1. #ROYALS Seamus McEnaney was finally given the green light to become the first ‘outsider’ to manager Meath’s footballers at a county board meeting in Navan last night but it was a ‘stormy’ meeting, reports the Irish Daily Star.

Speaking on Morning Ireland ‘Banty’ urged everyone to move on with the job in hand. This is going to be interesting.

2. #PREMIER LEAGUE The Manchester derby ended in a scoreless draw at Eastlands last night, while Chelsea moved four points clear at the top thanks to a 1-0 Michael Essien goal. The Ghana midfielder was later sent off.

A Pepe Reina blunder was costly as Liverpool drew 1-1 at Wigan.

3. #APOLOGY After their 2-0 win over Wolves, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was forced to apologise to Ireland’s Stephen Ward after his horror tackle resulted in the defender having to be carried off on a stretcher at Molineux.

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is in hot water too after he punched Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest in the second half of Newcastle’s 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn.

4. #NOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS Skipper Brian O’Driscoll has told Ireland to expect some ferocious tackling from Samoa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

5. #TIPPERARY New Premier boss Declan Ryan admits that he has a hard act to follow in Liam Sheedy, the Irish Daily Mirror reports.

6. #CRICKET Ireland will be able to call on the services of England batsman Ed Joyce in next year’s World Cup after the Bray native was granted a special dispensation from the ICC after a four-year stand-down period.

7. #BOXING Audley Harrison says he’ll retire after Saturday’s fight with David Haye – if he wins, according to the Sun.

8. #TIGER Champion Tiger Woods made a quiet start to the defense of his Australian Masters title with a two-under par 69 at the Victoria Golf Club – as he struggles with the putter.

9. #COMEBACK John Higgins returns to the table today in Germany after his six-month for not reporting match fixing approaches.