Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Previous editions

ROY KEANE believes Giovanni Trapattoni will be ‘rubbing his hands’ in anticipation after the draw for the 2012 European Championship qualifying groups presented Ireland with a realistic chance of reaching the finals in Poland and the Ukraine.
THERE was mixed news from the Irish camp yesterday with Jonathan Sexton expected to be fit but Andrew Trimble is a major concern ahead of Saturday’s game against France in Paris.
KILDARE manager Kieran McGeeney has termed the disciplinary measures which followed his side’s ill-tempered battle with Laois in the O’Byrne Cup as “a joke”.
COLIN Montgomerie may surprise us but it is difficult to believe he would include two people among his assistants at Celtic Manor next October who have never played in the Ryder Cup.
RORY MCILROY can pull out the latest world rankings and claim the bragging rights over Pádraig Harrington.
INJURIES to several players mean Declan Kidney will have a tougher than usual task in naming his side to play France in the RBS Six Nations at the Stade de France on Saturday at lunchtime today.
HE may be the man in pole position but Ger Reidy insists that the identity of Diarmuid Murphy’s replacement as Kerry football goalkeeper remains uncertain.
TIME is running out to save top-flight football on Leeside, as Cork City face into a make or break few days for the club.
FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations clash against Grand Slam champions Ireland.
WATERFORD boss John Owens returned to his Leitrim roots to achieve success in Sunday’s NFL Division 4 opener but insisted that the impact of that win will be negated if the Déise fail to beat London next weekend.
WIGAN manager Roberto Martinez believes Scottish fans’ reaction to midfielder James McCarthy’s decision to pledge his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland will probably persuade the player to stick to his first choice.
ARVIKA Legeonniere has to be the choice to land the Easter Festival 2010 Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon, should the meeting survive a 7.30am inspection due to the threat of a severe overnight frost.
DERVAL O’ROURKE goes to the World Indoor Championships in Doha next month looking for a repeat of Moscow four years ago when she turned in a succession of storming performances en route to the 60m hurdles title.
AFTER PASSING one national test, star Irish swimmer Gráinne Murphy faces an examination of a different type this week.
BACKS coach Alan Gaffney is hoping Ireland can claim what would be a rare win in Paris in style after last weekend’s stuttering start to the defence of the Six Nations title.
WITH money riding on the outcome, Jamie Heaslip had but one option when a scoring opportunity presented itself at Croke Park on Saturday.
LADIES Football President Pat Quill is targeting attendances of 50,000 at their All-Ireland finals within the next decade.
CORK forward Paul Kerrigan insists that the Rebels will be treating next weekend’s league meeting with Kerry the same as any other game.
TIPPERARY were “out of their depth” in their opening Division 2 game of the season, despite only losing by two points to Laois.
ROBERTO MANCINI believes the next five games will determine the outcome of Manchester City’s season – starting with tonight’s night’s clash with Bolton.
LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has warned his team-mates they cannot afford any more mistakes if they are to secure Champions League football next season.
MICHAEL BALLACK believes Chelsea have once again demonstrated they possess the perfect mix needed to be champions.
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is delighted to be back in action and is looking forward to facing Aston Villa tomorrow night.
THEO WALCOTT maintains when Arsenal get it right, they can “kill” any of their rivals for the Barclays Premier League title – but accepts the Gunners cannot afford any more off days.
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