ASHLEY YOUNG has backed new Manchester United team-mate Tom Cleverley to grasp his England opportunity with both hands.

AT the moment, Darren O’Dea is a contented man.

IRELAND talisman Brian O’Driscoll has allayed fears over his shoulder injury ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

LAUREN Hough knew there was room for improvement on her poor performance in Friday’s Nations Cup at the Discover Ireland Horse Show and proved it emphatically yesterday by winning the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix on a day when America dominated.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S US Eagles suffered a setback in their build-up towards next month’s Rugby World Cup after losing 28-22 to neighbours Canada in Toronto on Saturday.

DRAWING comparisons at this early stage of the season is a bit unfair but anyone who tuned in to the Tri Nations contest between New Zealand and Australia on Saturday morning before Ireland’s clash at Murrayfield would have felt they were watching a different sport.

NINE frustrating months on the sidelines with a knee injury came to an end for Rob Kearney at Murrayfield on Saturday.

A TRY in the 77th minute by Scotland centre Joe Ansbro lit up the leaden Edinburgh sky to give his side a World Cup boost at Murrayfield on Saturday.

SUZANN PETTERSEN struck a blow for Europe seven weeks out from the Solheim Cup with victory in the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle yesterday.

FORMER Wales boss John Toshack has taken over as manager of Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying rivals Macedonia.

TOP jockeys from around the world will be going all out for personal and team glory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.

THERE are growing fears that nothing has gone right for Cork in a sporting sense since the visit of a certain royal tourist to the city last May.

WILLIAM HILL has reported strong growth in its online division in Ireland, but is still finding the retail market here challenging.

RORY McILROY could be without his close friend Graeme McDowell on the PGA Tour next season with the Portrush man confessing last night that he is not ruling out a return to Europe in 2012 to concentrate on making the Ryder Cup team.

NEW season, new beginnings. But, for Sean St Ledger, that means a lot more than most.

ON the training ground there is no love lost between any of the contenders for the Irish number two jersey but young Sean Cronin has doffed the cap to the battling Jerry Flannery for his determination, following a succession of injuries.

HE may be deemed a stand-in for skipper Brian O’Driscoll, but Leo Cullen will walk tall en route to the Murrayfield halfway line this afternoon as Ireland’s 100th captain.

LEWIS MOODY will be on trial at Twickenham today (2.30pm) after England manager Martin Johnson insisted the Rugby World Cup captaincy is still up for grabs.

GALWAY girl Alison Walshe may lead the way in Meath but she’s playing under an American flag and won’t be back at Killeen Castle for the Solheim Cup next month.

BRITAIN’S Nick Skelton revealed the secret of his jump-off win against Ireland yesterday in a thrilling Nations Cup contest at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show — a pint of Bulmers.