Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson will make his first appearance of the season for Manchester City in their Carling Cup fourth round tie at Bolton tomorrow.

Steve McClaren admitted Middlesbrough’s luck finally ran out in the UEFA Cup final.

Dr Brendan Cuddihy is expected to be in charge of the Wicklow senior hurlers for their opening game of the 2006 season against Carlow tomorrow.

Premiership stars Pape Bouba Diop and Henri Camara helped Senegal come from behind to beat Guinea 3-2 and book an African Nations Cup semi-final against hosts Egypt, 4-1 victors over Democratic Republic of Congo.

Alex Ferguson has revealed he expects Roy Keane to lead Manchester United into their FA Cup final with Millwall on Saturday.

John Connolly insists Swansea will keep striving to improve as they prepare to return to Heineken Cup action.

CONSIDERING Billy Twomey’s wealth of talent, it is a surprise to find he has never contested a World Cup final.

IRISH cricket chiefs have hailed the decision to allow the national team the opportunity to compete in the 2015 World Cup.

Steven Gerrard claims worries about burn-out and player fatigue ahead of the World Cup will evaporate if he can inspire Liverpool to become the club champions of the world next month.

IRISH football fans who complain about the renaming of Lansdowne Road should perhaps be grateful that they don’t have to get behind a team called the Aviva Green Boys.

STEVE THOMPSON is convinced England are heading on the right track towards next year’s World Cup defence, despite their patchy form since conquering planet rugby in 2003.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has confirmed Geordan Murphy will miss next month’s World Cup after his inspirational full-back broke his leg in today’s 29-10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

Wales coach Steve Hansen insisted there remained great merit in rugby’s smaller nations competing in the World Cup despite the tournament opening with a series of one-sided matches.

NORTH KOREA’S football squad have been subjected to a public humiliation in the wake of their World Cup failure.

OUTSPOKEN England stars Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt will face no further censure from the Rugby Football Union for comments made in their post-World Cup books.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO described England’s rebuilding programme as “an exciting challenge” in their bid to rescale the heights of world rugby.

England’s Rugby World Cup winners returned home to a huge welcome when flying in to Heathrow airport this morning.