Every morning, TheScore.ie brings you the sport stories you need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #WORLD CUP The presentations are continuing this morning in Zurich before the destination of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be decided.
Holland and Belgium were first on stage; they revealed they’ll provide two millions bicycles for fans in what would be the ‘greenest’ tournament ever.
England are now favourites again ahead of Russia who have suffered from the absence of premier Vladamir Putin. A decision is expected at 3pm.
2. #CARLING CUP In less glamorous matters, Roy Keane’s Ipswich reached the semi-finals of the League Cup with an impressive 1-0 win over Premier League side West Brom last night.
A Grant Leadbitter penalty helped ease the pressure on the Corkman. Elsewhere, Birmingham beat city rivals Aston Villa – but there was ugly scenes at the final whistle with hundreds of Blues fans invading the pitch and confronting Villa supporters.
3. #BIG FREEZE Fans will know how badly-affected the weekend’s sports schedule will be after today.
Munster last night moved their game with Cardiff Blues from 7.30pm to 5pm on Saturday while Connacht are set to make a decision on whether their Magners League clash with Airioni can go ahead tomorrow.
Leinster’s game at Scarlets will kick off – provided they can get to Wales, of course. Ulster are hopeful their tie with Dragons is okay to proceed tomorrow.
The entire GAA fixture slate is likely to suffer and there will be no racing.
4. #AFL Former Cork senior hurler Aisake Ó hAilpín has signed a two-year contract with Maribyrnong Park who play their footie in the Essendon District Football League, according to Darragh Ó Conchúir in the Irish Daily Mail.
Brother of Sean Óg and Setanta, the former Na Piarsiagh man was formerly on Carlton’s books.
5. TICKETS Rugby clubs confirmed yesterday they were not charged by the IRFU for unsold autumn Test tickets, despite suggestions to that effect some weeks ago, according to Michael Moynihan in the Irish Examiner.
6. #BOY IN GREEN Owen Coyle says he’d be honoured to manage Ireland some day, according to the Irish Sun. The Bolton manager earned one cap for Jack Charlton’s side in 1994 and says he would ‘never say never’.
7. #BANG BANG European super bantam-weight champion Willie Casey is in line for a world title bid – just 11 fights into his pro career. The Limerick man has been offered a shot at Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux.
8. #TECHNOLOGY The GAA’s National Research committee is expected to recommend that Hawk-Eye be used on a trial basis for hurling only, according to The Sun.
9. #RETURN Former hometown favourite LeBron James returns to Cleveland tonight with the Miami Heat. The Cavs fans are really ready for this one – they’ve drawn up a chant sheet, just so everyone knows when to boo and when to hiss, presumably. Here’s the spoof Nike ad they made too:
