Every morning, TheScore.ie brings you the sport stories you need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #AULD ENEMY Several newspapers report that the FAI are in line to bring England’s football side to Dublin next summer for an international friendly.
Philip Quinn, in the Irish Daily Mail, reports that the game is likely to be confirmed for Wedneday, June 8. The English are available after the collapse of their planned friendly in Thailand.
2. #HEINEKEN CUP It’s another big rugby weekend.
Alan Quinlan is likely to miss out on selection for Munster when they take on Ospreys at lunchtime on Sunday in Limerick.
Hugh Farrelly writes that the 36-year-old flanker ‘could lose out to James Coughlan’.
Donal Lenihan, speaking earlier on Morning Ireland, says he expects Leinster to be beaten by Clermont in France while Ulster continue to prepare their icy pitch at Ravenhill for the visit of Bath.
3. #WINDFALL Killarney is set for a major boost as European Tour officials prepare to announce that the town has retained the Irish Open for 2011.
The decision is worth €30million to the Kingdom’s tourism capital, according to the Irish Examiner.
Despite the fact that no replacement title sponsor for 3 has been confirmed, the announcement will be made early next week.
4. #NEWCASTLE Alan Pardew says other managers think he’s mad to take the Magpies job. His new players meanwhile had an angry meeting with club managing director Derek Llambias yesterday morning.
And Ireland captain Robbie Keane could be set to join the circus as the Magpies monitor the situation. The out-of-favour Spurs man has a number of clubs like Villa, West Ham and Wolves lining up for his services.
5. #BOXING Andy Lee is being lined up for a lucrative world title shot in three months’ time according to the Irish Daily Star.
6. #LEINSTER SHC After a motion to include Galway’s minor and U-21 sides in the Leinster championship was met with a cool response, the county’s continued inclusion in the provincial championship is in doubt, John Fallon reports in the Star.
7. # GOLF Damien McGrane ground his way to a steady level-par 72 opening bid at the at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Leopard Creek yesterday.
8. # CHELTENHAM Noel Fehily looks to be okay to ride at Cheltenham’s two-day meeting which begins way today.
The Irish jockey injured his wrist at last month’s Hennessy Gold Cup meeting at Newbury.
Elsewhere, tomorrow’s meeting at Fairyhouse has been cancelled yet again with the track still un-raceable. The fixture has been moved again to next Wednesday.
9. #G-MAC Graeme McDowell’s year was too good to be true, right?
