Michael O'Neill has stepped down as Northern Ireland manager after eight-and-a-half years in the role. He was named as Stoke manager in November and will now focus fully on that job. A mutual decision was made for O'Neill to leave his position due to proposed revised international match scheduling by Uefa in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Emmet Malone reports on why a decision by St Patrick's Athletic to temporarily lay off its players and team management has served to underline the ongoing lack of any sense of certainly around the Irish game as to when football might be played here again.
The idea that team sports can safely return to empty stadiums has been challenged by three medical experts in an article published by The Lancet medical journal. Gavin Cummiskey explains the challenges the report presents to any plans to play Six Nations matches in October - if permitted by the UK, French and Irish governments.
Joanne O'Riordan continues our favourite sporting moments series this morning, but she's mixed things up a little by picking two. "Picking one was impossible so I've divided it into men and women." The first - invading the pitch with her father after Cork won the 2006 Ladies football All-Ireland - "surrounded by such euphoria, comradery and celebrations sparked something in me, something my father externally regrets, but I know internally he'd join me in sacrificing his left arm to experience it again." The other, is when her beloved Barcelona pulled off one of the greatest sporting comebacks against PSG in the 2017 Champions League - "when all is lost, and there is nothing left to fight for, maybe you really are more dangerous and powerful."
Meanwhile, Ewan Murray explains why rescheduling the Ryder Cup will not be a straightforward task - the Presidents Cup and Olympics are already set for next year. Snooker's World Championship has been rescheduled to run from July 31st to August 16th, possibly with a reduced crowd at the Crucible. And Ian O'Riordan has spoken to brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan on how they're still training every bit as hard towards Tokyo 2021 - only they're doing their rowing indoors.
