EVERY MORNING, TheScore.ie brings you the sport stories you need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #BAN Munster have lodged an appeal against Paul O’Connell’s four-week suspension.
The Irish Examiner reports that a spokesperson confirmed: “Munster Rugby now wait on the ERC to issue a date for the hearing.”
Thomond Park chiefs are hopeful the talismanic second row will be available to play before their crucial Heineken Cup game with Toulon in January.
2. #RACING Racing at Leopardstown over Chritmas remains in doubt this morning after another cold night in Dublin.
Racecourse chiefs will assess the conditions this morning ahead of the planned traditional St Stephen’s Day start. An announcement is likely to be made this morning.
Officials say they are waiting for a thaw in Dublin rather than trying to clear the course themselves but that looks increasingly unlikely.
3. #BRRR Connacht Rugby meanwhile are hopeful their clash with Munster at the Sportsground in Galway will go ahead as the pitch remains under bales of straw until the morning of the 26th.
4. #BOHS Two aggrieved players have threatened the club with a winding-up order in a bid to secure unpaid wages, Daniel McDonnell writes in the Indo.
The players haven’t been named.
5. #REBELS After Sean Óg Ó hAilpín yesterday said he was moving on after Denis Walsh’s shock decision to axe him, speculation is mounting on Leeside as to who is next out the door.
The Irish Independent says that Jerry O’Connor and Niall McCarthy may soon receive a call from the manager.
6. #YOU’RE FIRED Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was last night sacked as Inter Milan boss.
The Spaniard took over in the summer and led the European champions to the Club World Cup title only last week.
Ex-AC milan coach Leonardo is to take over.
7. #TREATY? Phil Bennis has accused Limerick GAA chiefs of ‘bully-boy tactics’ in a growing dispute over a motion to convention to create a separate county hurling board.
8. #HEINEKEN CUP Glasgow Warriors’ were hammered 36-10 by Toulouse last night.
9. #TV RTÉ yesterday announced they secured rights to games in the Rugby World Cup.
Setanta Sports are the primary rights holders. But let’s hope for more analysis like this from Montrose:
