Updated: Thursday, 29 Aug 2013 22:47 | Comments Jermain Defoe Tottenham's second string gave manager Andre Villas-Boas plenty to ponder ahead of this weekend's derby against Arsenal as they recorded an impressive 3-0 (8-0 on aggregate) victory over Dinamo Tbilisi to help the north London club into the Europa League group stage. With £60million worth of new signings added to this squad this summer, and at least another three players on their way in, there has been little talk of the importance of the likes of Jermain Defoe and Lewis Holtby to the new-look Tottenham so far this season. Yet the duo gave their manager a timely reminder of their talents tonight, even though Dinamo were very poor opposition. Defoe, making his first start
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Conlon eager for World Championships
Updated: Thursday, 29 Aug 2013 07:39 | Comments Michael Conlan (L) against Andrew Selby during January's 50-56kg bout in the World Series of Boxing Michael Conlan might be forgiven for wishing he had seen the back of his flyweight rival Andrew Selby. In each of his three previous meetings with the Welshman, Ireland's Olympic bronze medallist has come up agonisingly short, but he cannot help keeping his fingers crossed for a fourth bout at the World Championships in Kazakhstan in October. The Falls Road 21-year-old has become a big name in Belfast after returning from last year's London Olympics with a bronze medal in the bag - ironically, an event in which world number one Selby fell out at the quarter-final stage. Conlan said:
Suarez in line for return at Old Trafford
Updated: Wednesday, 28 Aug 2013 22:34 | Comments Luis Suarez could be a set for a highly-charged return at Old Trafford Luis Suarez will make his return from a 10-match ban in Liverpool's Capital One Cup third round at rivals Manchester United. The 26-year-old's future has been the subject of rife speculation this summer after he began agitating for a move away from Anfield. Should Suarez stay past next week's transfer deadline, his first match back after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season will be at Old Trafford against United. The clash is the pick of a third round to be played on 24/25 Septembetr when there will be a repeat of this year's FA Cup final. Wigan shocked Manchester City to triumph
Friday’s Airtricity League team news
Updated: Friday, 16 Aug 2013 10:02 | Comments A win for Dundalk over Sligo could prove to be telling in the title race A full programme of matches sees leaders St Pat's play host to Shelbourne, while second plays third as Dundalk welcome Sligo Rovers to Oriel Park. Get all the team news here. AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (7.45pm) Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers Both teams go into this Dublin derby desperate for a win as both have suffered defeat in their last two league games. Their two previous meetings in the League this season have ended in draws. Bohemians are without former Shamrock Rovers player Karl Moore (suspended) and Ciaran Nangle (ankle injury), but Keith Buckley returns from suspension and Andy Mulligan from hamstring injury. Chris
Trap insists Ireland ready for Ibrahimovic threat
Updated: Thursday, 15 Aug 2013 17:26 | Comments Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action against Ireland in March Giovanni Trapattoni insists Ireland can handle the threat of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in next month's crucial World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Dublin. While Ireland were playing out a goalless bore draw against Wales in Cardiff last night, Paris St Germain striker Ibrahimovic was sending an ominous reminder of his attacking gifts by scoring a hat-trick in Sweden's 4-2 win over Norway. Trapattoni was forced into defensive alterations in Cardiff with keeper David Forde and defenders Sean St Ledger and Richard Dunne unavailable. While the Italian is trying to keep a positive outlook, Forde and St Ledger face a race against time to prove their fitness for the Group
Joe Dooley Column: Can Dublin finish the job?
Updated: Friday, 05 Jul 2013 12:37 | Comments It is a first Leinster final involving Dublin and Galway Video Audio By Joe Dooley Dublin finally got a Championship victory over Kilkenny for the first time since 1942 and the big challenge this week for Anthony Daly is to refocus his team quickly and get their heads right to take on reigning Leinster champions Galway in Sunday's Leinster final. One must give huge credit to Dublin for defying the odds and giving an outstanding display of power hurling last weekend. They never allowed Kilkenny to settle or get into any kind of rhythm and they fully deserved their victory with great defensive play and as many as seven players getting on the score sheet. The big thing that
Wallabies strike late to set up Sydney decider
Updated: Saturday, 29 Jun 2013 13:34 | Comments Adam Ashley-Cooper scored the only try of the game with four minutes to play The British and Irish Lions face a Test series decider in Sydney next Saturday after Australia clinched a nerve-shredding 16-15 victory at Etihad Stadium. Leigh Halfpenny's five penalties looked to have ended 16 years of hurt. Not since South Africa 1997 have the Lions won a Test series. But he missed a penalty from halfway with the game's final kick, and left the pitch distraught as Australia prevailed courtesy of centre Adam Ashley-Cooper's 75th-minute try that his midfield partner Christian Leali'ifano converted. The Lions were on course for an unassailable 2-0 series lead, but Ashley-Cooper rounded off a concerted spell of pressure,