Carl Frampton training in Las Vegas before this weekend's fight with Leo Santa Cruz. Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO / William Cherry/INPHO

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• The Club Players Association (CPA) have confirmed they won’t be backing Páraic Duffy’s proposals to revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship, but the GAA Director-General has said their statement is “contradictory” in his response.
• Kerry forward Donnchadh Walsh says Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy will “definitely” be a part of the Kingdom’s panel this year.
• There were Fitzgibbon Cup wins today for UL against Cork IT, UCC against Ulster University, Limerick IT against Trinity College and Mary I against GMIT.
• Munster have confirmed the signing of Grenoble centre Chris Farrell, Racing 92 scrum-half James Hart along with the return of JJ Hanrahan.
• Ireland U20 head coach Nigel Carolan has named his squad for the Six Nations.
• The IRFU has today announced that they have provided ‘concussion management training’ to all coaches involved in schools competitions.
• The FAI have confirmed that Turner’s Cross will play host to the President’s Cup fixture for the second year in a row.
• Sligo Rovers have confirmed the signing of Brighton striker Jonah Ayunga on loan until the end of the season.
• Both James Gallagher and Sinead Kavanagh have learned of their opponents for next month’s Bellator 173 event in Belfast.

Castlerea Community School players celebrate after beating Holy Child Killiney in the U16C Girls Subway All Ireland Schools Cup final. Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

Away

• Roger Federer beat giant-killer Mischa Zverev to become the Australian Open’s oldest men’s semi-finalist in nearly 40 years.
• Joleon Lescott has joined struggling Sunderland on a deal until the end of the season.
• Notts County owner Alan Hardy has revealed that manager John Sheridan, the former Ireland international, was not sacked for the club’s poor results but instead for gross misconduct following his foul-mouthed rant at match officials.
• Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been interviewed by police over an allegation he racially abused a staff member at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday.

The Best Thing We Shared

Dodgy defending from Sam Allardyce helped Cork City to a quarter-final win against Limerick City in the 1991-92 FAI Cup…

Where We Were Today

Fintan O’Toole was at Croke Park for the launch of GAA Director General Páraic Duffy’s annual report.

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On The Record

Obviously there’s a lot of people coming here. A lot of people are expecting me to do well. I’ve obviously won a few awards as well this year which adds a bit more pressure too, so I don’t know. I just take it in my stride, again. I feel like when the pressure’s on I put in my best performances, from the amateurs right through to professional. I think it’s going to be more of the same. There’s a little bit more pressure on this time than there was with the first fight but I’m expecting to do a proper job on this guy.

Carl Frampton has been speaking ahead of his WBA featherweight title defence on Saturday night in Las Vegas, where he’ll face Leo Santa Cruz in a rematch.

The Fixture List

• Liverpool host Southampton tomorrow night in their EFL Cup semi-final second leg, with kick-off at Anfield at 8pm.
• Leeds United entertain Nottingham Forest in the Championship, while Celtic are at home to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership (both 7.45pm).
• Egypt versus Ghana and Uganda versus Mali (both 7pm) are tomorrow’s games in the African Cup of Nations.
• There are two games down for decision in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League: Kerry versus Waterford at Austin Stack Park and Clare versus Cork in Sixmilebridge (both 7.30pm).
• NUI Galway will have home advantage against DCU St Pat’s at 1.30pm in the Fitzgibbon Cup.
• Sigerson Cup: NUI Galway versus Trinity College (Dangan, 2.30pm); UL versus Maynooth University (UL Grounds, 2pm); Queens University Belfast versus DCU (The Dub, 2pm).
• Munster Schools Senior Cup: Crescent College versus St. Clement’s College, 2:30p; St. Munchin’s College v Castletroy College, 4:15pm (both Thomond Park).

Showbiz, baby!

https://www.facebook.com/AIBGAA/videos/10155694850702814

The coaching staff at Clermont Auvergne have been working hard in their efforts to turn Donegal footballer Michael Murphy into a rugby player.

Want a ticket for Ireland v Wales? Call in some favours because it’s sold out

Accolades bring added pressure for Frampton but he expects to deliver on Vegas debut