Previous Day
Grants scheme gets final approval
GAA: THE GAA has released the final document pertaining to the much-debated Government intercounty players awards scheme, which instead of any direct grant aid, is based on vouched expenses only. p
Given likely to miss rest of season
SOCCER: SHAY GIVEN looks unlikely to play any part
in Ireland's first games under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni
after undergoing surgery on a groin problem in Munich
yesterday. p
Chelsea bidding to make amends
SOCCER/Tottenham v Chelsea: AVRAM GRANT has stood by his controversial selection for last month's League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur as his Chelsea side attempt to draw level with Arsenal in the title race by winning the rematch at White Hart Lane this evening. p
Soccer
Ferguson warns his players to stay focused
Manchester Utd v Bolton ALEX FERGUSON has warned his Manchester United side that they cannot be distracted by the impending challenge of Liverpool as they seek to bolster their title prospects against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford tonight. pCork and Drogheda fail to take chances
SETANTA CUP/Cork City 0 Drogheda Utd 0: CORK CITY can't score at home and Drogheda United can't seem to score at all, the two sides cancelling each other out in a relatively lively but ultimately fruitless Setanta Cup fixture at Turner's Cross last night. pHome comfort fails to give Cliftonville any real spark
SETANTA CUP/Cliftonville 0 Dungannon 0: NO GOALS, a serious shortage of entertainment, little ambition and not a lot of endeavour. This match had stalemate written all over it from early on. pDoughty Dons dump wasteful Celtic
SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER-FINAL REPLAY Celtic 0 Aberdeen 1 THE PROSPECT of an Old Firm final to finish the season ended in Glasgow's east end last night, Aberdeen's superb defensive display allied to Celtic's inability to convert long spells of territorial superiority into goals ensuring the holders were eliminated at the quarter-final stage. pIreland grab a place in finals
UNDER-17 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ELITE STAGE QUALIFIER Republic of Ireland 2 Portugal 0: IRELAND WILL compete at the Under-17 European Championships this summer for the first time in eight years after overcoming a talented Portugal side at Terryland Park last night. p
Gaffney back with Leinster by demand
THE COACH everyone appeared to want to land in Donnybrook, Alan Gaffney, has finally arrived back via Munster, the Wallabies and Saracens. pWallace and Leamy to miss out as league resumes
A number of frontline players in Leinster and Munster will be unavailable for the resumption of the Magners League this weekend. pIreland coaching group starts to disband
AS THE public await the latest IRFU review on the Six Nations, Eddie O'Sullivan's backroom staff are already beginning to disband. p
GAA agree mechanism to distribute funds
FINALLY, IT seems, the GAA have agreed a mechanism to distribute the long-heralded Government intercounty player funds, and it appears straightforward enough - at least on paper. pSt Patrick's Day rich with potential significance
THE CLUB finals at Croke Park on St Patrick's Day have become a part of the GAA calendar's structure, a significant date that closes off the first part of the year and marks the quickening pulse of the intercounty season. Finals day can also have elements of significance that don't fully emerge until time has passed. pOctober dates for Rules series mooted
INTERNATIONAL RULES THE GAA have begun the process of agreeing dates and venues with their AFL counterparts for the resumption of the International Rules series, with the two Tests almost certain to take place in Australia in October. pGAA digest
Wexford to appeal decision on Cork WEXFORD are to appeal against the decision not to deduct Cork points as a result of the county's failure to fulfil two National Hurling League games. p
Punchestown remains an option for Sizing Europe
SIZING EUROPE could yet attempt to gain some compensation for his Champion Hurdle disappointment at Cheltenham last week by running in next month's Punchestown festival. p
Changed times at a football academy
SCHOOL REPORT/ST JARLATH'S COLLEGE, TUAM: St Jarlath's have a record 12 Hogan Cup titles but football is not as all-consuming as it used to be. pCarefree student or busy master, always the caid
SCHOOL DAYS: Former GAA president Seán Kelly recalls his time at school pMaximising efficiency of movement a key to better soccer
COACHES' CORNER: JIM KITTY and LIAM HENNESSY assess the specific fitness demands that are placed on the body by regularly playing soccer and the training required pInside track
The lowdown on TOMÁS FAHY p
Marrying myth and Mania par for The Curse
HOME AND AWAY/SHEAMUS O'SHAUNESSY: He's a broth of a boy with a talent for fighting, but he's keen to discourage Oirish stereotyping. He's even changed his name - to O'Shaunessy pInstituto fail through lack of converts
CLERICUS CUP: Holy committed team knocked out despite Prior convictions in the Vatican's own soccer tournament pAge-old rivalry all that matters for Lancashire's big guns
DERBY DAYS/ST HELENS v WIGAN: SUPER LEAGUE XIII kicked-off at the beginning of last month and this season's competition will run until the Grand Final on October 4th, which is a week earlier than normal due to the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. pBluffer's Guide . . . Aussie Rules
Why is it in the news? Two reasons. Firstly, the International Rules series looks set to be revived after the GAA yesterday announced they had voted on St Patrick's Day to support the reopening of discussions with the Australian Football League. pWhelan goal enough for double
ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES/DES FOLEY WINS TWO RAILWAY CUP MEDALS Back in 1962, when the interprovincial crown was truly coveted, Leinster had a clean sweep pLeinster leave it late
ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES/DES FOLEY WINS TWO RAILWAY CUP MEDALS: Leinster 1-11 Munster 1-9: LEINSTER CAPTURED the Railway Cup hurling title at Croke Park on Saturday when beating Munster 1-11 to 1-9 and so made it a field day for the metropolitans. p'Whatever I'm into I'd like to be the best I can'
SPORTING PASSIONS The hurling legend DJ Carey talks to Mark Rodden about his love for handball and more recent passion for golf pSiren sound signals end to juvenile chase
AGAINST THE ODDS THE BLUE and cream livery of the bus that lumbered onto Parnell Square, its sides splashed with advertisements for Merville milk, Woodbine cigarettes and Varian brushes, was familiar to Dubliners of a certain vintage, writes RODDY L'ESTRANGE p
Nocher recovers to give a good account
SWIMMING/EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: HAVING MISSED three days of training last week because of a car collision, which caused whiplash, Ireland's Melanie Nocher produced an Irish record-breaking swim in the semi-finals of the women's 200 metres backstroke at the European swimming championships at Eindhoven yesterday. pBangladesh gain some revenge
CRICKET: BANGLADESH earned a degree of revenge for last year's World Cup defeat with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Ireland in the first of three One Day Internationals in Dhaka yesterday. pSports digest
Umpire Hair back in place THE International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday restored the controversial Australian Darrell Hair as a test and one-day umpire. p
