Province aiming to end season on positive note in Scotland
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Despite knowing they are going to miss out on the United Rugby Championship Play-Offs, Ulster are looking to end their season on a positive note when they face Edinburgh in their final game of the season (kick-off 7:35pm).
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
All-Ireland SFC: Who needs what in final group games?
Right, here we go then: for the last time - at least for the foreseeable future - the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship has arrived at the all-important final round of group next year, the competition will have another new guise, with the round-robin phase scrapped in favour of a new format. More on that here. But this weekend, four teams will have their dreams of lifting the Sam Maguire Cup shattered for another year at least as 16 is whittled down to put, there are eight matches this weekend: four on Saturday and four on Sunday. As it stands, holders Armagh are the only team guaranteed a spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. As for the rest, a wide assortment of possibilities await. Let's get into it. A quick reminder: the team that finishes first in their group moves straight through to the quarter-finals. Second and third earns teams a preliminary quarter-final spot (those finishing second will have home advantage), while fourth is knocked out of the championship. Group One Tyrone v Cavan, Brewster Park, Sunday, 16:00 BSTDonegal v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, Sunday, 16:00 BSTPermutations everywhere you look here. After two games, Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan all sit on two points heading into the final round-robin weekend, the first time this has happened since this format was introduced. Ulster champions Donegal comfortably hold the most superior scoring difference (+16), thanks to their 19-point victory over Cavan in round two. However, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head, and given that Tyrone beat Donegal in the first round, the Red Hands will top the group if they beat Cavan and Donegal overcome Mayo, a sequence which would eliminate the Connacht county. Tyrone will also finish top if they win and Donegal and Mayo play out a draw, which would knock Cavan out. Courtesy of their win over Tyrone last time out, Mayo will top the group if they beat Donegal and Tyrone defeat Cavan. This would eliminate Cavan. Donegal will top the group if they beat Mayo and Cavan get the better of Tyrone, thus sending the Red Hands out. Jim McGuinness' Donegal will also secure first place if they win and the Tyrone-Cavan game ends in a draw, eliminating Mayo. Both games ending in a draw is a highly unlikely occurrence, but if that does happen, Donegal will top the group on scoring difference while Cavan will finish will finish top if they beat Donegal and Tyrone beat Cavan. They will also finish top with victory over Donegal and a draw in the Tyrone-Cavan game. Cavan can still finish top despite entering the weekend bottom. To do that, they will need to beat Tyrone and hope that Mayo see off Donegal, which would eliminate Donegal. If Cavan win and Donegal-Mayo ends in a draw, Cavan will finish at the summit and Tyrone will head for the exit door. Jeopardy. That's what everyone wants and this group is full of it. It could go right down to the final kick. Group Two Kerry v Meath, Tullamore, Saturday, 16:15 BSTRoscommon v Cork, Portlaoise, Saturday, 16:15 BSTMercifully, this group's web won't take quite as long to untangle. Kerry enter the weekend top after wins over Roscommon and Cork. Having already accrued four points, a win or draw against Meath will guarantee top spot for the Kingdom and a spot in the quarter-finals. If Kerry and Roscommon win, Kerry will finish top and Cork will be eliminated. If Kerry and Cork win, Roscommon will be are the only other team that can finish top, but they will obviously need to beat Kerry for that to happen. The best Cork can do is finish third, but they'll need to beat Roscommon. If it ends in a draw, the Rossies will secure third. Group Three Monaghan v Down, Athletic Grounds, Sunday, 14:00 BSTLouth v Clare, Portlaoise, Sunday, 14:00 BSTIn stark contrast to Group One, this group's package of permutations is much slimmer. The winner of the all-Ulster encounter between Monaghan and Down in Armagh will secure top spot. Down have a slightly superior scoring difference so they will clinch top spot with a draw, which would signify remarkable progress for the Mournemen given they had not played an All-Ireland game since 2019 before this year. Neither team can finish worse than second. The losers of the Louth-Clare game will exit the championship. A draw will see Louth scrape through in third courtesy of their superior scoring difference. Group Four Dublin v Derry, Pairc Esler, Saturday, 18:30 BSTGalway v Armagh, Breffni Park, Saturday, 18:30 BST Even though Armagh have already locked up top spot, Group Four is sure to deliver some Saturday-night drama. Below the Orchardmen, there could be much to-ing and fro-ing. Armagh face familiar foes Galway in a rerun of last year's All-Ireland final. After earning a crucial point in last-gasp fashion in their thriller against Derry a fortnight ago, the Tribesmen can still finish second and earn a home preliminary quarter-final. To do that, they must beat Armagh and hope Derry beat Dublin in Newry. In that scenario, scoring difference would decide second place (Galway are on -1, with Derry on -4). Dublin will finish second with victory or a draw over Derry, regardless of what happens in the Galway-Armagh game. If Dublin-Derry ends in a draw and Galway win, Derry will be eliminated. If Dublin-Derry ends in a draw and Armagh win, Galway will exit the championship, meaning Derry will move into the next stage without having won a game. Dublin will also finish second if they win and Galway-Armagh ends in a draw, eliminating Derry. Derry are guaranteed survival with a win as they will edge out Dublin on the head-to-head rule. If Derry and Galway both win, second place will be decided by scoring difference with Dublin knocked out. If Derry and Armagh win, Derry will finish second and Galway will be will also finish second if they beat Dublin and Galway-Armagh ends in a that's that. Come Sunday evening, the road ahead will show nothing but straight knockout for the final 12 teams. Before that, expect endless twists and turns as we bid farewell to the All-Ireland group stage. Knockout schedule The preliminary quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 21/22 quarter-finals will be played on 28/29 semi-finals will be staged on 12/13 July with the final at Croke Park on 27 July.
Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts transfer offer to sign Nigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu from Turkey
More new signings are in the pipeline at Tynecastle ahead of season 2025/26 Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Teenage Nigerian striker Uchenna Ogundu is a transfer target for Hearts. New Tynecastle head coach Derek McInnes is eager to add centre-forwards to his squad for next season and Ogundu is wanted alongside the Portuguese Claudio Braga. The Oxford United centre-back Stuart Findlay also close to finalising a move to Edinburgh. Ogundu, 19, played with the Turkish second-tier side Sanliurfaspor last season but is wanted by Super Lig clubs Fenerbahce and Samsunspor. Hearts have put forward an offer to sign Ogundu, although they face further competition for his signature. The player also has interest from Hull City, Sturm Graz, Fortuna Sittard and Gornik Zabrze. He is keen to play at the highest level and Fenerbahce officials have discussed signing him with a view to an immediate loan, which could also appeal to Hearts and others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He would bring speed and power to the Tynecastle forward line. He is 6ft 2in tall and can operate as a central striker or wide on the right. He moved to Turkey last August from Diamond Academy in his native Nigeria, scoring six goals and claiming two assists in 19 appearances for Sanliurfaspor since making his senior debut in January. His performances captured attention from scouts and his data ranked well when assessed by Hearts' recruitment partner, Jamestown Analytics. McInnes is in the midst of rebuilding the first-team squad at Riccarton. Four signings are already in place in the shape of Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee. McInnes hopes to add both Braga and Ogundu to his attack and is still awaiting a final decision on whether Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland intends to extend his contract. Teenage Scotland internationalist James Wilson is also part of the squad and will compete for game time next season. Latest news on Hearts transfer targets - Arzani and Chesnokov deals In addition to players mentioned above, Hearts have made an approach to sign the Australian international winger Daniel Arzani. He has interest from other clubs in Europe and Asia. Negotiations are continuing as Hearts try to sign the Kazakhstan international forward Islam Chesnokov. He is willing to sign a pre-contract agreement to move to Edinburgh in November but Tynecastle management would prefer a quick deal this summer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McInnes has already stated that he sees Wilson as a player who can develop further having watched him emerge from the Riccarton youth academy and play regularly under previous Hearts managers Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley. 'He's one of a few academy products that have come through at the club,' said McInnes. 'Credit to Naisy and Neil who played him. 'Obviously, being involved in the Scotland set-up elevates him. I remember playing a closed-door game against Naisy's team at Rugby Park a while back. The boy came on and I liked him right away. His movement is really top-class in and around the box. He works in tight spaces and he's proven that he's a good footballer. 'He can see that and he knows his way to goal. So the more goal threats you have, the better. It's getting that balance, having the right type of strikers. I want to work with four or five strikers at the top end of the pitch and everybody's got to be able to give something a wee bit different. I think James is one of the boys that's got a lot to offer.'
Belfast Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland midfielder rejects Championship offers to join former Premier League side in third tier
The 32-year-old was confirmed to be leaving Millwall at the expiry of his contract and had interest from multiple sides that would have seen him remain in the second tier. However, the international star has instead opted to step down a level and join the Hatters, who only two years ago were in the Premier League but have suffered the ignominy of going down two years in a row. Despite that, Saville, who played 45 of Millwall's 46 games last season as they just missed out on the Championship Play-Offs, believes he has made the right move for himself. "It's been a tough couple of years for the club but this is now a chance to correct that. Speaking with the manager, and what he wants to do, there's a chance to build something, create a good atmosphere and have a good season,' he said. "I had offers in the Championship but since the first conversation with the manager it was clear-cut, it fits what I want and it's an opportunity to achieve something." Former Chelsea youth product Saville departed Millwall after making over 200 appearances for the club across two spells at The Den, with spells at Brentford, Wolves and Middlesbrough in between, the latter of which he also hit a century of caps for. The Camberley-born midfielder has also made 57 appearances for Northern Ireland, whom he qualifies for through his Enniskillen-born grandmother, and set up Isaac Price's winning goal against Iceland on Tuesday. "We're really pleased to sign George, not just because of the experience and quality he'll bring, but because he's really enthused about the challenge that lies ahead,' praised Luton boss Matt Bloomfield. "He's chosen us over some Championship offers which shows his belief in our club, and that's the type of character we're after. "We're hoping George can help us with his leadership and ability to knit the game together in the middle of the pitch. He's going to be an important component of the squad."
