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Minimum of fuss for Chelsea
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - Everton 0 Chelsea 1: THE
FIXTURE that prompted such protest from Chelsea yielded victory
with a minimum of fuss last night. Having complained long and loud
over Sky's request to bring the trip to Everton forward by 48 hours
Avram Grant was, for once, given precious respite here as Chelsea
ensured the championship would remain a contest for at least
another week. p
Ireland have four Six Nations matches under lights
RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP: AS PART of the make-over of the RBS Six Nations tournament, next season's event will include a Friday night kick-off, while two of Ireland's matches will be played under floodlights in Croke Park. p
McGrane just one shot off lead
GOLF: EUROPEAN TOUR rookie Michael Lorenzo-Vera will take a one-stroke lead into the second round of the China Open after carding a five-under-par 67 yesterday. p
Gaelic Games 
Galway braced for test from 'form team'
GALWAY HURLING remains an enigma. There have been moments to savour these past 20 years, most recently the 2005 All Ireland final, but failure to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back across the Shannon has left a generation of underage talent without senior silverware. pGPA hint at merging of award schemes
THE GAELIC Players Association chief executive Dessie Farrell intimated yesterday that room may only exist for one award scheme if the GAA finally provide official recognition of the players' body. pCaffrey makes changes as Dublin look for a lift
DUBLIN MANAGER Paul Caffrey has made changes to every line ahead of Sunday's NFL Division Two meeting with Meath at Parnell Park. p
Gillett issues hostile response to Hicks
GEORGE GILLETT issued a belligerent response to Tom Hicks's request to sell his 50 per cent stake in Liverpool last night when he vowed to prevent the Texan taking majority control and accused him of destabilising the club's Champions League campaign. pEriksson's future may rest on weekend talks
SVEN-GORAN Eriksson and Thaksin Shinawatra are to have talks that may play a significant part in determining whether their alliance at Manchester City is to be brought to an end this summer. Although Eriksson claims he is relaxed about the growing realisation that the club's owner may pay him off at the end of the season, he will welcome the fact that Thaksin is in England to watch the team for the first time in more than a month. pSOCCER SHORTS
More soccer news in brief. pTynan to leave Cork City office
CORK CITY have confirmed general manager Aidan Tynan will move on from the club "to pursue other business interests" as soon as a successor has been found. pCobh face daunting trip to Richmond Park
AFTER A GOOD win over Shamrock Rovers at St Colman's Park last week, Cobh Ramblers resume their search for some points away from home with Stephen Henderson's side facing the slightly daunting task of taking something from Richmond Park if they are to break their duck. p
Cheika's men have the means and all the incentive
MAGNERS LEAGUE - Edinburgh V Leinster: ALMOST THERE now. With one hand virtually on the trophy, an 11th successive Magners League victory this evening will effectively clinch the title for Leinster. And given the often morgue-like atmosphere at the 67,500-capacity venue, there would be a fitting sense of redemption were they to lay the ghost of past sins here. pDunne makes way for Nathan
MAGNERS LEAGUE - Dragons V Connacht: CONNACHT HAVE made just one change to the side that lost to Ulster in Belfast last Friday night for their final away match to Newport Gwent Dragons. Troy Nathan starts for the first time at outhalf for Andy Dunne, whose place-kicking was wayward in difficult conditions at Ravenhill Road. pPragmatist Johnson needs to tap potential of exciting backs
MARTIN JOHNSON'S decision to remove Brian Ashton from the England coaching team, while retaining John Wells, would appear to indicate a return to the days of efficiency and organisation which made the men in white the number one-ranked side in the world earlier in the decade. But the appearance may be deceptive. pHenry admits to making wrong call
INTERNATIONAL RUGBY NEWS: ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has accepted his controversial conditioning programme was a factor in the team's quarter-final loss at the World Cup. pA coach truly at ease with his lot
INTERVIEW WITH WARREN GATLAND: Warren Gatland pays a flying visit to Dublin still basking in Wales's Grand Slam glory, writes Gerry Thornley . p
Golf digest
A brief round-up of golf news. p
Surprise package Monkstown may turn a few more heads
MEN'S HOCKEY: IF THE season had gone as most expected it to go, we would be watching either Three Rock Rovers or Lisnagarvey play against Pembroke in tomorrow's Irish Senior Cup final. That Monkstown have shuffled two of the principal contenders aside augurs well for the season's climax at Belfield. Given that the 'Town's under 16s were also successful this season, it bodes well for their future, too. pYear-round racing on the cards for Dublin Bay
SAILING: YEAR-ROUND yacht racing in the capital is on the cards, according to the bay's biggest leisure user, if development plans in Dun Laoghaire harbour go ahead. pMaguire, Elliott bid to break deadlock
MOTOR SPORT: NIALL MAGUIRE (Monaghan) and Patrick Elliott (Cavan) are joint leaders of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, which, after the two opening rounds, is developing into a two-horse race. pNUIG's grip on Wylie Cup will be tested in Down
ROWING: THE WIND may have switched to the east, but the top crews have been heading north. Castlewellan, in Co Down, plays host today to the University Championships and tomorrow's Queen's University Regatta - and both will have a keen edge of competition. pSPORTS DIGEST
More sports news in brief. p
