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Early Doors

The Morning Score: Wednesday

Here’s everything you need to know this morning – apart from the words to Bill Pullman’s “Independence Day” speech.

1. #CHAMPIONSHIP 2012 GAA president Liam O’Neill has blasted inter-county players who suggested on Twitter that Monday morning’s All-Ireland SFC round two qualifier draw was rigged in order to pair Cavan with Kildare and branded such claims as ‘outrageous’.

Meath’s Seamus Kenny,Wexford’s Ciaran Lyng and Tipperary’s Padraic Maher all used the social media site to intimate that the draw was fixed. However O’Neil has hit back at those theories, which he labelled as slanderous against him.

2. #AVB @ WHL Andre Villas-Boas got out of bed today for his first morning as Tottenham Hotspur manager. The 33-year-old Portuguese, who was axed by Chelsea after a short spell in charge last season, was officially confirmed as Spurs’ new man on a three-year contract yesterday.

3. #LONDON 2012 The Irish squad who will travel to the Olympic Games later this month is beginning to take its final shape. Yesterday, the women’s 4x400m relay team was announced with Joanne and Catriona Cuddihy, Michelle Carey, Claire Bergin, Marian Heffernan and Jessie Barr all making the cut.

In show jumping, Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch were nominated to represent the country.

4. #UNITED WE FLOAT Manchester United are to float on the New York Stock Exchange in a bid to raise $100m (£64m). The Premier League giants filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission last night, saying that they hoped to use the money to repay some of the club debt.

5. #WEATHER WOES This evening’s flat meeting at Fairyhouse has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track. The seven-card fixture, which was due to feature the Group Three Brownstown Stakes, has been rescheduled for next Tuesday.

In Clontarf, cricket fans are hoping to see some action this morning after yesterday’s one-day international between Ireland and Afghanistan was completely rained off. Play in the refixed match is scheduled to get underway at 10.45am.

6. #GET WELL SOON Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge may be forced to withdraw from the Team GB Olympic football squad after undergoing tests for suspected meningitis.

Sturridge fell ill over the weekend and although his condition has improved since, the 22-year-old is now a major doubt for the tournament.

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