Wexford captain Eoin Conroy and manager JJ Doyle with Limerick manager John Kiely and captain Diarmuid Byrnes ahead of Saturday’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling final. Sportsfile Sportsfile

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• John Giles says he’s yet to see any evidence to suggest James McCarthy can develop into the dynamic midfielder many believe he has the capacity to become.
  
• Eamon Dunphy is convinced Ireland can beat Germany at the Aviva Stadium next month, despite not many critics fancying the Boys in Green’s chances against the world champions.
• Two more promising young GAA stars are set to travel to Australia in an attempt to forge an Aussie Rules career.

• Limerick have kept faith with the team that saw off Galway for Saturday’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling final against Wexford in Semple Stadium.

• Eoin Larkin has admitted that injuries almost forced him to quit the Kilkenny hurling panel earlier this year.

• Legendary Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer has signed a deal to be The42‘s columnist during the Rugby World Cup.

Away

• The injury worries are beginning to mount for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opponents Italy, with centre Luca Morisi ruled out and doubts also over talismanic captain Sergio Parisse.

• Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has produced an unbelievable response to doping allegations surrounding the dominant French club.

RC Toulon RC Toulon

• Veteran English out-half Andy Goode has been forced to retire with immediate effect.
• 27-year-old Super Bowl winner Tyler Sash has been found dead at his home.

• Hull City’s Jake Livermore has reportedly escaped a suspension following his positive test for cocaine in April.

The Best Thing We Shared

What’s it like to support the best team in the SSE Airtricity League? This video sums it up nicely…

On The Record

“I think they’re a good bit more defensively conscious. They’re protecting their own goals a lot better, protecting their own half of the pitch a bit better.”

Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice discusses Dublin’s defensive improvements ahead of their meeting with Jim Gavin’s side in the All-Ireland football final on 20 September.

Where We Were Today

Fintan O’Toole was at Dublin’s pre-All-Ireland football final press day at Parnell Park, while Paul Dollery attended a preview screening of the first episode of season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter in Dublin.

UFC fighter Aisling Daly at today's preview screening of The Ultimate Fighter. Piaras Ó Mídheac / SPORTSFILE Piaras Ó Mídheac / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

Showbiz, baby!

These South African pundits are big fans of the “very young man” who’ll be wearing the number 10 shirt for Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

“Butterbean versus Viktor Krum would be a decent fight actually.”

Explainer: The UFC’s new TV series featuring Conor McGregor starts tonight

‘It’s an exciting time for Irish rugby’ – Our new signing Peter Stringer looks forward to the RWC