1. #SHANE LONG Giovanni Trapattoni finds himself facing a striker shortage ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 playoff after Shane Long was ruled out of action for up to six weeks.
The West Brom striker suffered severe bruising and a small bone chip inside his right knee during Saturday’s West Midlands derby against Aston Villa, but remains hopeful that he might still recover in time for the games against Estonia on 11 and 15 November.
2. #GALWAY HURLING There was a sense of anticlimax in Galway hurling circles last night after the county board indefinitely deferred the announcement of their new senior hurling manager.
A statement last night said that “the selection committee have not completed the process” which would allow them to propose John McIntyre’s replacement and that the meeting would be rescheduled in due course.
3. #AIRTRICITY LEAGUE Shamrock Rovers will have to wait until this evening to try to secure back-to-back Airtricity League titles.
The champions’ penultimate game against UCD was postponed last night due to unplayable conditions and has been refixed for this evening in the Belfield Bowl at 7.05pm. The game will be shown live on RTÉ.
4. #FORMULA 1 New Jersey governor Chris Christie is expected to confirm this morning that a race in the state will be added to the Formula 1 calendar from 2013 onwards.
Reports this morning indicate that the proposed F1 Grand Prix of America will take place on the banks of the Hudson River.
5. #PAUL COOK Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook has been linked with a move to SPL outfit St Johnstone, according to reports.
The Liverpudlian is thought to be the front-runner for the post left vacant by the departure of Derek McInnes for Bristol City last week.
