1. #ALL-STARS Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin won a record ninth All-Ireland Senior Hurling title last Sunday. Now the man they call “the King” is in line to add an 11th All-Star and a third Hurler of the Year award to his mantelpiece following the announcement of the nominees for the 2012 GAA-GPA Hurling All-Stars.
Shefflin is joined by Cats team-mate Paul Murphy and Galway’s Joe Canning on the three-man shortlist for Hurler of the Year. Canning is one of 14 Galway players on the 45-man All-Star list while Kilkenny have 12 nominees.
2. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Roberto Mancini was quick to praise a world-class performance by goalkeeper Joe Hart as Manchester City weathered a Borussia Dortmund battering before snatching a draw in the Champions League last night.
Mario Balotelli converted a 90th-minute penalty to earn City a 1-1 draw at the Etihad, but it was a string of fine saves by Hart which kept the Bundesliga champions at bay after Marco Reus opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark.
At the Emirates, Gervinho, Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey got the goals as Arsenal maintained their 100% record with a 3-1 win against Olympiakos of Greece.
3. #CONNACHT RUGBY Family reasons were a key factor in Eric Elwood’s decision to step down as Connacht head coach at the end of the season, the former Irish international said on Wednesday.
“The fact that I’ve been up front and honest can be a positive and we’ll use it as a positive,” Elwood said.
4. #MICHAELA Mickey Harte has revealed that he never considered stepping down from his position as Tyrone manager despite the traumatic death of his daughter Michaela in January 2011.
Harte was speaking yesterday along with Michaela’s husband John McAreavey in Croke Park at a launch for ‘Match for Michaela – A Festival with Football’ which is a major fundraising event on 3 November in Casement Park.
5. #CAMELOT Frankie Dettori has been confirmed to ride Camelot when the 2000 Guineas and Derby winner goes to post in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this weekend.
Joseph O’Brien, son of trainer Aidan, has not made the weight to ride Camelot and will ride Ballydoyle’s other contender St Nicholas Abbey at Longchamp on Sunday.
6. #EUROPA LEAGUE There are three Premier League teams in Europa League action later tonight as the second round of group games gets underway. Liverpool host Udinese, Newcastle welcome Bordeaux to St James’ Park, and Tottenham travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos.
