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The Morning Score

The Morning Score: Monday

Mixed fortunes for Irish sides in Europe, Roy’s on the brink (again) and we have some rare athletics success.

Every morning, TheScore.ie brings you the sport stories you need to know with your morning coffee.

1. #HEINEKEN CUP It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the Irish provinces in the European Cup.

Paul O’Connell is facing a ban after he marred his return to Heineken Cup rugby with a red card.

The Reds captain lashed out with his forearm on Ospreys’ Jonathon Thomas. He’ll face a disciplinary committee either tomorrow or Wednesday.

Leinster, meanwhile, were on the end of a 20-13 defeat to Clermont Auvergne but leave France with an invaluable bonus point.

Earlier, Ulster managed to clear their Ravenhill surface of ice and then won the battle of the former tournament champions. They gave Bath a huge mountain to climb in earning a 22-18 win.

2. #CITY Carlos Tevez insists that the decision to leave Manchester City is his own. The Eastlands club rejected a transfer request from their homesick captain.

But the Argentine issued a statement last night saying he had wanted to leave since the summer and said his relationship with the club’s executives had “broken down and is beyond repair”.

3. #ATHLETICS Ireland struck gold for the first time at the European Cross Country Championships in Albufeira, Portugal where the men’s under-23 team took top honours.

4. #CLUB Crossmaglen called upon their wealth of experience to see off a spirited Naomh Conaill side to secure an eighth AIB Ulster Club SFC title at Breffni Park in Cavan on Sunday afternoon.

5. #BOXING Amir Khan rolled with the punches to win in Vegas on Saturday night.

6. #LONELY FURROW Roy Keane endured another miserable weekend with Ipswich as the Tractor Boys were beaten 1-0 be bottom side Preston on Saturday.

The Star’s Paul Lennon says that the Corkman could walk away this week.

7. #SNOOKER John Higgins staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Mark Williams 10-9 and lift his third12bet.com UK Championship crown at Telford.

It marks an amazing journey after he recently completed a six-month ban in the wake of match-fixing allegations – of which he was cleared.

8. #PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United host Arsenal tonight in a much-anticipated clash. Chelsea, meanwhile, earned a point at Spurs – despite Didier Drogba missing a late, late penalty.

Man City however are top – until tonight – despite the distraction of the Tevez row.

9. #SARCASM Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter used his post-match interview to make a cringeworthy point to the ERC after his side  lose 21-24 to Racing Metro 92 in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.