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Antrim ensured the opening weekend of the 2021 intercounty GAA season was one to remember, as they beat Clare 1-21 to 0-22 in Belfast yesterday afternoon. Stalwart Neil McManus helped inspire a famous victory on his side’s return to Division 1 action after three years away - their first win over one of the major hurling counties since they beat Wexford in 2012. Elsewhere yesterday Wexford themselves got up and running with a 4-17 to 0-10 thrashing of Laois, while Cork eased past last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Waterford, running out 5-22 to 1-17 winners at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. On Saturday meanwhile All-Ireland champions Limerick began their league campaign with a 0-20 to 0-20 draw against Tipperary.
Rory McIlroy is finally back in the winners’ enclosure after 553 days, as he produced a final round of 68 to secure victory in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. McIlroy’s timely return to form comes ahead of next week’s US PGA Championship, and the win was the 32-year-old’s first since becoming a father. He finished a stroke clear of Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, and afterwards he said: “It is never easy to win, it has felt like a long time since that win in China. The world is a completely different place, with the pandemic. It just feels awesome, to break the drought and win here again is awesome,” said McIlroy. “I feel off the energy so much, the crowd really carried me through.”
Manchester United came from behind to win again yesterday, as they saw off Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park. Dean Smith’s side capitalised on some weak defending to take a first-half lead through Bernard Traore, however once again United were a different animal after the interval. Bruno Fernandes got the ball rolling before Mason Greenwood and the white-hot Edinson Cavani completed victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, whose afternoon was marred by an injury to captain Harry Maguire. Elsewhere yesterday West Bromwich Albion’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed after they were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates. West Ham’s top four hopes were checked by a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, while Wolves came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at Molineux. In tonight’s sole fixture, Fulham welcome Burnley to Turf Moor (8pm).
Irish rider Sam Bennett is to leave the Deceuninck-QuickStep team at the end of the season, with manager Patrick Lefevere confirming his departure on Sunday and hinting the move could be motivated by money. He said: “I used to have to negotiate for two days during the Tour de France, now I have been besieged by managers for two days. I had to go from meeting to meeting. Is it purely a matter of money? You should ask him [BENNETT], maybe that’s what his agent wants.”
And Aidan O’Brien’s Bolshoi Ballet laid down a Derby marker yesterday, with an eye-catching victory in the Group Three Derrinstown Trial at Leopardstown. O’Brien’s colt won by six lengths under Ryan Moore and is now a hot antepost favourite for June’s Classic at Epsom.