1. #LEAGUE OF IRELAND A 75th-minute winner from Daniel North gave St. Patrick’s Athletic a 2-1 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park last night.
That result moved the Saints to within three points of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Airtricity League after the Hoops were held to a 1-1 draw by Derry City in Tallaght.
2. #GRUDGE MATCH A venue has been set for the All-Ireland First Round Qualifier match between Meath and Louth. Oddly, for a game which is a repeat of last year’s controversial Leinster Final, it’ll take place in Ulster.
Kingspan Breffni Park was chosen as the most suitable neutral venue by the CCCC yesterday, with throw-in set for 7pm on 25 June.
3. #WIMBLEDON 2011 The preparations for this year’s jamboree at the All-England Tennis Club continued yesterday. Andy Murray beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to earn the title “King of Queen’s” (a sub-editor’s dream), Venus Williams made her return to action at Eastbourne, and Irish hopeful Conor Niland rallied late to beat Josselin Ouanna in his first-round qualifying match.
4. #MR JONES After all of the huffing and puffing, Manchester United finally got their man yesterday, finalising a £17m deal which will see Phil Jones move from Ewood Park to Old Trafford.
As always, we’ll have the latest transfer news and rumours in our daily round-up at lunchtime.
5. #ROYAL ASCOT The five-day Royal Ascot festival kicks off at the Berkshire racecourse this afternoon and you probably don’t need me to tell you that it’s going to be a cracker.
The battle between Canford Cliffs, Goldikova and Cape Blanco for the Queen Anne Stakes gets us underway at 2:30 this afternoon, while Frankel will attempt to replicate his breathtaking 2000 Guineas run when he goes in the St. James’ Palace Stakes at 3:45.
6. #STATESIDE Without meaning any disrespect, we don’t pay a huge amount of attention to goings-on in the MLS. However, this strike by Eric Hassli of the Vancouver Whitecaps (who thinks up these names?) caught our eye.
Before you ask, yes, that is former Filbert Street legend Kasey Keller scrambling after the ball.
