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A pole-vaulter during Cork City Sports, yesterday. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Early Doors

The Morning Score: Wednesday

Rovers facing an uphill struggle in Lithuania, doping at the Tour de France plus lots and lots of money for our favourite languid Swede.

1. #XIPAMIDE Frank Schleck has this morning requested that his B sample be taken after he was withdrawn from the Tour de France by his RadioShack team.

Schleck, the younger brother of Andy, tested positive for a banned diuretic after random testing on July 14. The Luxembourg rider was 12th in the overall standings, one place above Ireland’s Nicolas Roche. He contests the findings.

2. #IN A HOOP Stephen Kenny is coming under even more pressure as Shamrock Rovers boss this morning after the League of Ireland champions could only manage a 0 -0 draw in their home first leg of Champions League qualifying.

Lithuanian champions, FK Ekranas, were the side that brought frustration to Tallaght last night and will fancy their chances of winning on home ground when the return leg is played next Tuesday.

3. #ZLATAN The big Swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic last night completed a long-awaited €23M transfer from AC Milan to PSG. It is believed the former Barcelona striker will rake in €13M per year.

4. LEINSTER The days are fast whittling down before the All Ireland champions, Dublin, are in action with their arch-foe in the Leinster final.

To whet your appetite, have a read of interviews with Mickey Burke, Alan Brogan and the departing Graham Geraghty.

5. 24 HOURS This time tomorrow the 141st Open Championship will be underway at Royal Lytham and St Annes. Relive some magic moments from the course here. Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington is relishing the challenge of a difficult course saying that a major is a last man standing event and, “I would like some of the golf to be tough, some of the conditions.”

Oh, it’s gonna be good.

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