The Morning Sports Briefing

David de Gea to remain at Manchester United

The summer-long transfer saga of David de Gea's move from Manchester United to Real Madrid took a dramatic twist late last night as the deal fell through when the paperwork was not submitted to La Liga authorities in time.

Despite the British transfer window not closing until 6pm this evening, the Spanish window was shut last night with Manchester United insisting they submitted the paperwork in time and that Real Madrid came to the negotiating table too late.

Real are expected to try again today by appealing to Fifa but at 2am in Spain the deal looked as if it had collapsed and there were reports blaming United for purportedly faxing one of the documents too late.

Jim McGuinness: Dublin caught off guard but should prevail in replay

The former Donegal manager is full of praise for Mayo’s performance at Croke Park but feels that Dublin should do the business in the replay this weekend.

Dublin’s defensive system, he says, was quite impressive and they looked to have added that extra string to their bow in comparison to the last few seasons.

McGuinness writes: “In general, I felt that Mayo missed a trick in not placing Barry Moran at the edge of the square. Not necessarily from the start, but as the contest deepened it was the question I kept asking myself. Aidan O’Shea was fighting a lone battle up front, with Cillian O’Connor playing off him. If Barry Moran had been pushed in there, which Dublin player would have picked him up? Who would have played sweeper?”

That column can be read in today’s newspaper and will be live on www.irishtimes.com/sport from 8.30am.

For that replay it looks like Dublin will be without Diarmuid Connolly after the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee proposed what is believed to be a one-match suspension after the forward's red card last Sunday.

Schmidt set to take just two scrumhalves

In his column today Gerry Thornley has outlined his probable World Cup squad as the countdown continues to Joe Schmidt's selections being made public.

“As has been the case with other World Cup squad selections, there was always going to be some risk-taking when Joe Schmidt and his coaches finalised Ireland’s 31-man squad, and uppermost among these is the apparent decision to pick only two scrumhalves, Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan.”

The rugby correspondent has also been looking at some of the heavyweight clashes set to take centre stage when the World Cup kicks off in three weeks time.

Schmidt has been very cagey about revealing any potential hints on who will be in his squad and Gavin Dempsey says that he is being just as shrewd with the players themselves.

O’Neill tolerant of transfer window distractions

Amid all the chaos of 'transfer deadline day' Martin O'Neill was keen to get his Irish players down to work at their new training complex in Abbotstown yesterday, but accepts that the distractions are unavoidable.

One such distraction is that of Jonathan Walters. The Ireland forward has handed in a transfer request at Stoke City and, with all of that going on, was absent from training yesterday.

O’Neill says that Gibraltar are the perfect opponents for Friday night and it perhaps gives him the option of experimenting somewhat with his team.

One such move could see Darren Randolph make his first start in the Irish goalkeeper's jersey.

Cody still honing killer instinct

Speaking to Ian O'Riordan yesterday Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody says he's still as hungry as ever for All-Ireland success – even after already taking home 10 such titles.

Cody says that if he was still doing what he’d done when he initially took the Cats post, he would not be there today.

“We’re constantly learning and there’s still so much more we need to learn,” he says.

Spieth and Day hoping to usurp McIlroy

With the second tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs beginning on Thursday Rory McIlroy faces his toughest test yet to retain his world number one spot.

The 26-year-old lost it briefly to Jordan Spieth after the US PGA Championship but regained it immediately last week when the American missed the cut at the Barclays.

However at this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship – where McIlroy will play – it will be Spieth and in-form Jason Day hunting down the four-time major winner.

Bumper crowds expected at Leopardstown

Saturday week sees the first leg of ‘Longines Champions Weekend’ at Leopardstown and officials are confident of a 10 per cent increase in crowds.

The much-anticipated clash between Golden Horn and Gleneagles will be just one part of the Champions Stakes as last year's winner The Great Gatsby and Free Eagle are also right in contention for the title.

What to watch out for

Tennis: US Open (Sky Sports 1, 4pm-4am).

Soccer: Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers (Setanta Ireland from 7.30pm).

Today is the final day of the British transfer window, stay tuned to The Irish Times for news on all of the day’s movers and shakers.