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Kelly gets starting debut for Munster in McMillan’s first game

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MUNSTER HEAD COACH Clayton McMillan has handed new signing Dan Kelly his starting debut in Saturday’s URC opener away to the Scarlets [KO 5.30pm, Premier Sports].

The McMillan era gets underway at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday evening, with Craig Casey captaining the side for the first time as he partners JJ Hanrahan – who re-joined the province from Connacht – in the halfbacks. Jack Crowley is on the bench.

Hooker Niall Scannell will win his 200th cap for Munster, joining Jeremy Loughman and Oli Jager in the front row, while Jean Kleyn is fit to start in the second row alongside Fineen Wycherley. 21-year-old Brian Gleeson gets a chance to impress at number eight, with Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen completing the back row.

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Kelly will team up with Alex Nankivell in midfield, while fullback Mike Haley combines with Shane Daly and Thaakir Abrahams in the back three.

A punchy-looking Munster bench includes Ireland internationals Crowley, Tom Ahern, and Gavin Coombes, with 30-year-old replacement tighthead Conor Bartley set for his debut for the province. 

Munster confirmed that Tom Farrell [calf], John Hodnett [cheek], Diarmuid Kilgallen [ankle], Michael Milne [calf], John Ryan [elbow], and Andrew Smith [chest] were unavailable for selection but that all of them ” are considered short- to medium-term injuries.” Tighthead prop Roman Salanoa is “increasing his training exposure” as he targets a return from his long-term knee injury.

Munster:

15. Mike Haley
14. Shane Daly
13. Dan Kelly
12. Alex Nankivell
11. Thaakir Abrahams
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Craig Casey (captain)

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Niall Scannell
3. Oli Jager
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Fineen Wycherley
6. Jack O’Donoghue
7. Alex Kendellen
8. Brian Gleeson

Replacements:

16. Lee Barron
17. Josh Wycherley
18. Conor Bartley
19. Tom Ahern
20. Gavin Coombes
21. Paddy Patterson
22. Jack Crowley
23. Seán O’Brien

Referee: Sam Grove-White [SRU].

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McIlroy says Bryson matchup in Ryder Cup would be ‘wonderful’

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23 minutes ago

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25 September 2025

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RORY MCILROY SAYS facing Bryson DeChambeau in a Ryder Cup grudge match would be “wonderful” after their verbal feud intensified this week, but he’s more concerned about Europe winning in America.

Europe talisman McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam, will lead the trophy holders against host United States starting Friday at Bethpage Black.

A war of words with American star DeChambeau began at the Masters, where two-time US Open winner DeChambeau vowed to chirp in McIlroy’s ear at the Ryder Cup.

McIlroy, a five-time major winner from Northern Ireland, said last month that DeChambeau, who plays in the Saudi-backed LIV series, can only attract attention by mentioning other golfers.

DeChambeau told Golf Channel on Monday that, “Whatever Rory says and whatnot is great. He didn’t mean anything by it. I hope we can have some good banter back and forth.”

McIlroy eased the spat on Thursday, partly on orders from Europe captain Luke Donald, but was clear he’d be fine facing DeChambeau this week.

“I promised Luke I would only talk about the European team today. I’m going to stick to it,” McIlroy said.

“It’s so easy to play into narratives this week and to get swept up in this whole rivalries and Ryder Cup and whatever it is. All I want to do is go and try and put blue points on the board. I don’t care who it’s against.

“If I come up against Bryson at some point, I think that’s great. That’s wonderful for the championship and wonderful for us, as well, in some ways.”

McIlroy and his teammates have a goal of capturing the Cup on US soil for the fifth time and ending a run of lopsided host Cup wins since the epic Europe 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” fightback road triumph.

“Winning another away Ryder Cup, just considering how hard that has been over the past 12 years, it would be one of the greatest accomplishments of my career for sure,” McIlroy said.

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“Since 2012, you look at the results of the Ryder Cup, the home team has won every time, but they also have won convincingly. It has been pretty one-sided either way.

“Whatever team, whether that’s Europe or America, that’s the one to break that duck, I think, is going to go down as one of the best teams in Ryder Cup history.

“We have a wonderful opportunity this week but we also understand it’s going to be very difficult.”


Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry at Bethpage Black on Tuesday. Alamy Stock Photo


Alamy Stock Photo

On the eve of his eighth Cup appearance, the most of any golfer this week, McIlroy is part of a team that returns 11 of 12 players from the triumphant Rome squad.

“It has been a really cohesive group for the last three years,” McIlroy said. “We all know what to expect. We all know what our roles are… that has us prepared to give it a really good go this week.”

– Striking a balance –

McIlroy says he is trying to find the right balance for engagement with spectators, who have already booed him with vigour in practice.

“At times in the Ryder Cup, I’ve engaged too much with the crowd, but then there’s times where I haven’t engaged enough,” he said. “So it’s really just trying to find the balance of using that energy from the crowd to fuel your performance.”

From cupping his hand to his ear and yelling, “I can’t hear you,” after making a long putt at Hazeltine in 2016 to being mellow at Whistling Straits in 2021, it’s a delicate touch.

“At Hazeltine I probably engaged too much at times,” McIlroy said. “And then Whistling Straits, I didn’t engage enough and felt pretty flat because of it.”

– © AFP 2025

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Young Irish goalkeeper proves penalty shootout hero hours after emergency loan

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26 minutes ago

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25 September 2025

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LAST UPDATE
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25 mins ago

HOURS AFTER JOINING on an emergency loan deal, Irish goalkeeper Katie Keane proved Sheffield United’s penalty shootout hero in their League Cup win over Durham last night.

Joy Ralph also scored her first goal for the Blades on a memorable night for the former Shamrock Rovers and Ireland U19 teammates.

1-1 after normal time, Keane produced two saves to secure the bonus point for her temporary club as they won the penalty shootout 3-2.

Sheffield United announced the signing of Keane on a week-long emergency loan deal from Leicester City yesterday evening, registering the former Rovers, Athlone Town and Shelbourne star just in time for the Durham game with their other ‘keepers injured.

It was a whirlwind for the Meath 19-year-old, who joined WSL side Leicester on a three-year deal from Rovers this summer.

“Absolutely delighted,” Keane reflected. “It’s some debut! To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?

“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”


Sheffield United FC / YouTube

Sheffield boss Luke Turner hailed Keane’s performance and impact. “She’s strong, she’s commanding, she’s really vocal with her communication. She makes great decisions with the ball in possession. She’s a fantastic all round goalkeeper.

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“Obviously, she’s only young and she’s got a lot of developing to do but I’ve got no doubt that you’ll see Katie Keane playing at the top level of the game, both club and internationally. 

“Brilliant for her to step in, and we’re thankful to Leicester for allowing us the emergency loan. It’s great that we’ve got her for the short period. She’s straight away taken to the girls, to the staff, she’s been brilliant to have around the place.”

Ralph also recently left Rovers to sign her first full-time, professional contract, and she marked her first Sheffield start with a brilliant finish in the first-half.

“Really pleased for Joy getting her first goal for the club. That was great,” Turner added. 

Jess Ziu’s return was another positive on a night where several other Irish players featured across the 10 League Cup games.

Ziu made her first competitive appearance in a year as she completed her comeback from a second ACL injury.

On loan from West Ham United, her Bristol City debut ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Birmingham City. But Ziu will be pleased to have started and played a half, alongside Ireland U19 captain Lia O’Leary.

Lucy Quinn scored a 52nd-minute penalty for Birmingham and assisted their other goal, but didn’t feature as Blues wrapped up a 4-3 shootout win.

Elsewhere, Liverpool Women paid tribute to their former manager Matt Beard as they defeated Sunderland 5-0 – their first match since his shock death at the weekend.

Leanne Kiernan made her first competitive start of the season for the Reds.

Women’s League Cup results

  • Charlton 1-5 West Ham
  • Durham 1-1 Sheffield United (Sheffield win 3-2 on penalties)
  • Manchester City 3-1 Everton 
  • Liverpool 5-0 Sunderland
  • Birmingham City 2-2 Bristol City (Birmingham win 4-3 on penalties)
  • Portsmouth 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion 
  • Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa (Tottenham win 7-6 on penalties)
  • Crystal Palace 1-2 London City Lionesses
  • Ipswich Town 1-5 Leicester City 
  • Nottingham Forest 2-1 Newcastle

– Published 11.32am, updated 3.12pm with quotes 

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Irish teenage stopper Keane the cup hero for Blades

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1 hour ago

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25 September 2025

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Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.

On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.

Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.

Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.

Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.

Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.

“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?

“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”

Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.

She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.

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