A round-up of the other sports news in brief...
County look for some home comfort
CRICKET: North County will be hoping to put their first loss of the season behind them when they take on Merrion in the quarter-finals of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup at Balrothery today, writes Emmet Riordan.
Winners of five of the last nine titles, County will start as favourites despite missing John Mooney and Andre Botha. Merrion, though, have already won a tough away clash against Strabane before a home win over CIYMS.
Railway Union face a tough trip away to a Coleraine side that have already knocked out Clontarf and Instonians on home soil.
The Hills’ clash against Waringstown will now be played on July 23rd as the Milverton ground is in use for the Skerries 500 races.
Benayoun signs for Chelsea
SOCCER:Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool. The 30-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and he joins the Blues on a three-year deal.
He said: “I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful.”
Ireland to play Norway in friendly
SOCCER: The Republic of Ireland are to play Norway in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium. Giovanni Trapattoni's men, who will by then be four games into the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012, will face the Norwegians in Dublin on November 17th.They last met in a friendly in Oslo in 2008 when Robbie Keane scored in a 1-1 draw.
SOCCER:Manchester City have signed Barcelona's Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure on a five-year contract, the Premier League club said yesterday.
No financial details were disclosed of the 27-year-old’s move, which comes two days after the capture by City of Valencia winger David Silva.
Soccer City to host Test
RUGBY:South Africa's Tri-Nations rugby Test against New Zealand's All Blacks on August 21st is set to be played at Soccer City, the venue for the soccer World Cup final.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry had inadvertently confirmed the Test was being moved from Ellis Park to Soccer City earlier yesterday during an interview with New Zealand website stuff.co.nz.
“Yeah, that’s official isn’t it?” Henry said when asked about a change in venue, before turning to media manager Joe Locke and asking: “Am I allowed to say that, Joe? Ive just said it, haven’t I? It’s been speculated . . . no, I’m not allowed to say that.
“No, its only speculated were playing in a stadium that holds 90,000.
“Gee, that would be great, wouldn’t it? I can’t wait.”
