Head coach Pete Strickland has made two changes to the Ireland senior men’s team ahead of their 2018 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries campaign, which tips off in San Marino next week.

Conservative and nationalist parties in Austria have reached a deal on creating a new coalition government that will make 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz the new chancellor and Europe's youngest leader.

The popularity of Sunday’s Germaine’s of Baltinglass Hotel Rally is reflected by an entry of 130 competitors that will be led away by top seed and favourite Kilkenny’s Enda O’Brien (Ford Escort).

Josh Magennis wants the current group of Northern Ireland players to leave a lasting legacy after achieving their latest slice of history in San Marino on Friday night.

Jonny Evans is anticipating no issues when he returns to West Brom next week following a transfer deadline day which left his admirers frustrated.

Two Celtic fan groups have urged the club to reverse their decision to decline tickets from Linfield - and asked the Belfast club to consider selling directly to visiting fans.

Just before half-time in Southampton’s home home with Arsenal last December, Sadio Mane clipped a lovely pass in behind Per Mertesacker to set up a chase for Shane Long. There was only going to be one winner – Long terrorised the Germany defender with his pace all day and had already had a goal harshly disallowed, but his attempted dink over Petr Cech had too much on it and sailed over the crossbar for a wasted opportunity.

Semi Final One comes live from The Globen Arena in Stockholm and our man in Sweden is ready to give his verdict.

Ireland’s men’s team will make an official return to European basketball next year, it was confirmed yesterday.

Wayne Rooney equalled Bobby Charlton’s all-time scoring record as England secured progress to the European Championships, but it is Roy Hodgson’s bemusing decision to take off his captain that will dominate the conversation.

With a hat-trick against Gibraltar already under his belt, and 15 and counting to his credit in the MLS this season, Ireland’s 65-goal record-breaker Robbie Keane looks every inch the man to roll the Rock in Faro tonight.

The sound of crashing waves is the norm for Valentia Island off south Kerry and Loop Head off west Clare, where lighthouses guide mariners to safe havens.

Even though the vexed matter of qualification for the Euro finals in France next year is a much more pressing concern, Ireland will today learn their qualifying destiny for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 when the preliminary draw takes place in St Petersburg, kicking off at 4pm Irish time.

Jules Bianchi was being lined up as a future Ferrari driver, according to the Italian team’s former chairman Luca di Montezemolo.

Stud owner Mary McCann confirmed yesterday that she had two clones from her deceased stallion Cruising. 

Republic of Ireland 7 Gibraltar 0

Wayne Rooney edged one goal closer to Bobby Charlton’s record as England coasted past the clothes salesman, the factory worker and the bar owner from San Marino with a simple if not spectacular 5-0 win at Wembley.

Wayne Rooney edged one goal closer to Sir Bobby Charlton’s record as England coasted past the clothes salesman, the factory worker and the bar owner from San Marino with a simple if not spectacular 5-0 win at Wembley.

Women have been urged to look after the health of their hearts as a new report showed that more women than men are killed by cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe.

WORLD CUP GROUP D:

Political opponents are known to sling the mud at each other. But one man went a little further.

The mayor of a wealthy California town who was caught on camera tossing dog dirt onto the walkway of a political opponent is being asked to resign by residents.

THE stench of rotting garbage and diesel fumes hangs heavily over the main street of Giugliano in Campania, a sprawling town just north of Naples.

The deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 were the last driver fatalities in Formula One, due largely to the safety review prompted by their deaths and ongoing measures to reduce the almost annual incidence of such tragedies in the series. Here are the main F1 safety measures enacted since that time.

How to replace the irreplaceable?

Martin O’Neill admitted it was ironic that his Republic of Ireland side will have to slug it out with Scotland for Euro 2016 qualification.

Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland team will face some strong sides as they aim to qualify for the Euro 2016 Championship.

The Republic of Ireland are expected to figure among the second seeds for the Euro 2016 qualifying draw in Nice on February 23 next year.

A small, bespectacled German immigrant who invented a glamorous life for himself in the US by posing as an heir to the fabled Rockefeller fortune was sentenced yesterday to 27 years to life in prison for a California cold-case murder.

Richard Hannon claimed a third Group One success of the season as Havana Gold took Chantilly’s Prix Jean Prat in the hands of Mickael Barzalona.

Every England fan who has a ticket to the game against Republic of Ireland will today receive a letter from Roy Hodgson asking them to refrain from offensive chanting of a religious or political nature.

Moves against tax evasion would be unnecessary if states used the existing anti-tax evasion and fraud law, writes Ann Cahill

Andy Carroll will be handed an England recall when Roy Hodgson announces his 22-man squad for the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil later today.

The clearest indication yet that Rio Ferdinand will be staying at Manchester United next season has come from a confirmation that the defender has been given a testimonial by the Old Trafford outfit.

Alex Ferguson is confident Rio Ferdinand will not be affected by any abuse from the stands as a result of his England withdrawal.

Forget all the talk of records, Alex Ferguson would be satisfied if Manchester United won the title with a deflection off someone’s backside.

Ashley Young has admitted he owes Martin O’Neill a debt of gratitude.

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton believes Rio Ferdinand will regret his Three Lions snub.

Joleon Lescott is sure Wayne Rooney will not lose his temper in Montenegro as England look to claim top spot in Group H at the scene of perhaps the maddest moment of the striker’s international career.

San Marino 0 England 8

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has confirmed goalkeeper Ben Foster is poised to end his international exile following a near two-year absence.