Kevin O'Connor scored a late equaliser - but was then sent off - as Bray Wanderers earned a deserved point from a roller-coaster 4-4 draw with Limerick at Thomond Park.

Limerick came from two goals down at half-time to stun in-form Dundalk 3-2 at Thomond Park to earn a first win in six games.

Champions Sligo Rovers got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 win over Derry City to leapfrog the Candystripes back to the top of the table to delight a packed Showgrounds.

Daryl Kavanagh proved his point at Tallaght Stadium with a brilliant away goal as Cork City drew 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers in their Setanta Sports Cup semi-final, first leg.

Sanita Puspure is first of the Irish competitors out today in the women's C semi finals in the sculls at the London Olympics.

Hannah Craig has qualified for the women's kayak slalom Olympic semi-finals today.

THE Jimmy Mangan-trained Oscar Delta lit up yesterday’s well-attended Kildorrery Point to Point meeting, staged on the Vaughan family’s farm at Rockmills Stud, by sluicing home in the Open Lightweight.

Gerard Houllier will become only the second foreign manager in Aston Villa's history when named as Martin O'Neill's successor.

Sven-Goran Eriksson would be interested in making a return to the Premier League with Aston Villa, according to sources close to the former England coach.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

Paul Robinson has revealed his desire to resurrect his career at Aston Villa according to sources close to the out-of-favour Tottenham goalkeeper.

David O'Leary has declined an opportunity to be interviewed for the vacant Republic of Ireland manager's job.

The FAI's board of management is meeting today to begin the process of selecting a new Republic of Ireland manager.

David O'Leary has been installed as the early favourite to succeed Steve Staunton as Ireland manager.

Cork Constitution 62 Terenure College 12

Milan Baros has left Aston Villa to join French champions Lyon.

Martin O'Neill has been installed as favourite to be appointed the next manager of Sunderland by bookmakers Ladbrokes.

A Dublin teenager who stabbed and slashed a father-of-two fourteen times in the head, neck, stomach and chest has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for manslaughter, with the final four suspended at the Central Criminal Court today.

Aston Villa's rookie midfielder Craig Gardner is to sign a contract extension which will keep him with the midlands club until the summer of 2009.

NEWCASTLE midfielder Lee Bowyer has launched an appeal against his dismissal for a foul on Xabi Alonso during his side’s 2-0 St. Stephens’ Day defeat at Liverpool.

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2

PETER CROUCH faces former club Aston Villa today still searching for his first goal after 13 games for the European champions following his £7million summer transfer to Merseyside.

THE FAI have been accused of acting too hastily in getting rid of Brian Kerr due to the lack of viable successors for the post of Republic of Ireland manager.

PETER CROUCH declared he had earned the right to be taken seriously as a striker as he set his sights on his first competitive start for England in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.

MILAN BAROS could go on and carve his name with pride at Aston Villa.

Newcastle 0 Man Utd 2

JUAN Pablo Angel has returned early to pre-season training with Aston Villa and is determined to be in prime shape for the start of the season.

LEE BOWYER’S future at Newcastle has been thrown into doubt again by claims that former club Charlton are ready to make a £1.5million bid to take him back to The Valley.

Damian Spellman

Mark Bradley

Aston Villa 0 Charlton Athletic 0

The Ireland U21 squad of 23 players to play against Wales U21 at The Gnoll, Neath RFC on Friday, 18th March at 19.00hrs is as follows:

Ireland U-21 13 France U-21 20

Ireland U21’s 6 England U21 28

Ireland make five changes to the Under 21 team which lost to Scotland as they play England at Donnybrook on Friday at 4pm.

ASTON VILLA midfielder Lee Hendrie has climbed down from his original demands and signed a 12-month contract extension which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2007.

MANCHESTER UNITED have rejected reports that winger Cristiano Ronaldo is stalling on contract talks.

Birmingham are confident they have won the race to sign Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on loan for the remainder of the season despite an 11th-hour bid from Aston Villa.

Aston Villa have today officially withdrawn interest in Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye, with boss David O'Leary saying he preferred to pursue other targets.

Aston Villa are staying tight-lipped on speculation linking David O'Leary with a swoop for Newcastle's Ireland defender Andy O'Brien and Portsmouth's Amdy Faye.

Aston Villa 0 Manchester Utd 1

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis is prepared to provide financial backing for manager David O'Leary in the transfer window after the Irishman today signed a new three and a half year contract.