One of the hottest-anticipated tournaments on the entire sporting calendar in the United Kingdom, the World Championshipkicks off at Alexandra Palace on December 15 and runs until the grand finale on January 3.

The latest renewal looks set to be on a knife edge, with last year’s finalists Luke Littler and Luke Humphries inseparable in the PDC World Championship odds—both coming in as the 5/2 joint-favourites for the Sid Waddel Trophy.

Such is the nature of the tournament, with its electric atmosphere and extremely high stakes, that upsets can happen at any stage at Ally Pally. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three outsiders that could cause a stir at the upcoming World Darts Championship.

Michael Smith – 16/1

He might be second in the PDC’s Order of Merit, but Michael Smith is a 16/1 outsider to claim a second World Darts Championship this year.

The Englishman stunned three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen with a 7-4 victory in the 2023 final, landing just his second Premier Event after winning the Grand Slam of Darts in the same year.

‘Bully Boy’, who won the World Cup of Darts alongside Humphries in the summer, has been runner-up in the World Championship on two occasions and could go on a good run this year if he can produce his best form.

Mike De Decker – 22/1

Ranked 25 by the PDC, Mike De Decker has potentially hit career-best form at the perfect time after picking up his first Premier Event recently.

The 28-year-old Belgian caused one of the upsets of the season when going all the way to the final of the World Grand Prix in October, ultimately defeating Humphries 6-4 in Leicester.

De Decker, who also beat his fellow countryman Dimitri Van den Bergh, James Wade, and Gary Anderson en route to his maiden major victory, has never progressed further than the second round in four World Championship appearances. But momentum could carry him this year.

Michael van Gerwen – 6/1

Not an outsider per se, but odds of 6/1 in the darts bettingmarket seem like exceptional value for a player of Van Gerwen’s calibre.

Indeed, ‘Might Mike’ hasn’t exactly been his indomitable self in recent seasons and hasn’t got his hands on the World Championship since completing the hat-trick in 2019.

However, Van Gerwen has knocked on the door in a couple of Premier Events this season, finishing runner-up in The Masters and World Matchplay and winning some silverware in the Dutch Darts Masters, as well as the Players Championship, bouncing back from defeat in the Grand Prix.

The Dutchman has a formidable record at Ally Pally, finishing runner-up on three occasions as well as his hat-trick of victories, and it would be foolish to rule him it.

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While Humphries and Littler are undoubtedly the players to beat at this year’s World Championship, an upset is never off the table at Ally Pally and Van Gerwen, Van De Decker or Smith could be this year’s dark horses.

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Fixture Details

Saturday November 30th

AIB Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship Final
Russell Rovers (Cork) v Kilrossanty (Waterford)
Venue: Páirc Uí Rinn at 1pm
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on Clubber
AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary) v Watergrasshill (Cork)
Venue: TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick at 6pm
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on Clubber
Sunday December 1st

AIB Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final
Ballygunner (Waterford) v Sarsfields (Cork)
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium Thurles at 3:15pm
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on TG4

Tweets by officialgaa

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GAA LEAGUE Tables

Fixture Details

Saturday November 30th

AIB Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship Final
Russell Rovers (Cork) v Kilrossanty (Waterford)
Venue: Páirc Uí Rinn at 1pm
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on Clubber
AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Cashel King Cormacs (Tipperary) v Watergrasshill (Cork)
Venue: TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick at 6pm
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on Clubber
Sunday December 1st

AIB Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship Final
Ballygunner (Waterford) v Sarsfields (Cork)
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium Thurles at 3:15pm
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
Extra Time if Necessary (Result on the Day)
Live on TG4

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Sports betting has a fairly long history (with first reports dating back to betting on horse racing in the 18th century), but with betting now more accessible than ever throughonline sportsbooks and handy mobile apps, the pastime has gained unprecedented popularity in the modern age.Betting on sports is attracting plenty of new punters who arelooking to try their hand at one of the best ways to elevate your sports experience.

There’s no doubt about it, sports betting is thrilling. Clinging to the edge of your seat as the horses hammer down the racetrack, or your favourite team pounds a shot toward the goal, and wondering if all those stakes you have on your bet will finally come home certainly adds a level of excitement and engagement to sports that can’t really be found anywhere else. However, for beginners to the world of sports betting, it’s important to know the key tenets to keep yourself safe and make the experience even more enjoyable!

This article runs through five of the best tips and tricks for newcomers to sports betting to guide them on their betting journey.

#1 Understand the Basics of Sports Betting

As with any hobby, getting started without the basics willonly lead to fumbling in the dark. It’s essential that any newcomer to the world of sports betting gets to grips with all the key terms, and with those down, that mystical jargon on your favourite football betting site in Ireland will—like magic—all become clear.

Odds

At the heart of any betting experience, there are odds. In short, these represent the likelihood of a particular outcomeoccurring and dictate how much you’ll earn if your bet comes in. Odds come in a couple of forms, including

Types of Bets

The next key element is the different kinds of bets available. These are important to familiarise yourself with as, unlike odds, most aren’t quite as intuitive to guess by name.

#2 Set a Budget and Stick To It

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re having fun, but one of the biggest errors new bettors make is bad money management. The key to having fun betting is to never bet more than you can comfortably afford to lose. While there’s always a chance that a bet might come in, if you’re betting for fun, you should treat every bet as a lost one when it comes to bankroll management.

When you’re starting out, pre-set a monthly or weekly betting limit so that you can have fun without that niggle in the back of your mind that losing might spell disaster.

Of course, this only works if you stay disciplined. It’s important not to bet off emotions alone, and not to chase up losses with a bigger bet (a harmful habit that can be costly). As long as you stick to your sensible rules, you’re sure to have a fun time and be able to maintain a sustainable betting habit.

#3 Research and Analyse Before Placing Bets

Any semi-successful sports bettor knows the importance of research before placing a bet. Without doing your due diligence before putting money on the line, it’s easy to place terrible value bets and these avoidable losses quickly add up and take the fun out of the game.

However, it’s easy to avoid some of the simplest mistakes with a little bit of research and analysis before you lay your bet—a process that can quickly become part of the enjoyment. Some simple ones to tick off are predicted weather conditions, injury reports, and the expected team line-ups. This is a simple way to avoid betting on a player to score the first goal when they’ve just been put out for injury!

For more in-depth analysis, investigate current forms and,in team sports, the results of previous head-to-heads. A star horse could be running badly this season or a specific match-up might result in surprising results for an underdog team.

Make sure you stick to trusted, reliable resources for accurate information and check out some well–knowntipsters for detailed yet comprehensive analysis.

#4 Start Small—Focus on Single Bets

One of the best rules for newcomers is not to get ahead of yourself. When you’re still learning, it’s important to start small—avoid parlays and complex bets and focus on the smaller moving parts, a well-researched single line bet is far more satisfying when it pays off than fumbling your way through a doomed accumulator. Stick to smaller value bets so you can try your hand at different tactics while keeping your bankroll healthy.

#5 Track Your Bets and Learn From Each Outcome

Many people already track a lot of things in their life—their sleep, fitness journeys, daily runs—so it’s only sensible to turn to this with a new hobby. While you might think you’re remembering everything, getting specifics down on paper can turn up surprising results. Dig through your previous wins and losses and excavate all the gritty details of what went wrong and how you made things go right.

Spreadsheets are a favourite of our pros to track their progress, and they’re great for managing bankroll, too, as well as keeping tabs on winners, losers, and much more!

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The 2024/2025 TUS Dr. Harty Cup Under-19 A Hurling competition is heating up as the group stages conclude and the knockout stages take shape. Following this week’s Round 3 games, three Quarter-Finalists have been confirmed, with the remaining spots to be determined through draws and Preliminary Quarter-Final clashes.

Quarter-Finalists Confirmed

The winners of the three four-team groups have secured their places in the Quarter-Finals, which will take place in January:

•Group 1 Winner: CBC Cork

•Group 2 Winner: Ardscoil Rís Limerick

•Group 3 Winner: The victor of next Tuesday’s game between Blackwater Community School Lismore and Cashel Community School

Additionally, the fourth Quarter-Final place was determined by a draw between the winners of the three-team groups:

•Group 4 Winner: CBS Midleton (selected via draw)

Preliminary Quarter-Final Draw

The remaining teams will compete in the Preliminary Quarter-Finals, scheduled for December 4th. The draw for this round will take place next Tuesday evening after the crucial Group 3 game between Blackwater Community School Lismore and Cashel Community School.

Teams involved in the Preliminary Quarter-Final draw include:

•Group 5 Winner: De La Salle College

•Group 6 Winner: St. Flannans College, Ennis

•Group 1 Runner-Up: John the Baptist Community School

•Group 2 Runner-Up: Our Lady’s Templemore

•Group 3 Runner-Up: Loser of Blackwater Community School Lismore vs. Cashel Community School

•Group 4 Runner-Up: Nenagh CBS

•Group 5 Runner-Up: Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaigh

•Group 6 Runner-Up: Thurles CBS

Repeat pairings from the group stages will be avoided during the draw to ensure competitive balance.

Key Dates for the Knockout Stages

•Preliminary Quarter-Finals: December 4, 2024

•Quarter-Finals: January 8, 2025

•Semi-Finals: January 18, 2025

•Final: February 1, 2025

This year’s Dr. Harty Cup promises thrilling matchups as the competition progresses. Stay tuned for updates following the crucial Group 3 game and Preliminary Quarter-Final draw next week.

For more updates on the TUS Dr. Harty Cup, keep following live scores coverage as we bring you all the latest results and fixtures.

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Daire Cregg has no regrets about turning down a move to the AFL, choosing instead to focus on his Gaelic football career with Roscommon.

The talented Boyle forward was approached by the Carlton Blues earlier this year and met with representatives from the club. However, after careful consideration, Cregg decided to stay at home and commit his future to his county.

Speaking on The Rossie GAA Podcast on Shannonside FM, Cregg reflected on the opportunity:

“It was nice to be asked,” he said. “I had a meeting with them (Carlton), and they were really good guys. Obviously, a professional set-up is a professional set-up. It was appealing from that side of things.

“But I probably love the game too much and… I don’t feel I’d be getting the best out of myself over there because I’d miss this side of things too much.”

The Roscommon star expressed optimism about the county’s future under current management, adding:

“I think we have a really good chance with the group of players we have in Roscommon. I think we have a good manager who has good time for young lads and good trust in young lads.”

Cregg’s decision reflects his passion for Gaelic football and belief in the potential of Roscommon’s current squad as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The post Daire Cregg Rejects AFL Move to Focus on Roscommon GAA Future appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Farrell has handed debuts to two uncapped players in the starting lineup. Leinster hooker and former Ireland U20 Grand Slam-winning captain Gus McCarthy makes his first appearance in the front row, while Ulster back-row Cormac Izuchukwu earns his first cap as blindside flanker.

Following an impressive impact off the bench in last week’s victory over Argentina, Jamie Osborne is named at full-back for his first start at the Aviva Stadium. He will line up alongside Mack Hansen and Jacob Stockdale in the back three.

In the midfield, Robbie Henshaw starts at outside centre with Bundee Aki at inside centre. Sam Prendergast earns his first Test start at fly-half, partnering Craig Casey in the half-back pairing.

The front row features Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham alongside debutant McCarthy, who has been promoted from a training panellist to the match day squad after impressing in Portugal and Dublin over recent weeks.

In the second row, Joe McCarthy retains his spot and is joined by Tadhg Beirne, who shifts from the back row to allow Izuchukwu to debut at six. Completing the pack are openside flanker Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris at number eight.

On the bench, Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, and Thomas Clarkson provide front-row cover, with Iain Henderson and Cian Prendergast completing the forward replacements. Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, and Stuart McCloskey offer backline options.

Speaking ahead of the game, Andy Farrell said:

“There were signs of improvement last weekend, and this week has been about building and embracing the challenge of a talented Flying Fijian side, who will be coming to Dublin full of confidence after their recent displays.

“On Saturday, we welcome two more debutants, and I’m delighted for Cormac and Gus, who have impressed with their work-rate and application over recent weeks and months. They’ve performed strongly for their provinces, carried that form into the Emerging Ireland Tour, and are now being rewarded. We wish them well as they take this exciting next step in their careers.”

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Trained by Gordon Elliott – the middle part of a treble – the 20/1 chance had two and half lengths in hand on Lucid Dreams from the John Ryan yard.

The runner-up, ridden by Danny Mullins, started at 22/1, while Yeah Man (16/1) and Perceval Legallois (10/1) finished third and fourth respectively.

The Grade 3 John Lynch Carpets Monksfield Novice Hurdle also went to the Gordon Elliott team through The Yellow Clay.

The 8/11 favourite, with Jack Kennedy in the saddle, came home a comfortable 10 length winner in the colours of Bective Stud.

Where’s My Jet (4/1) took the runner-up spot, ahead of Fleur In The Park (9/2) and Prends Garde A Toi in the two and a half mile contest.

Better Days Ahead (2/1) overturned the 1/2 favourite Slade Steel in the Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase.

In the ownership of Bective Stud, Jack Kennedy had four lengths of an advantage over the Henry de Bromhead-trained favourite at the winning post.

Big win for Ray Beckett

Tipperary handler Ray Beckett tasted success in the €45,000 Bar One Racing Tara Handicap Hurdle with 28/1 chance Sequoiaspirit, in the hands of jockey Liam Quinlan.

The opening Bar One Racing Boost 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle was won by race favourite Total Look at 11/4.

Trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Keith Donoghue, the French-bred son of Cloth Of Stars held off Beyond Your Dreams (18/5) by half a length.

Cast A Spell (12/1) lost her maiden tag in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

Ridden by Cian Quirke for handler Tom Hogan, the six-year-old daughter of Mastercraftsman crossed the finishing line two lengths ahead of the odds-on favourite Qualimita (30/100) in the 21-runner race.

Another de Bronhead/O’Keeffe winner

The good form of Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe continued as Love Me (14/1) became the Waterford trainer’s ninth winner in 14 days when taking the Gaeil Colmcille GAA Kells Handicap Hurdle.

The concluding race of the successful two-day festival went to the Emmet Mullins-handled John Gleeson-ridden Churchfield Sunset at 7/1.

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With five winners for Elliott, his stable jockey Jack Kennedy rode three winners and top owners Bective Stud and Gigginstown House Stud both had two winners each.

Wingmen wins on hurdling debut

Dual bumper winner last season Wingmen (8/15 favourite) opened proceedings, taking the Kilderry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle for Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud, and jockey Jack Kennedy.

The Fairyhouse bumper winner last month Blue De Vaissy (4/6 favourite) easily won the first graded race of the afternoon, the Grade 3 Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle over two miles, in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, again in the hands of Kerry rider Jack Kennedy.

Found A Fifty claims Fortria Chase

The Grade 2 Bar One Racing Fortria Chase then fell to Elliott’s team, as Found A Fifty (11/8 favourite) gave Kennedy a treble and owners Bective Stud their double.

Down Memory Lane (7/1), third to Caldwell Potter in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas, made a successful debut over the larger obstacles when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase for the Cullentra House team, jockey Mark Walsh and owner J.P. McManus.

The five-timer was completed for Elliott in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ bumper when Harry Swan pushed the Gigginstown House Stud-owned favourite Whinney Hill (6/4 favourite) out to claim a three and a half length success.

Home By The Lee wins his second Lismullen

The Grade 2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle over two and a half miles was won by Home By The Lee (7/1).

The 2022 winner of the race, and third-place finisher last year, is trained by Joseph O’Brien for Seán O’Driscoll and the nine-year-old was ridden by Danny Mullins.

Cork jockey Michael O’Sullivan gave Slane Hill (9/1) an enterprising ride in the Lisadell Equine Hospital Handicap Hurdle. Hitting the front early doors, the seven-year-old came home in splendid isolation for trainer and owner Barry Connell.

County Waterford trainer John Flavin was also among the winners with Clarens (9/1) a battling winner of the Hotel Park St. Johann in Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle, under Alex Harvey.

Day two of the Navan Racing Festival gets underway at 11.35am on Sunday.

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