Pádraig Harrington gets an awful shock, Leinster gear up for French clash and Denis Walsh picks an experimental Cork side for their first game of the season.
1. #SHOCK For the second time in his career Pádraig Harrington has been sensationally disqualified from a tournament he was in line to win.
The three-time major winner, one off the lead overnight at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, did not tee off in the second round after being called to review an incident in his opening 65.
On the seventh green Harrington’s hand brushed the back of his ball as he replaced it in front of his marker. The ball rocked forward and although the Dubliner thought at the time that it then returned to his original position, television slow-motion showed that it did not go all the way back.
We’ll have more on this later.
2. #HEINEKEN CUP It’s the final weekend of pool games. Leinster are in France for a clash with Racing Metro tonight.
Gordon D’Arcy start alongside Brian O’Driscoll in the centre; a win will secure a quarter-final in Dublin, crucially.
3. #AUSTRALIAN OPEN Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic cantered through to the fourth round in Melbourne earlier.
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Federer showed no ill-effects from his five-set thriller against Gilles Simon as he eased past Xavier Malisse.
Djokovic’s compatriot Viktor Troicki had to pull out with a stomach strain after losing the first set of their match, meanwhile.
4. #REBELS Denis Walsh has shuffled his pack for Cork’s seasonal opener on Sunday afternoon in the Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final against UCC in Páirc Uí Rinn.
And there’s some new names on the team-sheet.
5. IRELAND’S OWEN Daniel McDonnell reports that Bolton are the new favourites to land out-of-favour Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.
Trotters’ boss Owen Coyle hopes to land the Cork native on loan in a bid to seal a European spot.
6. #ROW It emerged yesterday that Limerick are set to bring their grievance with the FAI over a botched attempt to host a Barcelona friendly to the High Court.
Today the Irish Independent reports that Abbotstown bosses have made ‘informal attempts’ to arrange discussions with the Shannonsiders.
7. #MEMORIAL Tentacled tipster Paul the Octopus has been honoured with a new memorial in Berlin.
The Morning Score: Friday
1. #SHOCK For the second time in his career Pádraig Harrington has been sensationally disqualified from a tournament he was in line to win.
The three-time major winner, one off the lead overnight at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, did not tee off in the second round after being called to review an incident in his opening 65.
On the seventh green Harrington’s hand brushed the back of his ball as he replaced it in front of his marker. The ball rocked forward and although the Dubliner thought at the time that it then returned to his original position, television slow-motion showed that it did not go all the way back.
We’ll have more on this later.
2. #HEINEKEN CUP It’s the final weekend of pool games. Leinster are in France for a clash with Racing Metro tonight.
Gordon D’Arcy start alongside Brian O’Driscoll in the centre; a win will secure a quarter-final in Dublin, crucially.
3. #AUSTRALIAN OPEN Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic cantered through to the fourth round in Melbourne earlier.
Federer showed no ill-effects from his five-set thriller against Gilles Simon as he eased past Xavier Malisse.
Djokovic’s compatriot Viktor Troicki had to pull out with a stomach strain after losing the first set of their match, meanwhile.
Caroline Wozniacki went through and then watched Justine Henin go out.
4. #REBELS Denis Walsh has shuffled his pack for Cork’s seasonal opener on Sunday afternoon in the Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final against UCC in Páirc Uí Rinn.
And there’s some new names on the team-sheet.
5. IRELAND’S OWEN Daniel McDonnell reports that Bolton are the new favourites to land out-of-favour Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.
Trotters’ boss Owen Coyle hopes to land the Cork native on loan in a bid to seal a European spot.
6. #ROW It emerged yesterday that Limerick are set to bring their grievance with the FAI over a botched attempt to host a Barcelona friendly to the High Court.
Today the Irish Independent reports that Abbotstown bosses have made ‘informal attempts’ to arrange discussions with the Shannonsiders.
7. #MEMORIAL Tentacled tipster Paul the Octopus has been honoured with a new memorial in Berlin.
8. #CRAZY Dublin chief John Costello has slammed the structure of the championship at the moment.
He says a ‘standardisation of fixtures’ is needed to make the competition fairer.
9. #HANDBALL Kenny Dalglish is said to be relatively confident he can land a ‘marquee name‘ to lift the players and fans alike at Anfield.
Ajax striker Luis Suarez remains the favourite.
I don’t know why they need him with a great ‘keeper like Pepe Reina, to be honest.
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