Every morning TheScore.ie brings you the stories you need to know before your first cup of coffee.
1. #EUROPA LEAGUE Atletico Madrid claimed the Europa League title after defeating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in an all-Spanish final in Bucharest.
A year after scoring the winner in Porto’s Europa League triumph, Colombian striker Radamel Falcao starred for the victors by producing two superb individual goals in the first half. An equally brilliant clincher from Diego late on ensured Atletico regained the trophy they last won in 2010. Here’s how it unfolded last night.
2. #BOXING Amir Khan’s rematch against Lamont Peterson has been officially called-off after the American champion tested positive for a banned steroid.
Earlier this week, Peterson returned a positive reading for ‘synthetic testosterone’. The world-welterweight title, scheduled for May 19 in Las Vegas, had been in doubt following the news but Golden Boy Promotions and Khan himself confirmed the cancellation of the fight.
3. #PLAYOFFS Blackpool will face West Ham in the ‘biggest game in football’. Ian Holloway’s side booked their place in a Championship play-off final against West Ham with a thrilling 2-2 draw with Chris Hughton’s Birmingham at St Andrew’s last night, sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.
4. #GAA Kilkenny were yesterday coming to terms with the fact that they’d have to plan without Michael Fennelly for the foreseeable future.
5. #NBA The Miami Heat sent the New York Knicks packing from the NBA playoffs while the Memphis Grizzlies avoided elimination on Wednesday. The Heat accounted for the Knicks 106-94 at home to wrap up their best-of-seven series in five games and set up an Eastern Conference semi-final date against the Indiana Pacers.
6. #RUGBY We caught up with Bernard Jackman in Dublin yesterday; here’s the warning he sounded for Leinster ahead of the weekend action at the RDS.
