1. #COMEBACK I’d imagine quite a few of us made a little bit of lunch money last night.
Manchester United were priced at 5/1 to claw back Blackpool’s 2-0 half-time lead at Bloomfield Road.
Fergie introduced Giggs and Hernandez as the ineffective Wayne Rooney was hauled off. The Mexican duly hit the equaliser, sandwiched between two Berbatov strikes.
Blackpool should have had a game-winning penalty at two goals up however. Judge for yourself.
The rest of the night’s scores are here.
2. #COLLEGE BOY, EH? Paul Galvin has been cleared to play for Dublin Institute of Technology in the Sigerson Cup.
The Aungier St side now have a formidable side including the likes of Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea, Tom Cunniffe and Alan Freeman, Gareth Bradshaw of Galway and Diarmuid Connolly who plays with the Dubs.
The former Footballer of the Year has taken up a fashion course in the capital. Croker chiefs revealed yesterday that the Finuge man would be present at Jones Rd today for the competition launch.
3. #SIX NATIONS We showed you some images of the Ireland squad’s training session yesterday.
And you’ll notice there was plenty of unhappy faces on the sidelines.
Jamie Heaslip, Shane Horgan and John Hayes have become the latest players to be ruled out of the Six Nations opener in Italy in eight days.
They join Andrew Trimble, Jerry Flannery and full-backs Geordan Murphy and Rob Kearney in the treatment room.
Tom Court and Fergus McFadden are set to capitalise on the growing injury crisis.
4. #SEXISM ROW The Sky Sports fiasco will no doubt take another twist today.
Last night, another damaging clip emerged, depicting Richard Keys quizzing pundit Jamie Redknapp about an ex-girlfriend in the most ungentlemanly language while fellow panelists Ruud Guillit and Graeme Souness were present.
It could well be the nail in his career’s coffin while the conspiracy theories are gather momentum.
The Guardian reports that three women have lifted the lid on a ‘lad’s club’ culture.
5. #RULES Typically magnanimous, Pádraig Harrington says that the rule that caused him to be disqualified in Abu Dhabi last week should not be changed.
The R & A are considering an alteration to the laws in response to the backlash his exclusion caused.
6. #PREMIER Lar Corbett is fighting a fitness battle to be fit for the NHL opener with Kilkenny next month according to John Fogarty in the Irish Examiner.
The Hurler of the Year is nursing a foot injury that may hamper his season, he fears.
7. #AUSTRALIAN OPEN Andy Murray set up a potential semi-final with old foe Rafa Nadal earlier.
The Scot came through his quarter final 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 against Alexandr Dolgopolov. Nadal is currently on court against compatriot David Ferrer. Follow the live scores if you can get away with it.
8. #TRANSFER WINDOW Ever see that Coen borthers film The Hudsucker Proxy?
Emmanuel Adebayor has ‘failed upwards’ once again – as they said on Off the Ball last night – and joined Real Madrid on loan until the end of the season.
Jose Mourinho has a ‘unilateral option’ of buying the striker for £15million in the summer.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have denied Atletico Madrid chief Miguel Angel Gil’s claim that the Spanish club have rejected a £52 million bid for Sergio Aguero and Diego Godin# from Stamford Bridge.
9. #WEMBLEY WAY While United were struggling to overcome Ollie Holloway’s side, Arsene Wenger was booking his tube ticket to Wembley.
Arsenal reeled in Ipswich’s single-goal semi-final first-leg lead, eventually running out 3-0 winners at the Emirates. Nicklas Bendtner’s opener was the pick of the bunch:
