Every morning, TheScore.ie brings you the sport stories you need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #CUTBACKS The Football Association of Ireland have revealed cost-cutting measures which will make 12 people redundant – and more job losses on the cards.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s salary will not be hit though technical director Packie Bonner will leave his position.
2. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Wayne Rooney marked his return to action with Manchester United with a late, winning goal against Rangers last night. He was literally embraced by the fans.
Spurs meanwhile saw off Werder Bremen 3-0 in London and secured their progression with one game to go.
3. #ASHES Peter Siddle celebrated his birthday with a stunning hat-trick to kick-start Australia’s Ashes campaign at the Gabba and hand England a miserable opening day to the series.
4. #VILLAIN Stephen Ireland is looking for an exit route out of Villa Park in January, according to the Irish Daily Star.
5. #GOLF Swede Henrik Stenson set the early pace at the Dubai World Championship today. While Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell waited to begin their head-to-head, Stenson birdied three of his first five holes and remained three under with five holes to play.
6. #MUNSTER Paul O’Connell is set for a long-awaited comeback this week with his club Young Munster. He will line out for his local club against Limerick rivals Shannon in a Division 1A All-Ireland League encounter on Friday evening.
Tomás O’Leary looks set to feature for Munster this weekend, meanwhile, after his own injury problems. But Reds trio Ian Dowling, Felix Jones and Denis Fogarty were all hurt against Ospreys in September and will be out until at least the end of January, it was confirmed yesterday.
7. #BOXING Kenny Egan is not happy with the tactics of Anthony Dorian, who the Dubliner said did ‘not fight a clean fight‘ in their World Series of Boxing (WSB) encounter on Tuesday night.
8. #CHANT Though it was the prodigal son Rooney who again grabbed the headlines, United fans at Ibrox also aired their new ode to Chicharito. They’ve reworked an old Jose Feliciano standard. What do you think?
