ROWING
After Friday's positive performance from Killorglin's Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley, it's been another great morning for Irish crews in Varese, Italy.
Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy have won their semi-final to qualify for the A Final of the Lightweight Men’s Double at the European Championships in Italy.
Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey are also through to the A Final of the Lightweight Women’s Double after finishing second in their semi-final this morning.
RUGBY
Ciara Griffin will lead Ireland out in their opening women's Six Nations game of the season away to Wales this evening.
The Ballymacelligott woman starts at number 8 while outside centre Eve Higgins will win her first cap.
Reigning champions England will be expected to pick up a bonus-point win against Italy this afternoon.
Leinster will be looking to overcome reigning champions Exeter in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup this evening.
The PRO14 champions have selected Scott Fardy over Ryan Baird in their second-row while Garry Ringsrose and James Ryan both miss out through injury.
Before that, Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle host Sale this afternoon.
GOLF
Justin Rose has a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Masters - despite a tricky second day.
He's seven-under-par going into the weekend at Augusta.
Rose carded four bogeys in his first seven holes yesterday and says he had to stay calm.
Offaly's Shane Lowry is back out this afternoon from level-par while Rory McIlroy missed the cut.
SOCCER
Today's Premier League football gets underway this hour, with Manchester City hoping to take another step closer to winning the title.
They go into their fixture against Leeds knowing they need just 11 more points to be crowned champions.
Liverpool host Aston Villa this afternoon, hoping to avenge their 7-2 thrashing earlier in the season.
Chelsea go to Crystal Palace in the tea-time game.
Norwich City can secure an immediate return to the Premier League this afternoon.
Daniel Farke's team will win promotion from the Championship if they beat Derby and both Brentford and Swansea fail to win their games against Preston and Millwall respectively.
There's three games this evening in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
Finn Harps will look to carry on their impressive start to the season when they host Waterford.
Elsewhere, Longford Town face fellow newly promoted side Drogheda while Sligo Rovers entertain champions Shamrock Rovers.
Dundalk are without a win after their first three matches following a 1-nil loss to Bohemians at Oriel Park last night.
Georgie Kelly scored the winner for Keith Long's side from the penalty spot.
Robbie Benson and Darragh Burns were on target in St Pat's 2-nil victory against basement side Derry.
RACING
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Cloth Cap is the favourite for today's Aintree Grand National, with Burrows Saint and Minella Times also fancied to do well.
Police are stepping up patrols around the Aintree track, with residents warned not to gather in groups larger than six in their gardens during the race.
Last year's event was cancelled due to coronavirus.
Today's opening race at Aintree gets underway at 1.45.
The going on the Liverpool course is good to soft, soft in places.
Racing at home today is in Dundalk with the first of 8 races on the standard track going to post at 1.10.
Elsewhere they run at…
Chepstow, good, good to soft from 12.30
Lingfield, standard, 12.55
Newcastle, good, 1.15
Wolverhampton, standard, 5.05
GREYHOUND RACING
A 12-race card at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium gets underway this evening at 7 o’clock.
