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Early Doors

The Morning Score: Thursday

One country has their first Grand Slam finalist, the Sky Sports sexism row takes yet more twists and Declan Kidney’s team room is half empty.

1. #AUSTRALIAN OPEN China have their first ever representative in a Grand Slam final.

Li Na came from a set down and a match point against her to beat world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki in a thriller 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Na will face Kim Clijsters, who took care of world No.2 Vera Zvonareva on Rod Laver Arena 6-3 6-3 earlier. The Belgian admitted afterwards that she vowed to her husband to shave her head if she won another major.

2. #SIX NATIONS Tommy Bowe is out of Ireland’s Six Nations opener with Italy with a knee injury. The Ospreys man is the latest in a long list of casualties, which includes the likes of Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip.

Fergus McFadden may well profit as he is set to step into the breach.

3. #SEXISM ROW Gary Neville is set to replace Andy Gray at Sky Sports according to the Daily Mail. God help us all.

Richard Keys resigned from his two-decade position as the face of Sky Sports’ football coverage.

After yesterday’s extraordinary radio interview - full audio here – in which he offered some thinly-veiled threats to ‘judgmental players’,  expect the shamed presenter to divulge just where the bodies are buried pretty soon. The Sunday papers should be good.

Tales of their ‘bullying’ are beginning to drip out already. Keys, though, is said be considering suing the station.

4. #CARLING Life-long Birmingham fan Craig Gardner hit the extra-time winner that sent the Blues to Wembley last night.

Birmingham found themselves 3-1 down on aggregate to West Ham at St Andrews after conceding an opener, but they rallied to score twice and take the match to extra time.

Then Gardner struck in the 94th minute – watch here.

5. #PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool moved up to seventh in the league table with a hard-fought win over an impressive Fulham at Anfield last night.

An awful John Pantsil own goal gifted the Reds a second win on the trot.

There was two Irish names on the score sheet for Celtic, meanwhile. Anthony Stokes hit a double and Paddy McCourt chipped in with a late goal as the Bhoys demolished Hearts at Parkhead.

6. #McKENNA CUP Tyrone continued their good form last night with a win over Fermanagh. St Mary’s, meanwhile, humbled Armagh.

Cavan remained on track for a semi-final berth with a one-point win over Monaghan.

7. #DOPING BAN Alberto Contador was yesterday handed a one-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France.

The Tour champion will be stripped of his title with second-placed Andy Schleck set to be declared the winner.

8. #TRANSFER WINDOW Robbie Keane is to take Giovanni Trapattoni’s advice and get out of Tottenham.

Several newspapers are reporting that the Ireland skipper will join West Ham on loan until the end of the season today.

The Sun, meanwhile, reports that Harry Redknapp will cut the Dubliner from his 25-man squad if he doens’t leave.

9. #YOUTUBE It’s Thursday, so it must mean it’s viral round-up day. Let us know if you came across anything note-worthy on line over the past seven days. This is typically the level we’re at: