Rugby: Six Nations
Last weekend was a fantastic one for all interested in Irish rugby, back-to-back Six Nations championships cementing our third place position in the World rankings, and all with a World Cup on the horizon this summer.
For two Irish players though it was a quite bitter-sweat experience. Richardt Strauss and Dave Kearney were enthusiastic couch-bound supporters, both had been perennial attendees at the Ireland training camps during the tournament, while Strauss had on occasion been part of the pre-match game-day build-up as 24th man, but injury had denied both men a proper run at contending for places.
For Strauss in particular he’ll be cursing hi s luck as his wife had her car broken into on Saturday; “it spoiled the weekend.”
Meanwhile Gerry Thornley has picked his team of the tournament in this morning's paper, it includes six Irish men. Three of those have been shortlisted for the official player of the tournament award; Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray and Paul O'Connell.
The Irish women team’s victorious captain Niamh Briggs says she is not content with the team’s Six Nations title, or beating New Zealand in the World Cup last summer for that matter.
'We have the potential to keep improving now, I think we've shown that," she says.
Soccer: European qualifiers
Stephen Ward remains Ireland's main injury concern ahead of the European qualifier with Poland. Despite being out of favour with his club Burnley he is an ever-present in O'Neill's plans.
One player who has been out of those plans in recent times is Shay Given, but a run of games in the FA Cup for Aston Villa may push the veteran goalkeeper back ahead of David Forde in the pecking order, he hopes.
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has been charged for his alleged stamp on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, he faces a three match ban if found guilty. Yet according to his manager Brendan Rodgers he was going for the ball.
Following Manchester United's victory over their eternal rivals Phil Jones says he and Chris Smalling are finally proving the doubters wrong, as they put some calamitous performances over recent seasons behind them with a solid showings in the past two games.
GAA: Dublin’s cruciate curse
Jim Gavin will have to deal with the third cruciate ligament injury in his squad in the past 12 months after it emerged that full-forward Eoghan O'Gara will miss the 2015 season due to an ACL tear.
Corner back Kevin O’Brien and forward Ciarán Kilkenny both missed the 2014 championship after injuring their knees in February and Match of last year.
Former Wexford footballer PJ Banville is leading a small cast of intercounty recruits to the New York senior football team for this summer's Connacht Championship. Preparations have been disrupted so far with the snowy conditions in he US of late, but with 25 new players in 2015 hopes are high.
Cricket: World Cup
South Africa are out to banish their pre-tournament tag of 'chokers' by knocking out now-favourites New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals.
The nation’s president told them prior to the competition; ‘We don’t want you in the World Cup to add numbers and just become a bunch of losers’ - well there out to defy all the odds says their talisman AB de Villiers.
What to watch out for:
The Irish soccer team will host an opening training session for the media pitchside in Malahide this morning, where the latest injury news will be given and Martin O'Neill may drop a few more clues as to what his selection may be.
The New Zealand versus South Africa game is on this morning, it's ongoing as we speak in fact.
Sky Sports 2 from 0.30am
There are six League of Ireland fixtures set for tomorrow; Cork City visit St Pat's at 7.45pm while Drogheda welcome rivals Dundalk at the same time.
