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(Roy Keane arrives ahead of a training session at Gannon Park, Malahide)

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• Martin O’Neill has issued a video message defending Roy Keane after the assistant boss was involved in an “incident” at the Ireland team’s hotel.
• Both Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy have been ruled out of the Ireland-Scotland game through injury.
• Dave Foley is set to make his Ireland debut against Georgia this weekend.
• One of Offaly’s longest-serving hurlers, Rory Hanniffy, has retired from inter-county hurling.
• Ireland international Tommy Bowe has agreed a new three-year contract with Ulster.

Away

David Davies David Davies

(Referee Nigel Owens has reportedly received racist and homophobic abuse)

• Dan Carter has been restored to the New Zealand team as they prepare to take on the Scots.
• Scotland’s Scott Brown has highlighted the team’s attacking quartet as key ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against Ireland tomorrow.
• France have somewhat unusually named an unchanged side to take on Australia on Saturday, after they thrashed Fiji last weekend.
• Qatar have been cleared of any wrongdoing during the 2022 World Cup bidding process
• The RFU are looking into alleged homophobic and racist abuse aimed at Nigel Owens during last Saturday’s England-New Zealand game.

The best thing we shared today

The Run in the Dark took place last night, and there were some brilliant pics to commemorate it.

On the record

“What this book has done is made me think about how I’d react if I got bad news about my health. Whatever about the book, I want to commend Alan for breaking taboos and barriers down in an instant, and showing people out there that you kept working hard and you kept the spirits up through the most tumultuous time. You read about his friend who’s going through the same thing and who wasn’t so successful at the end of it. You’re an inspiration, Alan. I called you ‘Albert Tatlock’ there, but every team needs an Albert Tatlock.”

Niall Quinn gave a great speech about his former teammate Alan McLoughlin last night.

Where we were today

Our reporter Ben Blake is in Scotland to cover proceedings ahead of tomorrow night’s big game.

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(Gordon Strachan during a press conference at Mar Hall, Glasgow)

The fixture list

• Aside from Scotland v Ireland, there are plenty of other big international games taking place, including Northern Ireland’s vital clash with Romania.
• Meanwhile, there are two other games in Ireland’s group, with Germany hosting Gibraltar and Georgia facing Poland.

Showbiz, baby!

Independent TD Mick Wallace wore an Italy soccer jersey in the Dáil today.

I’ve never liked Gordon Strachan!

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