Cup that year. And that cruel setback means Williamson will savour the upcoming Swiss adventure just that little bit more. She explains: 'Personally it's been a rocky period of time with the highest of the highs and lowest of the lows so I try to put that aside. I feel my age, if that makes any sense. I've definitely aged in the last couple of years, for good and bad reasons. 'I missed the last time (World Cup) and I'm very, very grateful to be here again.' Williamson, of course, led England to glory on home soil in Euro 2022 and admits the added expectation created by that triumph means there is a slightly different feeling around the England camp ahead of their tournament opener against France next Saturday. She says: 'Yes, it does feel slightly different. That was such a freeing environment in 2022. Sarina (Wiegman) had been in for a year, everything was really fresh and new, whereas this is a bit more about you needing to be able to discuss a bit and plan and pre-thought. 'But I see a group that's focused and wants to be better all the time. Everyone wants to work hard. Everyone has a good attitude towards the job. 'Playing for England in a tournament, there's nothing that compares. I'm very excited.' England's build-up to Euro 2025 has not been as smooth as Wiegman might have hoped, with goalkeeper Mary Earps announcing a shock retirement from international football and Chelsea defender Millie Bright pulling out of the tournament saying she was 'not able to give 100 percent mentally or physically.' Fran Kirby, who scored twice in England's successful Euro 2022 campaign, also announced she would no longer be available for selection. Williamson admits they will be missed but it says it is a setback the Lionesses can overcome. She says: 'It's tough going out there without the experience they offer but I respect all of them for the decisions they have made and we are a team on a mission. 'We will miss them but we are well-placed to fill that gap … in a different way. No-one will ever be able to do it like those three did it but we will figure it out.'
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He's a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver' – Templegate's NAP for shrewd trainer
TEMPLEGATE takes on Sunday's action hungry for winners. Back a horse by clicking their odds. SYNERGISM (4.00 Ffos Las, nap) Is a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver who can take another step forward here. He did really well to strike at Sandown last time, getting up right near the line to win with a little up his sleeve. He saw out this trip strongly and a 4lb rise looks more than fair. IMPERIAL DATA (2.40 Cartmel, nb) Ran a cracker for most of a stronger race than this here last time. He looked booked for a place at least before just running out of juice inside the final furlong. Coming back in trip here can get his head on front off a fair mark. ME TARZAN (4.40 Ffos Las, treble) Can bring up the hat-trick after smooth wins at Lingfield at Leicester. He is right at home over this specialist trip. Templegate's Irish Derby verdict GREEN IMPACT showed real heart when going from the front to score at Leopardstown last time. The Harrington horses are in excellent form and he shapes as though moving up in trip will bring improvement. Lambourn won a poor Derby well and will be hard to beat but he's a very short price. Pride Of Arras was unhappy from the first step at Epsom and can prove the Dante form isn't a complete load of rubbish with a better run on this more conventional track. Tennessee Stud finished well into third at Epsom and looks booked for another place ahead of Lazy Griff who will have lots of competition for the early pace today. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
GB & Ireland beat Europe to win Vagliano Trophy
Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe to seal a first Vagliano Trophy victory since the Curtis Cup win over the United States last September, the GB&I women again held their nerve in the biennial match, winning 12½-11½ at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the by non-playing captain Maria Dunne, GB&I found themselves trailing by one heading into the singles with Europe claiming two early the GB&I team fought back with the English trio of Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O'Brien all scoring wins before Ireland's Aine Donegan and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish to claim a first win in 20 years."It's been an unbelievable day," said Dunne."I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night 'just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point' and that's exactly what they did."Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad and Hannah Darling were all part of the team which won the Curtis Cup and all played their part once and Coulter lost to Paula Martin Sampedro and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto respectively, but things began to turn GB&I's way with Ong's 6&5 victory, and McDonald-O'Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors closer, before Rhodes delivered another crucial point with a two-hole triumph over France's Sara Brentcheneff. In a tense finish, Donegan hit a winning eagle against Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio before Fullbrook held her nerve for a one-hole victory against Emma Kaisa Dalgaard Bunch to seal did have something to show for the day as they were 11½-6½ winners in the Junior Vagliano Trophy."We came so close at Royal Dornoch in 2023 [losing by three points] and we knew we hadn't won this event since 2005 so it feels amazing to do it," Dunne added."Patience had an incredible finish to win her singles match, before Aine rolled in that eagle on the 18th. I feel so privileged to be captain. For GB&I to now hold both the Curtis Cup and the Vagliano Trophy is fantastic."I think the success in winning the Curtis Cup last year helped the team this week. I reminded them in our team meetings that we had that momentum and belief."My three rookies have also been unbelievable and done the job for me every time I've asked them. For the three who weren't involved in the Curtis Cup, they could see the belief and they built on that too."
