Shamrock Rovers' Europa League adventure ended last night as they were beaten in extra time in Cyprus. Rovers showed their mettle in coming from behind with the goal of the game from Aaron Greene, leaving them trailing 2-1 on the night but level on aggregate, only for Apollon Limassol to find the winner in extra time. Both sides finished with 10 men on a sapping night in Nicosia but the hosts progress to face Austria Vienna in next week's third round qualifier. Fifa is studying options for leaving its headquarters in Zurich, according to the New York Times. The plans could include leaving Zurich entirely or a partial relocation of operations, which could see Fifa open subsidiary offices in different parts of the world to give it better access to, and oversight of, its 211 member associations.
In his column this morning (Subscriber Only) Jackie Tyrrell looks back on last weekend's hurling semi-finals and how a daring Model plan almost produced the perfect coup: "All they needed was a bit more ruthlessness. They could have had three more goals in that first half but weren't cool-headed enough to bury Tipperary when they had them." Ian O'Riordan has put together an all you need to know ahead of the final round of Super 8s this weekend. Three of the eight counties involved are already out, two are guaranteed their place in the semi-final and in only one match this weekend do the two teams both have a chance of progressing.
Tudor City secured a thrilling Guinness Galway Hurdle success on Thursday to give his trainer Tony Martin a timely big race boost. The man renowned for years as a 'handicap king' had just seven winners in the last Irish jumps season. Friday's big race in Galway is the featured €120,000 Guinness Handicap. No three-year-old has won the mile and a half heat since 2001. But along with Aidan O'Brien's Il Paradiso, a 12-length winner last time, the classic generation look set to figure prominently this time.
Meanwhile on his return to Test cricket with his side deep in the doldrums, Steve Smith struck his 24th Test century - and perhaps the most treasured of the lot on day one of the Ashes. His magnificent 144 meant that Australia posted a total of 284, which may well come to be regarded as very competitive as the match progresses.
For all the latest Rugby World Cup news, match previews and reports, fixtures and statistics, check out our World Cup subsite which went live today and is already full of content looking ahead to next month's kick-off.
