Listen: Edinburgh 'on cusp of breakthrough'?
This week's BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast sees Andy Burke and Tom English at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh to speak to club veteran Grant Gilchrist before the Challenge Cup semi-final with Bath on Saturday.Andy and Tom also look back on Scotland's Women's Six Nations victory against Ireland, Glasgow's URC defeat by the Bulls, and ponder whether Finn Russell will get a Lions place.Listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds
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BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Armagh through to All-Ireland quarter-finals with Dublin win
All-Ireland champions Armagh booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a 0-24 to 0-19 victory against Dublin in their second round-robin game at Croke for the first time at Croke Park since beating Galway in last year's decider, Armagh led 0-13 to 0-9 at the break after a strong end to the efficiency shown by the Orchard County going forward ultimately proved crucial in the second half as Dublin finished with 17 five-point victory helped the Sam Maguire holders to claim top spot in Group Four and progress straight through to the last eight at the end of June. Armagh finish first half strong Dublin were without influential captain Con O'Callaghan, who was injured in the victory against Galway last time out, but they made a bright start at Croke Costello was key to them moving three points clear on 17 minutes after the sides had exchanged early lost their way midway through the half however due to their wastefulness in front of Dubs had 19 shots in the first period but only nine points to show for it, while Armagh were much more clinical at the other end and scored five points from Dublin's Grugan's two-pointer on 18 minutes brought Armagh back to within one point before a fine solo run and finish from Jarly Og Burns drew the holders Cluxton then made two good stops to deny Oisin Conaty and Andrew Murnin but Dublin went 11 minutes without scoring as the Orchard County took added a free while Rian O'Neill, on his second start of the season, nailed a super two-pointer as did Conor Turbitt to put Kieran McGeeney's side ahead for the first who was named player of the match in last year's final weaved his way through to fire over before a Costello free reduced the deficit to four ahead of half-time. Holders punish wasteful hosts Armagh did not relent after the break and O'Neill got his second two-pointer to extend their continued to be the architects of their own downfall as three times in a matter of minutes they were penalised for not keeping three players up in the other half, allowing Grugan to stroke home three easy missed a two-point free off the ground before making amends a few minutes later with a fine two-pointer to bring Dublin back within from Ethan Rafferty and Darragh McMullan steadied Armagh, but another two-pointer from Sean Bugler kept the hosts believing they could fight Costello and John Small were all guilty of adding to Dublin's wide count, with such misses proving costly in the Stefan Campbell tagged on a point while O'Neill got his third two-pointer by kicking a free off the ground to widen the gap kept coming back with another two-pointer, this time from Paddy Small again cutting the deficit. Another point from a substitute, this time Joe McElroy, kept the scoreboard ticking over and Dublin failed in a late push to get back in the game as Armagh saw out the side will face Galway in their final game while Dublin take on Derry on the weekend of 14/15 June, knowing a win would secure their passage to the next round.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Caoimhin Kelleher closing in on £18m move to Brentford
Brentford are closing in on a deal for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as their replacement for Mark Flekken, who is poised to join Bayer Leverkusen. The transfers are linked and Kelleher will not move unless Flekken departs, but there is a strong belief that everything will be resolved. Flekken, the 31-year-old Dutchman, is set for a move to Leverkusen for €10million (about £8.4million), plus add-ons, while Kelleher would cost Brentford £12.5million up front and about £18million in total. The club are continuing negotiations. Kelleher, 26, has only one year left on his deal otherwise Liverpool would seek more for a player who made 20 appearances last season and 26 in 2023-24 to establish himself as a reliable performer. A number of other clubs had been looking at the Ireland goalkeeper, but Brentford have been in a position to move first. Kelleher's determination to step out of Alisson's shadow at Anfield comes with Liverpool welcoming Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer, 12 months after agreeing a £29million deal with Valencia for the Georgia player. Mamardashvili, 24, will challenge Alisson, who is expected to remain the No1. 'I think I've said it before that I feel like I'm a No1, I think I'm good enough to play week in, week out, and that's what I'm looking to do,' Kelleher said. 'This season I was lucky enough to play a lot of games but [a move to become first choice is] definitely something I'm looking at.' Liverpool have banked £10million from Trent Alexander-Arnold's early release to Real Madrid and could, after Kelleher, raise further funds with the Saudi club Al Nassr and Barcelona interested in Luis Diaz. The Colombian forward, who was signed in 2022 from Porto, has two years left on his contract. Darwin Núñez has also been linked with a switch to the Saudi Pro League and Al-Hilal. Outgoing deals are important for Liverpool who are continuing negotiations with Leverkusen over a club-record deal for Florian Wirtz. A £109million package was tabled last week. Jeremie Frimpong has already been signed, also from Leverkusen, for £29.5million and there is strong interest in Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez. Tottenham Hotspur have retained interest in Fikayo Tomori, the AC Milan centre back who turned down a move to the north London club in January after a £25million fee was agreed. Tottenham want to sign a left-sided centre back this summer and Tomori, 27, has two years left on his contract. His future is uncertain after the arrival of Max Allegri as Milan head coach, who is reported to have earmarked Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic as his centre-back pairing, meaning one or both of Tomori, who has five England caps, and Malick Thiaw will be sold. Tottenham's other defensive options being considered include Jarrad Branthwaite, of Everton. Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi is not thought to be interested in a move to Tottenham, who bid for him in January. Thomas Partey's representatives have had talks with Barcelona as the Arsenal midfielder, 31, has so far been unable to agree a new contract beyond the expiry of his present deal this month.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Derry and Galway round-robin thriller ends in draw
Derry and Galway battled to a 2-20 to 4-14 draw in their All-Ireland round-robin meeting in Celtic Park. Matthew Tierney scored a last-minute goal to put Galway one ahead heading into the final play of the match before Conor Doherty kicked an equaliser for Derry after the Oakleafers will be disappointed that they let the game slip away after leading by eight points on two occasions. It was proper championship football over the first 35 minutes with no quarter given or taken and neither side taking a backwards step with so much on the line. The first quarter burst into life as Rob Finnerty got the final touch to a goalline scramble on fourteen minutes to give Galway a 1-2 to 0-4 lead. Derry replied from the very next attack with a fine passing move which ended in Conor Glass punching into the empty net for an immediate and emphatic response. The hosts grew in confidence and started to dictate play around the middle of the field with Paul Cassidy landing a two-pointer from play before Shane McGuigan knocked over a free from two-point range. The Tribesmen responded with a major as Shane Walsh turned Eoin McEvoy inside and out before finishing a fine individual goal with a strike into the net. Three more scores from McGuigan and Niall Loughlin had Derry eight ahead at the break. Strong start from Derry undone in frantic finish Paddy Tally's men emerged sharpest for the second half and reeled off four scores in a row with Loughlin, Glass and Ciaran McFaul all on target. Derry looked like they were about to secure a first win of 2025 when Lachlan Murray buried down the sideline and squared to Loughlin who punched into the net to again put his side up by Cooke hit a two-pointer in reply for the visitors who seemed to be wayward with their desperate two-point efforts. Padraic Joyce's men were given a lifeline with eight minutes to play as Matthew Tierney hit his first score of the game with a goal. Brendan Rogers pointed for Derry either side of efforts from Cein Darcy and Damien Comer to leave two between the teams. Time was all but up when Kieran Molloy tried an effort from way out which hung in the air for an eternity before it was punched to the net by Tierney who really made his mark in the final moments. There was less than thirty seconds to play when Derry mounted an attack in a desperate attempt to save a game they had looked sure to win. Their patience was rewarded right on the hooter as Conor Doherty secured a draw with the final kick off the game. It is all to play for heading into the final round of games in the group in a fortnight's time when Galway take on All-Ireland champions Armagh and Derry meet Dublin. Derry: B McKinless; D Baker, E McEvoy, P McGurk; C Doherty (0-1), P McGrogan, N Loughlin (1-2), C Glass (1-3 1 45), B Rogers (0-3 1 2pt); E Doherty, P Cassidy (0-3 1 2pt), C McFaul (0-1); S McGuigan (0-4 1 2ptf), D Higgins, N Toner (0-1 1f).Subs: Lachlan Murray (0-2) for E Doherty (44), Ruairi Forbes for P McGurk (57), Anton Tohill for N Loughlin (60), Ethan Doherty for N Toner (63) Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Mulkerrin, J Glynn; D McHugh, S Kelly (0-1), L Silke; P Conroy (0-1), J Maher (0-1); M Thompson (0-2), C McDaid, S O'Neill (0-1); M Tierney (2-0), R Finnerty (1-3 1f), S Walsh (1-1 1f).Subs: Cein Darcy (0-1) for S O'Neill (18), Damien Comer (0-1 1m) for P Conroy (49), Peter Cooke (0-2 1 2pt) for C McDaid (49), John Daly for S Walsh (60), Kieran Molloy for D McHugh (65), Johnny Heaney for S Mulkerrin (67) Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh)
