Just two days to go now until Dublin line out against Mayo for this year's Christmas All-Ireland final and this morning Eamon Donoghue writes that a redeployed Ciarán Kilkenny looks set to be a new problem for Mayo. The western county have got well used to facing Dublin in big matches over the last few years but now they face a three-time All Star in a more advanced role and in the form of his life. Another man Mayo won't know too much about is Robbie McDaid who is arguably Dublin's best find of 2021 and who has finally got his chance afetr biding his time, writes Ian O'Riordan. However, one man well-versed in the big games and looking to add to an individual championship scoring record of 4-9 in the semi-finals against Tipperary is Cillian O'Connor. The Ballintubber forward knows all about losing on the biggest stage and this year he's determined to put that right. On Sunday the Dublin women will look to make it a four-in-a-row of their own when they face Cork in the All-Ireland final and Noelle Healy tells Mary Hannigan how grateful she is for this year's championship which has been a huge distraction from the realities of Covid-19.
Moving on to rugby and the rematch between Harlequins and Munster in January is set to have quite a bit of spice after Danny Care stirred the pot yesterday by accusing Munster players of diving in the Irish side's 21-7 win at Thomond Park on Sunday. As it is Ben Healy will be out for a few weeks as a result of sustained late hits and Conor Murray yesterday said he felt the late hits were reckless. "The hit on Ben was just late and reckless. That's not going after someone, that's just going against the laws of the game and no one likes to see that," he said.
In soccer there was a big win for Liverpool last night as Roberto Firmino's late header gave them a 2-1 win over Tottenham and shot them clear at the top of the Premier League table. Jürgen Klopp's side applied the pressure early to their title contenders in a fast-paced game which Tottenham manager José Mourinho said "the best team lost" while also taking a pop at his German counterpart. Elsewhere, Leeds saw off Newcastle with a 5-2 win at Elland Road which saw Jeff Hendrick and Ciarán Clark both net for the visitors while Arsenal's woes continued with a 1-1- draw against Southampton at home.
In our women in sport pages this morning, Mary Hannigan introduced the nominees for The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2021 which will take place virtually tomorrow evening. From Olympic contenders to world champions and record-breakers, it's quite the list. Meanwhile, Joanne O'Riordan is writing in her column about the old ESPN The Body magazine which former photography editor Nancy Weisman tells her was one of her best working experiences.
