NEED TO CATCH up? TheScore.ie brings you a round-up of today’s sports news…

Tony Marshall Tony Marshall

(The back of Liverpool-bound Mario Balotelli’s head)

Home

• Martin O’Neill named a 36-man Ireland squad ahead of the games against Oman and Georgia, while also discussing the future of Aston Villa youngster Jack Grealish.
• There was further success for Ireland at the European Paralympics today, with Jason Smyth picking up the T12 200m gold and Orla Barry claiming silver in the F57 Discus.
• Ex-Cork hurler Darren Sweetnam is set to make his debut for Munster this weekend.
• Cork City have confirmed that they’ve accepted an offer for highly-rated young Irish defender Brian Lenihan, with Brighton strongly rumoured to be the club in question.
• Alan Mulholland has stepped down as manager of the Galway footballers.
• It’s been confirmed that the Croke Park Classic will go ahead despite fears in the US media over a volcanic ash cloud.

Away

• It’s been confirmed that much-loved BBC commentator Barry Davies will make a one-off return to Match of the Day to coincide with the show’s 50th anniversary.
• Italian international Mario Balotelli looks set for a move to Liverpool from AC Milan for a reported £16million fee.
• Johnny Manziel has received some bad news, with the Cleveland Browns opting for Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback for the upcoming NFL season.
• A number of Europa League games are taking place tonight and some have already finished — Tottenham have beaten Cypriot side AEL Limassol 2-1 thanks to late goals from Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane.
• Man United-target Angel di Maria wants to leave Real Madrid, according to the Spanish side’s manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The best thing we shared

This Julie-Ann Russell goal in Ireland’s 2-0 win over Slovenia is pretty spectacular.

On the Record

“I’ve said it quite a lot — there’s your life and there’s the rugby side of things. At different stages one has been brilliant and the other has been tough and then vice versa.

“There are lots of challenges that go with living abroad especially for a homebird like myself and Laura as well.

“There are two sides of it and there are ups and downs along the way but I suppose I’ll appreciate it in years to come. I’ll have another language and I’ll have done it.”

Jonny Sexton discusses life in Paris with Racing Metro.

Where we were today

TheScore.ie’s Niall Kelly was in Abbotstown for the Ireland squad announcement earlier today.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The fixture list

• Day 5 of the European Paralympics gets underway in Swansea.
• A number of FAI Cup matches take place tomorrow, including Cork v Bohs at Turners Cross.
• Bayern Munich take on Wolfsburg in the first game of the Bundesliga season at 7.30pm.

Showbiz, baby!

Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have nominated Andre Marriner — the referee who unwittingly sent off the former instead of the latter in a case of mistaken identity during Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea last season — for the increasingly ubiquitous ice bucket challenge.

“Ehhh, wizzle wuzzle?”

Forget Suarez, Balotelli represents Rodgers’ biggest Liverpool challenge>

Galway chairman insists it’s ‘not good for the county’ to appoint an outside manager>