Every morning, TheScore brings you a quick-fire round-up of things to ponder while you have your first coffee.
1. #UPSET UCD handed Airtricity League Premier Division table-toppers Sligo Rovers their first defeat of the 2012 campaign at the Belfield Bowl last night. Graham Rusk’s header in the first half proved the difference on a night which witnessed a couple of the league’s big sides drop points. For a round-up of all the action, click here.
2. #RECOGNITION Leinster’s Rob Kearney was awarded the ERC European Player of the Year yesterday. The Irish full-back beat team-mate Jonny Sexton, Ulster pair Ruan Pienaar and Stephen Ferris and Jonny Wilkinson, now playing with Toulon.
It’s been a huge season for me especially given that I missed out on last year’s Heineken Cup final because of injury and had to watch from the sideline,” Kearney said. ”So this time, I desperately wanted to be a part of it.”
3. #HEARTBREAK Marathon runner Maria McCambridge has been left out of the Olympic team. The 36-year-old broke the “A” standard at the Rome Marathon but was the slowest time of the four Irish qualifiers so will not participate in the London Games. Read more here.
4. #INJURY SCARE Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given suffered a knee injury in training at Malahide yesterday but after undergoing a scan, it is not believed to be serious. The Aston Villa stopper is one of Giovanni Trapattoni’s most experienced players and thankfully, should only miss two days of practice.
5. HOPEFUL Brian O’Driscoll is fighting to be fit for Leinster’s RaboDirect Pro12 final with Ospreys on Sunday. The centre recovered from key-hole surgery on his knee to play in last weekend’s Heineken Cup win and said it “held up fine” during the game, although he admitted his leg began to cramp up before the final whistle.
