The Morning Score: Thursday

Declan Ryan in line for Tipp job but Premier bosses say hunt goes on, get Duffer back in your Fantasy Football teams and Richard Hughes is grounded in his quest for the jockeys’ prize.

1. #PREMIER Despite intense speculation in Gaelic games circles last night, Declan Ryan is not about to be appointed new Tipperary manager, according to county board officials. The Clonoulty-Rossmore man is the hot favourite according to the Irish Examiner however, with Tommy Dunne likely to be coach.

2. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich qualified for the last 16 last night after a busy night of European action. Jose Mourinho’s men had to rely on a last-minute equaliser at the San Siro – but the 2-2 draw was enough to secure their progress. Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, says Arsenal suffered from complacency after they saw Shakhtar Donetsk overturn a one-goal deficit.

3. #JOCKEYS Richard Hughes was forced to endure a highly-frustrating day in his quest to catch Paul Hanagan in the race for the jockeys’ championship. Hughes travelled to Nottingham for seven rides yesterday while the pair were due to go head-to-head at Kempton later. However, adverse weather conditions forced helicopter problems for Hughes and he failed to make it by road.

4. #GAA Croke Park chiefs are considering a radical new plan that would signal the end of the National Leagues for several of the ‘weaker’ hurling counties, say the Irish Independent.

5. #BOYS IN GREEN Good news for Ireland as Damien Duff is due for a comeback against Aston Villa on Saturday after a month out with a calf injury, says Owen Cowzer in the Irish Sun today.

6. #NOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS Tommy Bowe says Ireland will try to match the Springboks bully-boy tactics at Croke Park on Saturday.

7. #BOHEMIANS The Gypsies’ time at the top of Irish football looks to be over for now – in the wake of losing their title to Shamrock Rovers last week – as club officials approved ‘substantial scaling back’ on expenditure. Jason Byrne and other Dalymount Park stars are to walk out.

8. #TECHNOLOGY The GAA are set to introduce goal-line technollogy by introducing Hawk-Eye – used widely in tennis and cricket, of course – for next year’s hurling championship, reports Michael Clifford in the Irish Daily Mail.

9. # BHOYS Striker Gary Hooper says ‘dishonest’ ref Dougie McDonald should never officiate again after admitting he lied to Celtic boss Neil Lennon over a penalty decision against Dundee United, according to the Irish Daily Star.