A view of the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

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• The GAA has defended the incredibly late venue change for Sunday’s Allianz Football league game between Roscommon and Dublin, calling it a ‘no-win situation’.    
• More details of the Allianz football and hurling league semi-finals have been released with Croke Park and Semple Stadium hosting the games. 
• Jonathan Sexton had a major issue with the officiating in Leinster‘s three-point Pro12 win over Munster at the weekend. 

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

• ‘Putting a knife to people’s throats isn’t going to help the cause‘: Anthony Foley on another disappointing day out for Munster.  
• Connacht have begun rebuilding for next season and confirmed the seven players that will be leaving the province at the end of the season. 
• Antrim’s Eugene Laverty had an absolutely sensational weekend as he claimed a best-ever finish on the Moto GP circuit with a terrific fourth place in Argentina.

• Ireland’s Keiren Westwood has been hailed as ‘the best goalkeeper in the Championship’ after he racked up an 11th clean sheet of the season with Sheffield Wednesday.  

Away

• Outgoing World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset says the Six Nations should be reformed to include promotion and relegation. 

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• Antonio Conte has been confirmed as the next Chelsea manager. The Italian national team manager will take over the role following Euro 2016. 
• The doctor at the centre of The Sunday Times‘ doping exposé has denied the newspaper claims that he admitted to supplying Premier League footballers with performance-enhancing drugs.  
• Boxer Nick Blackwell has woken from his induced coma and spoken to family members following his fight against Chris Eubank Jr on 26th March. 

The Best Thing We Shared

The Augusta Masters is almost upon us and to get in the mood, Nike have released their latest ‘Enjoy The Chase’ campaign with Rory McIlroy fronting it.

What’s the secret to his success?

Lots of broccoli, by the looks of it.

On The Record

We weren’t doing well and he (Carlos Queiroz) just loses the rag. And he says to us, ‘You know your problem? All the guys who don’t make the grade in my country are digging ditches. And all you fuckers have college degrees. It doesn’t mean that much to you.’ And the more I think about it, I think he was partly right. You had me doing a PhD, we had another guy studying law, we had lots of guys with college education behind them and it’s not the same as that hungry, young guy who would do anything for a chance at the title.”

Ian Hennessy was part of the inaugural Cork City team that debuted in the League of Ireland in 1984. Two years later, he found himself in the United States and on a remarkable journey encompassing a PhD at Colombia University, sharing a MLS dressing-room with Roberto Donadoni and becoming a highly-regarded college coach.

Where We Were Today

Fintan O’Toole had a look at the GAA’s new €12m National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown and it’s pretty impressive.

The Fixture List

The Uefa Champions League quarter-finals takes centre stage on Tuesday evening with two games down for decision. Barcelona host Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich take on Benfica. Both fixtures get underway at 7.45pm.

Showbiz, Baby!

David Beckham was hanging out with Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard last night as the LA Lakers lost out to the Boston Celtics at the Staples Center.

Robbie’s just delighted he wasn’t referred to as an ‘unidentified fan’ again.

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‘I was getting out of a country that was struggling and I don’t regret it a day since’

Confirmed: Antonio Conte will be the next Chelsea manager