Before you go drawing parallels between now and the last time Cork ventured so much into Ulster for league action, Donncha O’Connor will stop you in your tracks, writes John Fogarty.

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane is confident he will be fit for the friendly against Serbia on March 5.

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 23

Micah Richards has watched over half a billion pounds’ worth of signings come through the doors at Manchester City, and the defender believes none of them compare to David Silva.

For Andy Reid, it must have been just like old times. Five years ago he earned his 25th international cap in an end-of-campaign knockabout against Wales under interim gaffer Don Givens.

Robbie Keane admits that he was shocked by the omission of Kevin Doyle from the Irish squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Stockholm.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has only a slim chance of recovering from his hamstring injury in time to face Everton on Sunday.

Andre Villas-Boas looks set to hand Brad Friedel his first Tottenham start in almost a month against Panathinaikos tomorrow.

Arsenal will have forward Theo Walcott back from a shoulder problem for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League trip to Everton.

Tottenham midfielder Sandro has a chance of recovering from a calf injury for Sunday's game against Manchester City, manager Andre Villas-Boas said.

Tottenham playmaker Mousa Dembele is unavailable for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Wigan due to a niggling hip injury.

Brad Friedel will return in goal for Tottenham’s trip to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

Earlier this week, I had an operation to reset a broken nose I picked up in a recent game — not the first time that’s happened to me, I can assure you — and, as well as that, my Achilles has been acting up a bit recently.

Defender Jan Vertonghen is likely to make his Tottenham debut against West Brom tomorrow after Younes Kaboul was ruled out with a knee injury.

Norwich are hopeful midfielders Wes Hoolahan (Achilles) and Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) will be in the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League opener at Fulham.

Ireland's 1,500 metres runner Ciaran Ó Lionáird questioned whether he wanted to remain in the sport after finishing second last in his heat at the London Olympics.

As expected, Meath full-back Kevin Reilly has been ruled out of Sunday’s Leinster semi-final against Kildare.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has no fresh major injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s final Barclays Premier League game of the season against Manchester United.

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote will be fit for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City despite suffering a nasty head injury in midweek.

Sunderland defender John O’Shea and striker Nicklas Bendtner are fighting to be fit for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will welcome back key midfield duo Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wolves.

Bobby Zamora is in line to make his QPR debut against Wolves.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has recovered from sickness in time to face Arsenal in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Bolton 1 Wolves 1

Tottenham forward Rafael van der Vaart is likely to miss Tuesday’s trip to Norwich after suffering a hamstring injury in last night’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will make late decisions over a trio of players as he attempts to bolster his options for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Swansea.

Besiktas 3 Stoke 1

Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes to have a trio of players back available for selection for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with QPR at the Britannia Stadium.

Midfielder Adel Taarabt is not expected to feature for QPR at Stoke tomorrow after spending the week with Morocco on international duty.

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart could recover from his hamstring injury in time for Monday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Aston Villa’s leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor is winning his battle to be fit for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash at Manchester City.

This summer’s riots in England made soccer superstar David Beckham feel “physically sick”, he has said.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will revert to his first-choice line-up for Sunday’s north London derby, meaning Emmanuel Adebayor is in line to face his former club Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham duo William Gallas and Aaron Lennon will miss tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Wigan due to respective calf and groin injuries.

Bolton’s trio of new signings David Ngog, Gael Kakuta and Dedryck Boyata are poised to make their debuts in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton's Marcos Alonso has become the latest Bolton defender to be hit by the club’s injury jinx ahead of the trip to Liverpool.

HAVING knocked the glide out of Sligo’s stride, Bohemians now turn their attentions to new league leaders Derry City.

PREDICTABLY, the majority of the press focussed on the fact that this was the first opening game in the last 10 years that Chelsea had failed to win — personally, I was quite pleased with the way we played, if not necessarily with the result.

Sebastien Chabal was left out of France’s provisional World Cup squad for sporting rather than political reasons, according to national team boss Marc Lievremont.

Sebastien Chabal has been omitted from France’s provisional 32-man squad for the World Cup in September.

EVERYONE in hurling, no matter what county you follow, must congratulate Dublin’s hurlers on reaching their first league final since 1946.

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Fernando Torres found himself on the bench as Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti made four changes following his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United in midweek.

Matthew Upson (Achilles) took part in a light training session today but is unlikely to be involved in West Ham’s game against Liverpool on Sunday.