We'll Leave It There So: Hendrick seals move, Pienaar refused Ulster deal and today's sport

Elsewhere, Connacht get extra seats at the Sportsground, Conor Lane will referee the All-Ireland SFC final and Ireland’s fans prepare to show their appreciation for Robbie Keane as he ends his international career tonight.

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Ireland wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien attempts a stumping against Hong Kong's Ninad Shah. Ireland lead Hong Kong by 79 runs after the second day of their ICC International Cup clash in Belfast. William Porterfield's side, led by George Dockrell (3-46) and Peter Chase (3-50), bowled Hong Kong out for 237. Ireland scored 316 runs in their first innings yesterday. Presseye / Rowland White/INPHO Presseye / Rowland White/INPHO / Rowland White/INPHO

Ireland international midfielder Jeff Hendrick has secured a move to the English Premier League just hours before the closure of the transfer window. The Dubliner moves to Burnley in a deal believed to be worth £10.5m (€12m).
Robbie Keane is starting tonight’s match against Oman, his last one in an Irish shirt, as part of an attacking line-up as manager Martin O’Neill prepares for Monday’s opening World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade.
Connacht Rugby will have an extra 300 seats available for supporters at home games this season after a new stand was installed at the Sportsgroud.
Cork’s Conor Lane will referee his first senior inter-county All-Ireland final when Dublin and Mayo battle it out for the Sam Maguire on 18 September.
Waterford hurling legend Ken McGrath will release his autobiography ‘Hand on Heart’ in October.
Ulster’s South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will be forced to leave the province at the end of the season as the IRFU will not sanction an extension of his contract.

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Watch @JeffHendrick92's first interview as a Claret on Player HD now: https://t.co/90wqIzvr7r #WelcomeJeff pic.twitter.com/s3sT11nxN7
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 31, 2016

Burnley FC / Twitter

Away

Chelsea have been one of the busiest clubs on transfer deadline day across the Irish Sea, spending a combined £57m (€67m) on two defenders. David Luiz returns to Stamford Bridge for £34m just two years after leaving for £50m while they have also signed Spanish defender Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina.
Promising Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a serious knee injury today which could rule him out for the NFL season.
Russia will hold an alternative two-day competiton for its Paralympic squad who are banned from competing in Rio next week due to doping concerns.

The Best Thing We Shared

It was all going well for Medi Dresevic — the defender had scored a hat-trick as his side Norrby worked towards a 6-1 win in Swedish football’s third tier. And boy did he celebrate with aplomb. Not seeing the funny side, referee Alexander Pavlovic showed Dresevic a second yellow card for leaving the field of play during his celebration and Norrby were reduced to 10 men.

On The Record

Strangely enough, I actually rang him to ask [if he was playing] – and he wouldn’t tell me! My own father didn’t know!I texted him, going ’I presume that team isn’t the team?’ And he said, ‘No, no, that’s the team’.

Even Kevin McManamon‘s brother Brendan didn’t know that his sibling was starting against Kerry on Sunday. The St Jude’s man delivered a man-of-the-match display in the All-Ireland semi-final despite not being named in manager Jim Gavin’s starting team earlier in the week.

The Fixture List

There are four more international soccer friendlies scheduled for tomorrow night: Belgium v Spain, Netherlands v Greece (both 7.45pm kick-off), Portugal v Gibraltar and Italy v France (both 8pm).
The fourth tennis Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, continues tomorrow.
In cricket, Ireland and Hong Kong play the third day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup clash in Belfast.

Showbiz, Baby!

This is the shirt that one of the nation’s greatest players in history will wear during his final game for Ireland tonight. Thanks for the memories Robbie.

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