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Staunton wary of the ides of March
SOCCER/Euro 2008 qualifying: The chairman of a prominent League of Ireland club recently told the story of how, having decided to give an unsuccessful manager he was fond of more time to turn the team's fortunes around, his mind was quickly changed by the crowd calling for his own head during their next league game, writes Emmet Malone, Soccer correspondent p

Ready to stand large in biggest arena
RUGBY/Six Nations Championship, Ireland v France: Johnny Watterson talks to David Wallace who is relishing the battle against the French big guns p

Struggling Clarke battles to make cut
GOLF/Malaysia Open: Star players Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell and Lee Westwood will have some work to do today as they look to make the cut in the European Tour Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur. p

Soccer

Robson is wheeled out by the FAI to defend the indefensible
Mary Hannigan listened in as Bobby Robson was thrown into the lions' den by the FAI's John Delaney p
Stan Speak
"Before the game we said to the players because it looked at half-time as if it was going to take that. After going 1-0 up we thought we would go on and win it comfortably but we didn't. What more can I say, we got three points." - We are still not sure what exactly Staunton told the players p
Celtic await Uefa ruling on clash with AC Milan
Celtic have said they have no problems with Milan moving their Champions League tie on March 7th to a neutral ground after yesterday's decision to close the San Siro indefinitely on safety grounds. p

Rugby

Croke Park offers new test for O'Gara
Until this morning's early session for the Irish team, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara had kicked no more than 20 balls on the Croke Park pitch in preparation for Ireland's second game of their Six Nations campaign against France on Sunday. p
Battle of outhalves set to dictate outcome
A International/Ireland v England, Ravenhill Kick-off: 7.45pm On TV: RTÉ 2, BBC 2: It's hard to gauge the point of A internationals. Is it to monitor aspiring internationals like Barry Murphy and Rob Kearney or to keep established players like Keith Gleeson ticking over in case Eddie O'Sullivan rethinks his selection policy? The answer is a bit of both. p
Elwood has the quality available to tackle France
U-20 International/Ireland v France, Dubarry Park, Athlone Kick-off: 7.30pm: Here's what we know. The French arrive at this secluded midlands venue after ransacking the Italians, scoring six tries and, equally important, six conversions from Toulouse outhalf Romain Sola in the process. p
Six Nations Digest
WALES: Former Wales prop Brian Williams died suddenly on Wednesday of a suspected heart attack. He was 46. p
St Munchin's hold on to early lead and advance
Munster Schools' Senior Cup/St Munchin's College 13-12 Castletroy College: Holders St Munchin's College held on for a deserved 13-12 win over Castletroy College in the quarter-final of the Munster Schools' Senior Cup on the back pitch at Thomond Park yesterday. Having played with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half St Munchin's had turned over with a 13-0 lead. p

Gaelic Games

GAA reach compromise with BBC over games
The GAA have reached a compromise with the BBC to resolve the controversy that led to the station not covering last weekend's Dublin-Tyrone National Football League fixture. As a result BBC Northern Ireland will be able to broadcast live coverage of this year's Ulster final and one of the semi-finals as well as its regular highlights package. p
Donaghy cleared to face Cork
After a special trip to Croke Park last night to attend a meeting of the GAA's Central Hearings Committee, Kieran Donaghy has been cleared to play for Kerry in tomorrow night's floodlit Division One A match with Cork. Seán Moran reports p
Reilly and Young goals prove the difference
Sigerson Cup/Dundalk IT 2-6 Galway-Mayo IT 0-10: Second-half goals from Wayne Reilly and Páidí Young proved crucial as Dundalk IT advanced to the second round of the Sigerson Cup with a 2-6 to 0-10 win over Galway-Mayo IT in Dundalk yesterday. p

Golf

Harrington slips back after promising start
PGA Tour: After a promising start that yielded three birdies in his first six holes Padraig Harrington slipped down the field when dropping five shots through the next eight holes to finish two-over-par and nine shots off the pace in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California. p

Racing

Leopardstown to inspect but are confident
The authorities at Leopardstown insist they are "quite confident" about tomorrow's hugely prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup meeting going ahead but nevertheless an 8am inspection will be held this morning to assess the impact of yesterday's snowfall on the track. Brian O'Connor reports. p

Other

Jailauov to be Dunne's first title defence
BOXING: European super-bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne yesterday announced he will be taking on 29-year-old Yersin Jailauov in the first defence of his European title at The Point Depot on March 25th. The fight will complete an attractive weekend of sport in Dublin with Ireland's Euro 2008 qualifying match against Wales at Croke Park taking place the previous day. p
Cragg aims to impress in Arkansas
ATHLETICS: Now that David Gillick has announced his intention to defend his European Indoor 400 metres title with the fastest time in the world this year, it's over to Alistair Cragg to do something similar in the 3,000 metres at tonight's US indoor invitational meeting at his home track at Arkansas. If like Gillick he wants to serve notice to the opposition then a victory will be the least of his ambitions. p
Spanish duo gear up
CYCLING: Top Spanish professional Alejandro Valverde and Tour de France-champion elect Oscar Pereiro are gearing up for their 2007 season debut this Sunday in the Trofeo Mallorca, the first of five races in the Challenge Mallorca series. p
Southern clash vies with rugby
BASKETBALL: Seemingly the Superleague hasn't enough problems in enticing and then keeping the fickle sporting public's attention. One of the most significant games in the Southern Conference this season, UCC Demons against the Tralee Tigers, has been scheduled for a direct clash with a certain rugby match in Croke Park this Sunday. p
Government and schools at odds over licence
SAILING: The Irish Sailing Association have this week written to 13 training establishments warning that the Department of Transport has issued notification that all cruising schools in the State must now conform to Passenger Boat Licence legislation. p
Madeley steps down from post
MEN'S HOCKEY: Former Irish international Robin Madeley has resigned from his position as National Development Officer of the Irish Hockey Association. For personal reasons, the former Banbridge and Three Rock Rovers player is no longer able to commit to the role and will be leaving the association at the end of the month. p
Muller looks to maintain progress
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: With Gene Muller gathering his senior panel for a three-day training camp there's another reduced club programme this weekend, with just two Leinster first division ties scheduled. p
Donnelly set for return in Cork
MOTORSPORT: Following his Galway win last weekend Marcus Gronholm drives a Ford Focus WRC in totally different conditions in the snow and ice of this weekend's Rally Sweden - Round Two of the World Championship in which he is lying third behind Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo. p

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Staunton wary of the ides of March

Ready to stand large in biggest arena

Struggling Clarke battles to make cut

Robson is wheeled out by the FAI to defend the indefensible

Stan Speak

Celtic await Uefa ruling on clash with AC Milan

Croke Park offers new test for O'Gara

Battle of outhalves set to dictate outcome

Elwood has the quality available to tackle France

Six Nations Digest

St Munchin's hold on to early lead and advance

GAA reach compromise with BBC over games

Donaghy cleared to face Cork

Reilly and Young goals prove the difference

Harrington slips back after promising start

Leopardstown to inspect but are confident

Jailauov to be Dunne's first title defence

Cragg aims to impress in Arkansas

Spanish duo gear up

Southern clash vies with rugby

Government and schools at odds over licence

Madeley steps down from post

Muller looks to maintain progress

Donnelly set for return in Cork

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