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The GAA has revealed a new streamlined and entirely split season for 2021 which will see all intercounty taking place first, before the exclusive club window opens, with a return of the All-Ireland club finals in January of 2022. In his column this morning, Kevin McStay explains why Mayo may regret not going for broke when they had the chance in Saturday’s All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin. “My sense was, have a go and change it if it is not working,” McStay writes in relation to how Mayo used the extra man after Robert McDaid’s black card. “Somebody like Keith Higgins – someone with that dash and bit of adventure might – and it is provisional – have caused a bit of havoc Mayo needed.”
Garry Ringrose must undergo yet another period of recuperation after suffering a second jaw injury, the Irish centre will now miss Leinster’s St Stephen’s Day clash with Munster in Thomond Park. Gerry Thornley is reflecting on Munster’s comeback victory in Clermont, which he believes is up there with the province’s greatest days in their storied history: “Munster have written another entry into their top ten greatest days in their storied Heineken Cup history. And, for the time being too, once again went a long way toward saving the tournament as well as themselves.”
A brace from Tammy Abraham after Thiago Silva had starred at both ends of the pitch saw Chelsea return to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over West Ham to move up to fifth in the Premier League. Earlier, Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood were on target for Burnley in a 2-1 victory against a tame Wolves side. Arsenal seek respite from a catastrophic Premier League run when they host Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals tonight and their manager Mikel Arteta wants to see “fighters” rather than “victims” as they look to turn the tide.
Meanwhile, the travel outlook between Ireland and Britain continues to be a nightmare for many but might provide an unlikely boost to Leopardstown’s Christmas action. Furthermore, with so much else disrupted this year it at least looks like the weather gods will play ball and not present tracks with an unwanted white Christmas.