Connections of Ectot and Avenir Certain remain unconcerned by ground conditions at Longchamp as Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe draws ever closer.

The championship clash with Louth is the immediate, mind-focusing goal for Kildare’s footballers but crucially, raising standards of preparation for more sustained, longer-term competitiveness continues.

Classic bike brand Raleigh was today sold to Dutch rival Accell in a deal valuing the 125-year-old company at £62.2m (€76m).

Classic bike brand Raleigh, which has been designing and making cycles for 125 years, is in talks to be taken over by a Dutch rival, it emerged today.

Shamrock Rovers were handed an away first leg tie against Swedish club Djurgardens following the draw for the UEFA Cup qualifying round in Geneva today.