Advertisement
Trainer Peter Casey celebrates with Flemenstar ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Early Doors

The Morning Score: Tuesday

All you need to recover from your long hard weekend by 9am.

1. #GAA Meath football is not a happy place this week.

Despite Sunday’s relegation to Division three county officials have publicy stated they will continue with Seamus McEnaney at the helm.

The endorsement however, has been less than ringing amid a shadow cast over the Banty’s future with the Royals when Sean Boylan quit his role as director of football last week.

Meath will begin their Championship campaign on 27 May when they face Wicklow in Dr Cullen Park.

2. # GRAND NATIONAL The Tom Gibney trained, Lion Na Bearnai, was a 33/1 winner of the Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse yesterday.

In a thrilling finish, jockey Andrew Thornton saw off the challenge of Out Now to win by four and a half lengths.

3. #PREMIER LEAGUE Out of four games played yesterday most eyes were on the race for fourth place. Spurs slumped to defeat at home to Norwich opening up an opportunity to Newcastle and Chelsea.

The Magpies took full advantage and drew level with Harry Redknapp’s side in fourth place with a 2-0 win over Bolton which included this incredible goal from Hatem Ben Arfa… oh, yes. We know all about him now. Chelsea, on the other hand, could only narrow the gap by a single point as their west-end derby with Fulham ended a goal apiece.

4. # SUPER MARIO Following the revelation from Roberto Mancini that he may never play for Manchester City again, Mario Balotelli will reportedly seek talks with the club in a bid to save his big-money contract at Eastlands.

“At the end of the season I will speak with the club and we’ll see,” said a relatively humble statement from the 22-year-old.

Balotelli will find out today if he faces a ban of up to nine games. The severity will depend on whether referee, Martin Atkinson, indicates to the FA that he is happy with how he initially dealt with the Italian’s reckless challenge on Alex Song.

5. #NOW, GO ON AND WIN IT Outgoing Munster coach, Tony McGahan has tended the wound of his team’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by backing Ulster to go all the way and claim their second European crown.

The double Heineken Cup winners are now left with only the RaboDirect Pro12 as a possible trophy to adorn the season. Next up, they face the Glasgow Warriors and injury doubts hang over Jame Coughlan (hand) and Keith Earls (leg).

La Liga preview: high stakes in Madrid derby

Kean hoping Blackburn can catch Liverpool on the hop

Royals are gone soft, says Martin McHugh