WORLD CUP GROUP D:

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has seen his options hit ahead of next month’s key World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria after three players, headed by Aiden McGeady, dropped out of his squad.

SOME of world hockey’s big hitters will descend on Dublin next month as University College Dublin becomes the focal points for two top-class tournaments.

It was a far cry from the carnival atmosphere and soaring temperatures of Rio for Brazilian football legend Socrates, who stepped out today at the freezing and tiny non-league ground of Garforth Town.

Brian O’Driscoll last night dismissed the possibility he will play any part in Ireland’s next World Cup campaign.

BOBBY ROBSON, international football consultant with the Republic of Ireland, has vowed to “battle as I’ve always done” after been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time.

CORK Church of Ireland’s John Jermyn has been named men’s hockey player of the year.

Keith Earls is convinced the celebrated Test career of his boyhood hero Brian O’Driscoll could extend until the 2015 World Cup.

Shay Given is desperate to give the nation a chance to dance in the streets as he once did by securing another trip to the World Cup finals.

Ian McKinley said that heading to Japan with Italy next month, 10 years after featuring there for Ireland in the Junior World Cup, would circle a remarkable rugby journey.

AZZURRI coach John Kirwan caused a sensation in Italian rugby yesterday when he omitted stand-off Ramiro Pez from his World Cup squad.

It was a remarkable thing to say about a summer that had just seen Diego Maradona reach his peak, but Jack Charlton wasn’t in Mexico to be entertained.

The team line-up for Ireland’s latest World Cup clash against Romania may have been much changed from the opening weekend, but the hordes of travelling fans remain as reliable as old boots, no matter what the occasion.