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Brennan says talk of striking is not helping
GAELIC GAMES: GAA president Nickey Brennan has defended the association in the face of rising dissatisfaction from the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) over the failure to agree channels of distribution for the €5 million welfare grants promised to the players earlier in the year by the Government. p
B sample from Kürten horse proves positive
EQUESTRIAN: The B blood sample taken from Jessica
Kürten's mount Castle Forbes Maike in May has tested positive
for a prohibited substance, according to a press release issued
late yesterday afternoon by the International Equestrian Federation
(FEI) in Lausanne. p
Jol now an Ajax target as Cate walks
SOCCER: Martin Jol officially became a target for Ajax last night after their coach, Henk ten Cate, walked out on the club to join Avram Grant's coaching team at Chelsea. p
Rugby 
Cardiff bliss the day rugby world turned
On Rugby: The IRB and their grandees are lucky boyos. Thanks to their behind-closed-doors political vote trading and profiteering, what should have been the tournament's biggest folly turned out to be the high point of an increasingly memorable French World Cup - in Cardiff. pMillar sees place for Pumas in Tri-Nations
World Cup surprise package Argentina should be included in an expanded Southern Hemisphere Tri-Nations tournament, International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Syd Millar said yesterday. pRolland to referee World Cup final
With every cloud and all that. In a World Cup significantly short of positive Irish stories, Alain Rolland could scarcely conceal his delight last night after it was confirmed earlier in the day he will become the first Irishman to referee a World Cup final, in Stade de France on October 20th. pWhite linked to Wales, Australia
South Africa may be one game away from a first World Cup final since 1995 but their head coach, Jake White, is being linked with the vacant jobs in Australia and Wales. White has been in charge of the Springboks since the last World Cup, but he has had to constantly battle with the South African Rugby Union and earlier this year there were suggestions he would be relieved of his post before the start of the tournament in France. pNew Zealand reaction: Country under a long black cloud as recriminations begin
The New Zealand press reacted with predictable fury to the All Blacks' elimination from the Rugby World Cup on Saturday night. On a black front page under the headline "So much promise, only tears to show for it", the New Zealand Herald said: "Today we lament how the team sporting year that promised so much has delivered so little - first the cricket world cup, then the America's Cup, and now rugby's top prize fallen by the wayside, leaving only next month's netball world championship to pin our hopes on. p
German tie to earn FAI €10m
Euro 2008 Qualifiers News: The Football Association of Ireland stand to take in around €12 million - with estimated profits approaching €10 million - from Saturday evening's European Championship qualifier against Germany at Croke Park, comfortably the largest amount ever cleared by the association on a home game. pThings are even grimmer up North
On Soccer: Steve Staunton, as we all know, is under a wee bit of pressure heading into Saturday's game against Germany and next Wednesday's against Cyprus but even he might spare a thought for his counterpart across the Border where the only thing distracting attention from Nigel Worthington's woes as Northern Ireland boss are the deepening troubles of his employers, the IFA. pGive Stan a break, says Tuohy
As members of the six-in-a-row FAI Cup-winning Shamrock Rovers sides of the 1960s, they were part of one of Irish football's greatest success stories. But as they reflected, at a lunch in Dublin held to honour members of those teams, on Steve Staunton's fortunes as manager of the international side, Liam Tuohy and Paddy Mulligan simply couldn't see eye to eye. pCork's surge continues
League of Ireland Premier Division/UCD 1 Cork City 2: Cork City's tremendous late surge continues unabated, but only time will tell if their gallant effort is too little too late. pCup win now Derry priority
League Cup Final Preview/Derry City v Bohemians: With Friday's defeat at Waterford having left Derry 14 points adrift of second place in the league, a third successive League Cup title has become all the more important for John Robertson's men in this evening's final against Bohemians. pDida could face ban over antics
The Milan goalkeeper Dida faces an anxious wait to see if he will be banned by Uefa following his antics at the end of last Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Celtic after European football's governing body yesterday opened disciplinary proceedings against the player and his club. p
McGarrity looks forward to a bright future after tough battle
Mayo footballer Ronan McGarrity is enjoying football having won another county title recently with Ballina just months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. pKelly voices concern over player burnout
Waterford hurler Eoin Kelly has called on the GAA to address the question of fixture congestion and burnout. Although he was speaking at the launch of the Martin Donnelly interprovincial competitions, the comments were timely in that the GAA today launch their proposals for the rationalising of the intercounty championships and measures to counter burnout. pMarren banned for 48 weeks
One of the men who helped Sligo land their first Connacht football championship title in 32 years has been banned for almost a year for an incident involving a leading referee. p
McIlroy quickly joins Ryder Cup race
European Tour News round-up: No matter which way you look at it, the boxes are being ticked with incredible speed. Rory McIlroy's seamless move from top dog as an amateur to that of a tour pro with star quality has enabled the phenomenally talented teenager to raise the bar higher for next year than anyone - except, perhaps, himself - ever could have envisaged. pHarrington in battle to stay ahead of Rose
Nothing, it seems, is made easy for Padraig Harrington, who heads into this week's HSBC World Matchplay at Wentworth knowing he has a real dog-fight with Justin Rose on his hands if he is to retain his PGA European Tour order of merit title. pLeonard ends drought with play-off win
US Tour/Texas Open: Justin Leonard nailed a 17-foot birdie putt on the third play-off hole to win his third Texas Open on Sunday and deny Jesper Parnevik his first title in six years. pVying with Parky for top billing
World Matchplay Championship: 'Tiger smiled that smile and hugged his mate. And for a moment there, it was like 1977 all over again' pWonderful insight into a dream fulfilled at Brittas Bay
Course Development/The European Club: Joe Culley on another labour of love from the creator of The European Club, Pat Ruddy. pThe Short Game
A quick look at the world of golf p
Generous praise for Dylan Thomas
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Connections of the beaten runners in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe have been quick to heap praise on Aidan O'Brien's winner Dylan Thomas. pBolger may take New Approach
Jim Bolger's star two-year-old New Approach could be seen again this season after all. Bolger had suggested after the colt won the National Stakes at the Curragh that he was finished for the campaign p
Gallagher to get hero's welcome
MOTOR SPORT: Donegal's Shaun Gallagher, who was crowned FIA Junior World Rally Champion in the Rookie class at the weekend's Rally Catalunya in Spain, was due to land in Sligo Airport this morning to a hero's welcome, writes Brian Foley. pIndia stage fightback to pip Aussies
CRICKET: India won the fourth one-day international against Australia by eight runs in Chandigarh yesterday, thanks to a late fightback with the ball. pWurz retires before final race of year
FORMULA ONE: Williams driver Alex Wurz has confirmed his retirement from Formula One with immediate effect. p
