Brian Keogh: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry carry home hopes in risk-reward battle of wits at regal Portrush
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The Irish Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Weird version of Chelsea' – EFL club launch new badge like ‘lion with lollipop and first aid box'
PETERBOROUGH UNITED have revealed their new club crest. And fans have had plenty to say about the novel design. Advertisement 3 Peterborough have unveiled their new club crest The League One side have confirmed that the modernised badge will be used from June 2026 onwards. The current round badge features winged lions facing a shield, with the club's name and motto "Upon This Rock - but has been called "outdated" by the club. Posh's new logo will feature just one lion, holding a pair of keys in a nod to St Peter, who the city is named after. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Upon the announcement of the new crest, Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony said: "We have to evolve, and branding is a massive part of that. "I look at the big clubs and see how they are evolving, we have to modernise and we have to move with the times." On the design process, the Irishman, 49, added: "I was sceptical about the whole project at first, but having seen the journey that we have been on, and how we have involved supporters, it just makes sense. "We are evolving in our commercial department, we are evolving on the pitch and in the boardroom, and so our brand has to evolve. When I first saw it, it blew me away. I love it! I am really excited by it all." Advertisement Most read in Football Latest BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 Peterborough will switch from this crest next summer Peterborough believe that their new "digital-first ethos" can "attract new audiences" - while reflecting their "identity" and being more merchandise friendly. Commenting on the new crest, one fan wrote on X: "A lion with a lollipop and a first aid box." Advertisement Neil Warnock hints at shock return to management with 'unbelievable' crisis club While a second claimed: "The main issue I have is looking at it, you don't think 'oh yeah that's Peterborough', you just think it's a weird version of A third reasoned: "Not sure you can say it's "unique and instantly recognisable". It's only instantly recognisable as looking like Chelsea and therefore not unique at all." And a fourth commented: "You can't say instantly recognisable but not have the club name on the badge. You want to appeal to a new audience, say someone abroad sees the badge but has no idea what club it is, how do you expect to grow?" Another Posh fan added: "I like how we have to 'move with the times' for reasons unclear to anyone. Seems like we're only doing it because bigger clubs are doing it." Advertisement Peterborough are set to get their League One campaign underway this weekend. Darren Ferguson's side will face 3 Peteborough's new crest has been likened to Chelsea's
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
McErlean buzzing for legendary 'Grand Prix on gravel'
Motorsport The Jyvaskyla based Secto Rally Finland is one of the most iconic events on the World Rally Championship calendar. It's part of the continuing Rally1 journey for the Irish crew of Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy and their M-Sport team boss Richard Millener wants the Irish duo to "push forward" on one of the fastest gravel events of the series, dubbed "a Grand Prix on gravel". The pair's ninth place finish in Rally Estonia was another important progression but Millener wants more, not just from the Kilrea/Killeagh combination but their teammates as well. "Rally Finland is a legendary event and while it's always a huge challenge, it's also an incredible opportunity for our young line-up to shine. Gregoire (Munster), Josh (McErlean) and Martins (Sesks) have all been consistently learning throughout the season and Finland will test every aspect of their driving. We're looking forward to seeing how they adapt and push forward, we're confident we can see some positive results in Finland.' In his fourth outing here, McErlean is relatively familiar with the terrain in Finland (round nine of the WRC) that includes the classic stages of Ouninpohja and Paijala, while Treacy had his maiden trip with philanthropist John Coyne, the man largely responsible for the MI Academy members' presence at the top tier in World rallying. McErlean said, 'Rally Finland is an event I've been looking forward to ever since we got the opportunity to compete at Rally1 level. It's a special feeling to be taking on these iconic Finnish roads in such a car. This weekend is about taking a step forward, trusting in ourselves, committing fully to the pace, and showing what we can do with this package. The key will be confidence and rhythm and I'm ready to enjoy every moment of the ride through the forests.' Up front, the title race continues to gather momentum as Estonian Ott Tanak (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) holds a slender single point advantage over Welsh ace Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1). As Tanak is first on the road today (Friday), however, unlike Evans, who led for several rounds, it isn't the disadvantage it was earlier in the season. A winner in Finland in 2018, 2019 and 2022 Tanak knows what to expect on a rally where the average speed is 125km/hr. 'It's all about pure performance. Setup is crucial to performing well because of the mix of high speeds and jumps, you need grip and stability and to be absolutely precise with where you place the car at all times." Evans is a double victor in Rally Finland and running behind Tanak, he will seek to push home that advantage as he welcomes his team mate and eight time WR champion Sebastien Ogier back to championship action, their team mate Kalle Rovanpera seeks to win his home event for the first time. In the Junior WRC, Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan, who are fifth, warmed up for the event with a second place finish in last week's HYAcenter Ralli - just 0.3 shy of the winners. *** Meanwhile, the FIA and WRC Promoter unveiled the 2026 WRC calendar that has 14 rounds across four continents. The rounds are: 1. Rallye Monte-Carlo (January 22-25); 2. Rally Sweden (February 12-15); 3. Safari Rally Kenya (March 12-15): 4. Croatia Rally (April 9-12); 5. Rally Islas Canarias (April 23-26); 6. Vodafone Rally de Portugal (May 7-10); 7. Rally Japan (May 28-31); 8. EKO Acropolis Rally (June 25- 28); 9. Rally Estonia (July 16-19); 10. Secto Rally Finland (July30 -August2); 11. Rally del Paraguay (August 27-30); 12. Rally Chile Bio Bío (September 10-13); 13. Rally Italia (October 1-4); 14. Rally Saudi Arabia (November 11-14). *** On the home front it seems the proposed Galway Mini Stage Rally (October) remains in a state of flux. Amid discussions between the Munster, Skibbereen and Galway clubs, it appeared that a November date was more appropriate and was set to get the green light at this week's Motor Sport Council meeting. However, objections from their counterparts in Donegal and Killarney seems to have jettisoned that particular proposal - for the moment at least.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Domestic rivalries to ignite at this weekends National Senior Championships
With just six weeks left until the World Championships in Tokyo, this is the time of the season when Ireland's best athletes will be keen to hit full stride. But before they take on the world's best, it's time to reignite some domestic rivalries, with several mouthwatering clashes in store at this weekend's National Senior Championships in Santry. Chief among them is the men's 800m, where Mark English could face the biggest challenge of his career in this setting. The 32-year-old has entered the 400m and 800m and if he lines up for the latter event, he will square off with Cian McPhillips, the 23-year-old Longford native who, after a decorated underage career, is now flourishing as a senior. McPhillips, the 2021 European U20 1500m champion, smashed his personal best to clock 1:44.19 and win at the Morton Games recently, going second on the Irish all-time list behind the 1:43.92 English ran in June. English has won eight Irish senior outdoor titles at 800m, and nine indoors, while McPhillips – whose early senior career was hampered by injury – has never won the national outdoor title and has one senior indoor title from 2024. The men's 100m will throw up an intriguing duel between Irish record holder Israel Olatunde and Bori Akinola, who ran the fastest all-conditions 100m by an Irishman in June, clocking 10.10 with a 2.9m/s tailwind. Olatunde, who ran the national record of 10.12 last year, has won this title for the last four years and has a season's best of 10.23, while Akinola's wind-legal best this year is 10.25. There should be very little between them. Multi-event star Kate O'Connor has entered the javelin, shot put and long jump, fresh off her victory at the World University Games, while fellow Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley has entries in the 200m and 400m, with longtime relay teammates Phil Healy and Sophie Becker both focused on the 400m. Sarah Lavin will look to win her 10th national title in the 100m hurdles and should prove untouchable in that on Sunday, while on Saturday she's likely to also race the 200m. The in-form Sarah Healy will drop down to 800m, where she's the defending champion, and if Sophie O'Sullivan chooses that over the 1500m, it should be another riveting duel between the duo who went 1-2 over 1500m at the European U23 Championships two years ago, although Emerald's Jenna Bromell will also have a huge say. 'I've raced so many 1500's this year and it's very rare I get a chance to run an 800,' said Healy. 'It will probably be a good quality field and it's just a good chance for me to challenge myself in a different way. Normally, running an 800 brings me on a lot in the 1500 so that was my thought process.' Recent European U23 medallists Nicola Tuthill (hammer), Anika Thompson (5000m), Eimear Maher (1500m) and Nick Griggs (1500m) will all be in action, while the men's 1500m is shaping up as a cracker. If Andrew Coscoran and Cathal Doyle, the two quickest Irishmen in history, both toe the line, fans will get a rematch of their thrilling duel at last month's Morton Games where Coscoran edged victory. Griggs, Shane Bracken and Darragh McElhinney should also be in the medal hunt. Both days of action will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 5-7.30pm on Sunday. Day tickets cost €15 with a special two-day ticket available for €25, while U-16s go free.
