Previous Day
New boss, new player, new row
INTERNATIONAL SOCCER: When Don Givens sighed, announced he would run through this once and then move on to talk about the players who actually did want to play for their country it seemed briefly as though we had all embarked on some nostalgic re-enactment of his predecessor's last 50 or so press conferences. p
Murphy and Bishop make squad
RUGBY: The Irish management were left with a choice on the wing between Geordan Murphy and Justin Bishop for Saturday's game against Argentina after both Denis Hickie and John Kelly were yesterday ruled out by injuries sustained in the epic victory over Australia. p
Troubled FAI still sitting on the fence
If all the talk about a new beginning turns out to be even close to justified, then the events of last week may turn out to have been worth the trouble for the FAI.National League, writes Emmet Malone . p
Golf
O'Meara targets the K Club
If the quest for an Irish captain for the Ryder Cup at The K Club in 2006 has hit some troubled waters - with either one of Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie or Nick Faldo apparently destined to scoop the prize and Irish wounds healed only by the adoption of an able lieutenant as the captain's assistant - an intriguing aspect has been added by the likelihood of the visiting American skipper having strong Irish roots. pMixed bag for Irish challengers
There was a mixture of agony and ecstacy for the Ireland contingent at the European tour final qualifying school yesterday, as the cut after four rounds fell at six-under-par 280, 77 players progressing into the final two rounds to be played today and tomorrow at Emporda. p
Argentina make the big step-up in their stride
ON RUGBY: Speaking to Argentinian television in the wake of the Pumas' win over Italy in Rome on Saturday, their captain Lisandro Arbizu admitted: "We know that Ireland respect us and that they will be waiting for us next Saturday with knives in their mouths." pOffaly set to appoint McNamara
GAELIC GAMES: Offaly are expected to name the new county hurling manager within the next few days and it is expected to be Michael McNamara, the former Clare and Galway trainer. Neither McNamara nor the Offaly County Board wished to comment in advance of the announcement but sources indicate that the only matter to be resolved is the identity of the selectors. pPumas setback
RUGBY: The Argentinian 44-man party arrived in Ireland yesterday morning but without their boots, runners and socks after officials with the Italian airline Alitalia withheld some of the tourists' luggage because of excess weight. pReality check needed in Italian football
EUROSCENE: Football registered a rare good deed yesterday. At the end of yet another weekend marked by violent fan behaviour, by complaints about refereeing and by concern about the game's creaking finances, a delegation from the Italian national team made its way to San Giuliano di Puglia, the little Molise village that two weeks ago was rocked by an earthquake which claimed the lives of 29 people, including 26 small children. pStars and Stripes sail on
AMERICA'S CUP: Britain's Challenge and French team Le Defi Areva were eliminated from the America's Cup challengers' series yesterday after suffering disappointing losses in sudden-death quarter-final races. pDeserved point for Students
NATIONAL LEAGUE: UCD again belied their place at the foot of the Premier Division with a performance that failed to get the win it deserved; a point for Paul Doolin's students was not enough to lift them off the bottom as they twice came from behind. pDenham drives on Mount Temple
SCHOOLS' RUGBY: According to pre-season form, the favourites for the Coca Cola Leinster Schools' Section A Junior Cup would emerge from the clash between Mount Temple and St Patrick's Classical School at Ashbourne yesterday. p
