JOHN DELANEY has said that Giovanni Trapattoni’s contract as Ireland manager will not be discussed until after the play-off games against Estonia.

REMEMBER, remember the 11th and 15th of November.

1. Half-back mastery

MATCH-WINNING Australia flanker David Pocock has laughed off suggestions he is a cheat in the wake of his dominant World Cup performance against South Africa.

IN 1961 the town of San Sebastian de Garabandal in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain had only 80 households.

GEORGE WASHINGTON was a Bruin.

THE European championship play-off draw will take place in the Sheraton Hotel, Krakow, Poland at noon (Irish time) today, with chief executive John Delaney heading up the FAI delegation in attendance.

SHAY GIVEN has criticised UEFA’s seeding system for the play-offs despite the fact that the Republic of Ireland have been confirmed as one of the top four sides for today’s eight-team draw.

WALES rugby boss Roger Lewis has warned off possible suitors of coach Warren Gatland following a stunning World Cup run that threatens to make the New Zealander a man in demand.

JUST in case New Zealand were lacking a bit of inspiration ahead of their World Cup semi-final meeting with Australia, Quade Cooper provided it.

BEFORE John Gallagher took the final few steps of his journey from the streets of London into the inner sanctum of the All Blacks, one of the all-time greats had a word in his ear.

IN HIS role as guest speaker at a Derry supporters’ function some years ago, Anthony Tohill revealed one of the best tips he ever received in a changing room.

BLIND schoolgirl Keri Kelly has received her first treatment in her bid to help her see for the first time after flying to China for revolutionary treatment.

ROTORUA was great while it lasted but the smell from the sulphuric geezers is something I am glad to have left behind.

PAUL O’CONNELL, Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy all returned to training yesterday as Ireland began final preparations for this Sunday’s must-win World Cup Pool C game against Italy.

BEFORE the Ireland v Russia rugby world cup match over the weekend, it was announced that the national anthem of Ireland was about to be played.

RODDY CARR must have been the happiest man in Ireland on Sunday night.

EDIN DZEKO insists it is the glamour of nights like tonight that attracted a galaxy of stars to Manchester City rather than the vast riches on offer at the Eastlands outfit.

ALEX FERGUSON insists Manchester United cannot look back at the last four years as a golden period for the club in the Champions League — because they were beaten by Barcelona in two of the three finals they reached.

DON’T expect a cakewalk and don’t imagine it is going to be pretty.