This isn’t an easy write for a guy who, as a kid, dreamed of playing in front of the Stretford End, but as the start to another Premier League season approaches it brings with it the realisation that there would be no better script than for Liverpool to return to the summit of the game.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre expects the next step in the redevelopment of Anfield will be completed this summer.

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A Dutch firm has been awarded a €600,000 contract to design a massive new public park in Cork city to rival Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

A former high-ranking official of the Melbourne Demons club has revealed that the so-called Irish experiment that began with the club recruiting Jim Stynes, Sean Wight and Paul Earley, was financed largely by media mogul, Rupert Murdoch.

A World Cup restricted to ten teams is not a World Cup at all. “It’s just not cricket,” moaned new Sports Minister Leo Varadkar. However, is a good story getting in the way of the facts? Our writers debate the ICC decision to limit the next World Cup to Test playing nations.

As the AFL season gets underway this weekend, former Young Footballer of the Year Tommy Walsh edges closer and closer to his St Kilda League debut. Joe Callaghan met him in Melbourne.

Ireland captain William Porterfield hopes the grand surroundings of Kolkata’s Eden Gardens can inspire his side to another famous World Cup victory against South Africa tomorrow.

AUSTRALIA are confident their captain Ricky Ponting will be fit for the St Stephen’s Day Ashes Test.

ENGLAND are out to prove their mettle at the MCG, by adapting successfully to whatever conditions meet them there.

FORMER Young Footballer of the Year Tommy Walsh is edging closer to the first team with AFL side, St Kilda.

Kevin Pietersen was today fined for speeding after taking a loaned Lamborghini for a drive on his day off from England training.

AUSSIE legend Shane Warne is remaining coy over speculation he could make a sensational Test comeback.

MICHAEL QUINN will become the fourth Irishman to feature in the Australian Rules top flight this season after the Longford man was named in the Essendon team for tomorrow’s trip to Adelaide.

HOT on the heels of the heroics of Sean Óg and Aisake for the Cork hurlers last weekend, the Australian arm of the O hAilpín sporting dynasty continues to make headlines in the AFL.

Brett Emerton has returned to full training two weeks ahead of Australia's opening World Cup match against Germany.

AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek continues to test out his options ahead of next year’s World Cup after naming three newcomers and recalling Ante Covic and Patrick Kisnorbo to the squad for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on August 12 at Thomond Park in Limerick.

A HIGH-PROFILE official at a top Australian Rules club has warned the recruitment drive for Gaelic footballers is set to intensify.

Ireland's Gaelic football stars fired four goals to the Australian net as they recaptured the Cormac McAnallen Cup in thrilling fashion with a 57-53 second Test victory at the MCG.

AT LEAST one of the Irish players heading down under for the International Rules series will be playing Australian Rules professionally within months, according to the Australian media.

AUSTRALIAN coach Mick Malthouse will not ask his players to rein in their natural aggression despite the future of International Rules depending on their behaviour, while Ireland captain Seán Cavanagh described the last Series, which was marred by violence as the “low point” of his career.

There was heartache for Tadhg Kennelly overnight as the Sydney Swans lost their grip on the AFL Premiership title, losing a pulsating final 85-84 to the West Coast Eagles.

The Ireland panel for the forthcoming Junior International Rules tour of Australia has been announced, with 15 counties represented.

Sydney Swan Tadhg Kennelly is sure to play a pivotal role on the pitch in Saturday's AFL Premiership Grand Final, but the Kerryman actually bought a ticket to watch Aussie Rules' showpiece game last month.

IRISH AFL star Tadhg Kennelly put in another impressive performance when his Sydney Swans crushed fellow championship contenders, the Kangaroos at the SCG on Sunday.

KERRY management have dismissed suggestions that AFL star Tadhg Kennelly will be drafted into the squad for the All-Ireland football final against Mayo.

Ireland 48 (2-9-9) Australia 45 (1-10-9)

Plans are afoot to extend the International Rules series for another 10 years following the huge interest in the hybrid game this year.

Melbourne is alive to the sound of Irish fans who have flooded into town to celebrate the biggest sporting week the Australian calendar has seen since the 2000 Olympic Games.

THE GAA and the Australian Football League are in negotiations about committing themselves to a 10-year extension of the International Rules Series.

Ireland's Declan Browne has been officially ruled out of Friday's International Rules second test with Australia at the MCG in Melbourne.

AUSTRALIAN coach Garry Lyon has hit out at critics of his team’s physical approach to last Friday night’s 10-point win over Ireland in the Foster’s International Rules series opener in Perth.

IRISH manager John O’Keefe remains confident his side can overcome a ten points deficit and win the Fosters International Rules Series against Australia at the MCG on Friday night.

THE Australian selectors have picked a young squad, well-suited to International Rules, for the two-Test series against Ireland, according to coach Garry Lyon.

GIVEN our penchant for horse racing, coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s warning yesterday that Ireland has four major hurdles to jump if they still want to be in Australia for Melbourne Cup week was a fitting analogy to begin a World Cup adventure.

The GAA this afternoon confirmed that the International Rules test opener on October 24 in Australia is already a sell out.

IRISH sports fans travelling to Australia this autumn will have the opportunity of supporting the national side in two codes, over a two-day period.

Ireland will kick off their 2003 International Rules campaign Down Under with an opening day clash on October 24 at the Subiaco Oval, Fremantle.

BARMY Army chanting may have cost England the chance to push for an incredible victory in the fourth Test after their loud support aided Australia’s successful struggle to a five-wicket win at the MCG.

ENGLAND’S Barmy Army have been branded a disgrace after playing an unwitting role in inspiring Brett Lee’s most hostile spell of the series and plunging the tourists further into trouble in the fourth Test.

Brett Lee delivered another sustained spell of hostile fast bowling to halt England’s counter-attack and ensure Australia remain dominant in the fourth Test at the MCG today.