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Shamrock Rovers players at training in Greece last night. INPHO/Vasilis Ververidis

The Morning Score: Thursday

Here’s what you need to know before that first coffee.

1. #EUROPA LEAGUE Shamrock Rovers go in search of a lucrative point – or three – in Greece tonight.

The Airtricity League champions face PAOK Salonika in a Europa League Group A clash this evening. We’ll go minute-by-minute throughout.

Manager Michael O’Neill expects a battle. “The preparation for this game has been huge for us. However, our players are now playing their 54th game of the season whereas PAOK have played six league games. The freshness we anticipate they will have is something we will have to deal with,” he said yesterday.

2. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Last night, Chelsea notched their biggest ever Champions League win as they routed Belgian side Genk 5-0.

Fernando Torres seems to be finding form as he hit a brace.

More interestingly perhaps, Aaron Ramsey hit an injury time winner at the Velodrome as Arsenal went top of their pool thanks to a 1-0 win over Marseille.

You can catch up on all the European Cup action, as it happened, here.

3. #RWC2011 Not much seems to have happened overnight at the Rugby World Cup as the sides prepare quietly for Sunday’s decider.

The IRB have confirmed however that whomever wins will top the world rankings, which will be released on Monday.

If Wales fail to repeat their third-place finish of the inaugural RWC in 1987, by beating Australia tomorrow, the Dragons will slip below Ireland and Argentina to eighth.

4. #RACING The Professional Jockeys Association have called on the British Horseracing Authority to remove the restriction of five hits of a whip inside the final furlong of a Flat race.

5. #GOLF Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke failed to take the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The 36-hole event between this season’s four major champions was won by American Keegan Bradley, beating South African Charl Schwartzel by a shot, with McIlroy four behind and Clarke 13 strokes  further back again.

6. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE As one of our Facebook commenters said last night: And Spurs let him go?

Take a bow, Kevin Prince Boateng, who scored fro Milan last night:

Absent friends: here’s our alternative Rugby Player of the Year nominations

International incident: Ireland’s club v country Rules debate

A bluffer’s guide to… the World Series

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