The management teams from Clare and Kilkenny have opted for unchanged starting line-ups for tomorrow's Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship final in Thurles (throw-in 7pm).

Republic Under-21 0 Turkey Under-21 1

Fabio Capello might find his belief that results are everything being sorely tested as the aftermath of England’s 2-0 win over Wales on Saturday provided yet more questions about the Italian’s judgement.

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is to remain on loan at Wolves for the remainder of the season.

Three-time All-Ireland winner and former Tipperary minor boss Declan Ryan has been appointed to succeed Liam Sheedy as manager of the Premier County's senior hurlers.

The Ireland senior and U-21 squads have been named for this Saturday's Hurling-Shinty international matches at Croke Park and Ratoath respectively.

Armenia coach Vardan Minasyan is relishing the chance to lock horns with one of international football’s veterans tonight.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s depart for Switzerland today, with four changes to the squad originally announced for the double-header UEFA European Championship qualifying matches against Switzerland and Turkey.

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has pulled out of Northern Ireland’s friendly against Albania tomorrow.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today named an 18-man squad for next month’s double-header UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying matches away to Georgia and Armenia.

Should we follow the American model of requiring the president to sit regular medical tests and of releasing the results? The BBC’s Jeremy Paxman was vilified in 2002 for asking Charles Kennedy on Newsnight what were pertinent questions about his drinking

Fergal O'Donnell will be at the helm of the Roscommon senior footballers next season, after he was confirmed as their new manager at a special County Board meeting last night.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been named in a 20-man squad by Nigeria to face South Africa in a joint 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier early next month.

Former Portugal coach Agostinho Oliveira believes Carlos Queiroz is the “right man” to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Kildare 0-9 Wicklow 0-13

Dr Crokes clubman Pat O'Shea has been reappointed as manager of the Kerry senior footballers, following a meeting of the Kerry County Committee last night.

Dublin's hurlers will take on Cork this Saturday without the services of midfielder John McCaffrey who is still troubled by an on-going groin injury.

Aston Villa look like having to wait until after the UEFA Under-21 Championships to complete the signing of Nigel Reo-Coker from West Ham.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is hoping Crystal Palace’s Gabor Kiraly will be the answer to his goal-keeping crisis.

Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-11 Carna/Caiseal 2-2

The panels to represent Ireland in Saturday week's Hurling/Shinty International games at senior and Under-21 level against Scotland were announced today.

FULL-FORWARD John Crowley is struggling to be fit for Sunday’s Munster football semi-final showdown with Cork in Killarney.

Celtic star Henrik Larsson is set for a move to southern Europe when he leaves Parkhead in the summer.

Nicolas Anelka has been warned by France coach Jacques Santini that he has no future in the national team until he issues an apology for refusing a call-up last year.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr today lost four players from his squad to face Turkey in Tuesday night’s friendly at Lansdowne Road.

WATERFORD'S reserve goalkeeper, Patrick Holden, will be given his chance to step-up the competition for places in Waterford's Premier Division side when they play Cork City in the quarter-final of the League Cup at Turner's Cross (7.30 pm) tonight.

Sunderland midfielder Thomas Butler’s season could be over after a scan revealed a tear in his calf muscle.

There were wins today for Armagh, Tyrone and Cavan in the Dr McKenna Cup while Derry's tie with Monaghan was called off due to a frozen pitch.

JOHN O’REGAN has a vision. The secretary of the Kerry District Soccer League is adamant that the Kingdom will have a team competing in the eircom League within two years.

Patrickswell's PJ O'Grady has been appointed as the new Limerick U-21manager following Dave Keane's move to the senior county set-up.

CORK CITY’S injured warriors are recovering fitness quickly but they will have to queue for places in a team determined to maintain their winning run at Turner’s Cross tonight when they play Shamrock Rovers in the premier division of the Eircom League.

Tipperary senior hurling stars Eoin Kelly, John O'Brien and Lar Corbett are included in the Under-21 team to play Limerick in tomorrow's Munster final replay at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

THE return of Stephen Carr (Spurs) and Stephen McPhail (Leeds Utd) to Ireland’s international squad was the most welcome news from manager Mick McCarthy when he released the names of those who will travel to play Finland in a friendly international in Helsinki on August 21.

FULL-BACK Gary Fahey and midfielder Michael Donnellan are expected to be named in the Galway team, due to be announced tonight, for the All-Ireland champions' eagerly awaited quarter-final clash with Kerry at Croke Park on Sunday.

MAYO are expecting a "huge, huge, battle" when Limerick throw down the gauntlet to them in the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland SFC qualifier at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, today, team manager Pat Holmes said.

Feyenoord, the first team to play a one-off UEFA Cup final on their home ground, have selected Christian Gyan in defence in the absence of the suspended Brett Emerton.