Home

Katie Taylor in good form in Dublin today. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

• All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa has been handed a one-week ban for his high hit on Simon Zebo last Saturday after the disciplinary committee ruled he should have been shown a red card for the tackle. However, Sam Cane will face no further action over his tackle on Robbie Henshaw.
• Katie Taylor is set to fight on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin’s next world title defence at New York’s Madison Square Garden on St Patrick’s weekend next year.
• Tipperary defender Paddy Stapleton has announced he is retiring from inter-county hurling with immediate effect, ending his career with two All-Ireland medals.
• Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson believes Conor McGregor would be making a mistake if he tried to conquer the UFC’s 170-pound division.
• Cork’s Christina Desmond has won a bronze medal at the European Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria after losing her semi-final on a split decision today.
• Ireland wing Simon Zebo will have to wait until Thursday to get a full training session under his belt as he continues his recovery from an injury sustained last Saturday.
• Robbie Keane‘s wife Claudine has dismissed talk that Ireland’s record goalscorer will be returning home to play for Shamrock Rovers.
• Autobiographies by Paul O’Connell, Cathal McCarron and Robert Heffernan have been included on the five-strong shortlist for the eir Sport Sports Book of the Year.
• St Patrick’s Athletic have completed the signing of midfielder Patrick Cregg from Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers.

Away

Bruce Arena has been appointed as head coach of the US men's national team. Alex Gallardo Alex Gallardo

• The United States have appointed Bruce Arena as Jurgen Klinsmann’s replacement, which will be the former LA Galaxy manager’s second spell in charge of the national team.
• Paris Saint-Germain have expressed their fury after being told that Serge Aurier will not be allowed to travel to England due to his criminal record.
• Two Manchester United fans slept in an Old Trafford toilet on Friday night in the hope that they could gain entry to the Red Devils’ Premier League game against Arsenal on Saturday.
• Jamie Carragher has blasted England’s Football Association in the wake of the furore that surrounded Wayne Rooney’s late-night antics while on international duty.
• Five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman has been charged with driving on the wrong way on a motorway and causing a crash in the US.

The Best Thing We Shared

This is about as bad as it gets — check out this sitter from the fourth tier of Serbian football.

On The Record

I would go as far as saying that this current Kilcoo panel is equal to if not above what a lot of county teams are. It comes down to the players, the management, and the mindset and commitment of the group as a whole. They are a very driven bunch of players.

Conor Laverty certainly doesn’t lack confidence in his Kilcoo team-mates as they prepare for an Ulster football final with Derry champions Slaughtneil this weekend.

Where We Were Today

Fintan O’Toole was at Croke Park for the launch of the the GRMA (go raibh maith agat) scheme — a GAA membership programme providing benefits and rewards to GAA members. Also in attendance were Tipperary hurler Cathal Barrett and Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh.

Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

Ryan Bailey was at Katie Taylor’s press conference in Dublin this afternoon where she was promoting her professional debut in London this weekend.

Sean Farrell was back out at Carton House with the Ireland squad ahead of their final November Test this weekend.

Cian Healy tests out his mobility in Kildare this afternoon. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Murray Kinsella was at a press conference for the Australian rugby team this morning where he caught up with Leinster old boy Kane Douglas.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

The Fixture List

• It’s another big night of Champions League football tomorrow with Arsenal, Celtic and Manchester City among the sides in action. Fixtures (19.45 kick-off unless stated) – Group A: Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain, Ludogorets v FC Basel. Group B: Besiktas v Benfica (17.45), Napoli v Dynamo Kiev. Group C: Borussia Monchengladbach v Manchester City, Celtic v Barcelona. Group D: FC Rostov v Bayern Munich (17.00), Atletico Madrid v PSV Eindhoven.
• It’s also Game 1 of the MLS Conference finals early tomorrow morning. Montreal Impact take on Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference final (1am) before Seattle Sounders and Kevin Doyle’s Colorado Rapids do battle in the Western Conference final (3am).

Showbiz, Baby!

Thirty years ago today, 20-year-old Mike Tyson knocked out Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Watch: Barcelona had a special guest at training ahead of their Champions League clash at Celtic

‘At 15, a lot of our team that didn’t get an opportunity fell out of love with football’