Saturday Sport: Positive Ireland draw 0-0 with Belgium, Kilkenny beat Limerick
Updated at 19:15
The Republic of Ireland have started the John O’Shea era with a draw.
It finished 0-0 with Belgium at the Aviva Stadium with over 38 thousand watching in Dublin.
Evan Ferguson missed a first half penalty in what was Ireland’s best chance of the game.
GAA
Kilkenny are the first team into this season’s Allianz National Hurling League final.
The Cats got the better of All Ireland champions Limerick by 3-17 to 1-15 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Kilkenny will play Tipperary or Clare in the final on April 7th.
The battle against the drop hogs the attention in the final round of Division 2 fixtures in the Allianz Football League.
Louth need only a draw with the already-relegated Kildare in Newbridge to preserve their status.
Fermanagh need a win over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni, while hoping Kildare do them a favour.
Cork play Armagh, and Donegal face Meath.
All of those games are just underway.
Rugby
Ireland have begun their Six Nations campaign with a loss this afternoon.
They lost to France in Le Mans by 38 points to 17. Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton both scored tries for Ireland.
Following that match-up, Wales face Scotland at Cardiff’s Arms Park.
Kick off there is at 4:45pm.
Ulster have started life under interim head coach Richie Murphy with a loss this afternoon.
They couldn’t find a way past the Sharks who beat the visitors 22-12 in Durban.
Connacht welcome the Emirates Lions to Galway from 5:15pm.
And prop Ed Byrne makes his 100th Leinster appearance in tonight’s game away to Zebre.
Golf
Seamus Power is one shot off the lead following the second round of action at the Valspar Championship.
The Waterford man shot a two under round of 69 today to move into a tie for 6th in the PGA Tour event.
That leaves him on five under par and one shot behind the five-way tie for the lead.
Shane Lowry is five shots off the lead ahead of the final round of the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour.
An eagle helped the Offaly man record a 6 under round of 66 during round 3 overnight and move to 8 under all round.
He lies in a tie for 13th place and will tee off his Sunday at 1am Irish time.
Australia’s David Micheluzzi has a one stroke advantage over the field on 13 under par.
Leona Maguire has put herself into a good position to pick up another win on the LPGA Tour.
She lies two off the lead on six under par ahead of the third round of the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship in California.
The Cavan woman will tee off at 8:20pm this evening.
Tam Malia of the USA leads the way on 8 under par.
F1
Sergio Perez has been given a three-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver drops to sixth after being punished for impeding Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying in Melbourne.
Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen will go from pole, sharing the front row with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, while Lando Norris is promoted to third.
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