Previous Day
FAI pick won't be of their choosing
SOCCER/International news: Clearly stung by the
criticism levelled at them in recent months over the appointment of
Steve Staunton, the FAI's leadership will begin the process over
the next week or so of looking for the "senior football figures"
who will choose his successor and, ultimately, take the rap next
time around. p
Benitez troops hit rock bottom
SOCCER/Besiktas 2
Liverpool 1: Liverpool, back in the city of
their triumph in 2005, were given the monumental task of needing
another extraordinary revival to save themselves in the Champions
League. They have found glory in such endeavour in the past but,
after a dispiriting night in Istanbul, they face only ignominy
should they fail to produce the improbable once again. p
Ballyhale are still hearty
GAELIC GAMES/Kilkenny Senior Hurling final: Ian O'Riordan on how Shamrocks are still favourites even without injured county stars Henry Shefflin and James Fitzpatrick p
Soccer
Finding a manager is a damned tricky affair
It's a rare, perhaps unique, occurrence this weather to feel any pity for the men who run the Football Association of Ireland, but such was the criticism from some quarters yesterday of the announcement by chief executive John Delaney that the FAI would, in the wake of Steve Staunton's departure, appoint an outside expert to advise them on who should be the next Republic of Ireland manager, they might have been entitled to declare: "Damned if we do, damned if we don't". pJohn Delaney on
Excerpts from the FAI press conference held in the early hours of yesterday morning. pMassive gamble must not be repeated
"Steve Staunton and Bobby Robson? Well, it has to be the biggest gamble the FAI has ever taken in its history. What is the thinking behind it? I have no idea. I've tried to look at it rationally, and have come up with zilch. I've tried to look at it in a slightly off-the-wall way, and I've come up with zilch. I really, really don't understand it. pGrant's men stay on top
Chelsea 2 Schalke 04 0: This period of seclusion might just be to Chelsea's taste. They consolidated at the top of Group B without inspiring any bullish predictions that they are set to win the Champions League. No one is fixated with them for the time being. Even the referee, Peter Frojdfeldt, did not pay much attention when Alex, after perpetrating a short backpass, brought down Schalke's Soren Larsen in the 85th minute. Somehow, no foul was awarded, no red card shown. pCeltic can't shake travel bug
Benfica 1 Celtic 0: Celtic's dismal away record in the Champions League was extended last night as they lost to a late Oscar Cardozo goal against Benfica in Lisbon. p'Teams are scared of us' - O'Shea
As Republic of Ireland international John O'Shea reflected on Manchester United's third successive four-goal haul, after a night when Dynamo Kiev's hapless defenders resembled rabbits staring into headlights, it was difficult not to agree with the Waterford man's claim that "some teams are scared of us". Confidence is coursing through Alex Ferguson's side, with the form of their free-scoring forward line fuelling the belief that opponents are gripped by a sense of foreboding. pBrady lets Wenger know of his interest in job
Liam Brady has told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he wants to enter the race to become the Republic of Ireland's next manager. pConnor ready to home in on Cork
FAI Cup semi-final: With the RDS to fill on final day, the organisers of the Ford-sponsored FAI Cup (live RTÉ2, kick-off 7.30) could have done with keeping tomorrow night's opponents, Bohemians and Cork City, apart for another round but the Dubliners' boss, Sean Connor, insists he's happy to see his side take on whoever the competition throws at him, as long as they get to do it at Dalymount. pSoccer Shorts
Today's other stories in brief p
Lievremont takes charge of France
Former international flanker Marc Lievremont has been appointed France coach, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) have said.Pointing the way back home
Celtic League: Travel may broaden the mind, but for Connacht a return to the Sportsground tomorrow night for their Magners Celtic League clash with Edinburgh after three matches on the road will bring comfort and, hopefully, something more tangible in the form of points. pAll eyes on Greystones
All-Ireland League: Organisers of the AIB Cup will contemplate playing the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the competition outside their current slots next February and March. While no AIB League games, which begin this week, have been scheduled for the five Six Nations Championships weekends, the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Cup could be played on the Friday evening or Sunday morning of the weekends when Ireland play Italy and Wales in Croke Park. p
Murphy is raring to go again
Interprovincial SH Final: There's a real danger in sport that the more obsessive you become about winning, the more success feels like destiny, and the more likely you are to fail, but the Waterford hurlers are prepared to take their chances. p
Coltart out to reignite his flagging career
Mallorca Classic/First Round Tee-Times: Andrew Coltart has played in five World Cups, won the Dunhill Cup for Scotland at St Andrews and played Tiger Woods in the singles in the Ryder Cup. But this week the 37-year-old Scot is fighting simply to keep his European Tour card for next season and reignite his career in the Mallorca Classic at Pula Golf Club. pIrish pair off to solid start in Italy
CHALLENGE TOUR : Colm Moriarty and Stephen Browne got their respective bids to win a place on the full European Tour off to respectable starts at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, the last event of the Challenge Tour season where the top 20 players at the end of the week will be handed tour cards. p
Street works impressively
Breeders' Cup Classic hope Street Sense is a better horse going into Saturday's $5 (€3.5) million race than he was winning the Kentucky Derby, according to connections. p
Warblings about Byrd are badly timed
America At Large: The unmasking of Cleveland pitcher Paul Byrd as a drug cheat would appear to be another feel-good story gone bad, but its timing could have been better - for Byrd, for the Indians, for Major League Baseball, and for George Mitchell. pMcCullough raring to go
BOXING: Wayne McCullough says he is ready to shock European champion Kiko Martinez and then go on to fight for the world super-bantamweight title next year. p
