Saturday sport: Leinster defeat Munster at Croke Park, Ulster defeat Connacht

Kenneth Fox

Leinster retained the bragging rights over rivals Munster in the URC this evening.

Leo Cullen's side produced a devastating first-half display to pick up a 26-12 bonus-point win at a sold-out Croke Park.

In the late game, Ulster were 32-27 winners over Connacht.

It's derby day. 😤

Let's gooooo! 🔥#LEIvMUN #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/rhHrJATbGD

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 12, 2024

Soccer

It's the final day of the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division.

Champions Athlone Town are trailing Galway United 2-0 at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Stephanie Zambra has scored the equaliser in her final game for Shamrock Rovers, leaving it a goal a piece between them and Shelbourne.

Bohemians rounded off their season with a 2-0 over Dublin rivals DLR Waves.

Peamount United suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Treaty United.

Sligo Rovers and Wexford signed off with a 2-all draw at the Showgrounds.

GAA

Armagh will kick off their All-Ireland football title defence away to Antrim in the Ulster championship quarter-final.

This afternoon's draw sees reigning provincial champions Donegal face Derry in the preliminary round.

The winner of that game will host Monaghan in the last eight.

Malachy O'Rourke's Tyrone host Cavan, while Tailteann Cup holders Down travel to Fermanagh.

Beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway will head Stateside for a Connacht quarter-final with New York.

The winner of that game will take on either Roscommon or London in the semi-final.

In the other final-four clash, Leitrim await the winner of Mayo versus Sligo.

Kerry begin their Munster campaign with a semi-final clash against either Limerick or Cork.

Waterford and Tipperary will play for the right to play Clare in the final four there.

In Leinster, Dublin have a quarter-final with either Wicklow or Longford.

The other first round ties see Wexford face Laois - they face Louth in the next round, while Carlow take on Meath, with the winner taking on Offaly.

The one confirmed last-eight tie sees Westmeath making the trip to Kildare.

Golf

Leona Maguire will have her eyes set on a top 20 finish after a solid but unspectacular third round at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

The Cavan golfer carded a 71 to move to seven-under par, 11 shots off leader Mao Saigo.

NFL

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suggested that a regular season game could take place in Ireland very soon.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney suggested that Ireland is a prospective destination for an NFL game in 2025.

Speaking at an event in London, Goodell offered a promising update:

Racing

There’s a national hunt fixture at Fairyhouse this afternoon, where the first goes to post at twenty-to-2.

While the Oktoberfest Weekend Festival gets underway at Naas, where the first is off at 2.