GAA
The Lee Keegan concussion controversy rumbles on from the weekend as Malachy Clerkin reports that he will not play for Mayo this weekend. Neither the Mayo management or medical team were prepared to comment on the matter yesterday but Donegal team doctor Kevin Moran has backed his Mayo counterpart - Seán Moffat.
“There is no question in my mind here of Sean Moffatt having been negligent. Absolutely none. His major concern has always been player welfare,” Moran said.
In other news, one of the last three surviving members of the Mayo All-Ireland winning team of 1950 and 1951 passed away at the weekend.
Fr Peter Quinn, who played his club football with Ardnaree Sarsfields, died on Saturday in a nursing home in Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
Dublin's Dean Rock was speaking yesterday about his desire to retain his Dublin starting role after making the starting 15 in every game from the O'Byrne Cup to the All-Ireland final last year.
“In years gone by, I would have struggled with injuries and now I’ve got over a lot of them and been injury-free for the last two or three years. So when you’re fit and available to play, you want to play every single game,” Rock said.
Rugby
Ireland’s Six Nations build-up begins in earnest today as the squad gather in Carton House ahead of Sunday’s opener with Wales.
In his column today Gerry Thornley looks ahead to the Championship after Guy Noves' press conference yesterday. The new French coach comes into the international coaching set-up with a remarkable club record and will bring a renewed vigour to the French team.
“I’m not Zorro,” he has warned. “I don’t come with a magic wand. We will give our best. I want to give the kids the desire to pick up a ball and play rugby after watching a France game.”
If he merely achieves that much not only les Bleus but the Six Nations itself will be better for it.
There was relief for Munster yesterday as Simon Zebo penned a new two-year deal after speculation that he might make the move to France.
The departures of Ian Madigan and Marty Moore from the Irish game led to fears that more would follow but new deals for Conor Murray, Keith Earls and now Zebo have stemmed that flow.
Soccer
The major news on yesterday's severely overhyped 'Deadline Day' was the announcement that Pep Guardiola will take over as Manchester City manager this summer. Jonathan Wilson has written about how it will be in Europe that Guardiola will truly be judged during his time in Manchester.
“A four-year battle to get a manager to sign a three-year contract will have been worth it if it establishes City as part of the European elite, whether through consistent success or because of the style of football they play - or, ideally, both.”
Manuel Pellegrini yesterday announced that he was told a month ago that this move was coming but he is staying focused as City chase Leicester at the top of the Premier League table.
The manner of the Manchester City manager’s exit, or at least confirmation of it, was in keeping with the “charming man” reputation the Chilean has established during his three seasons at the Etihad Stadium. Pellegrini had finished taking questions about tonight’s Premier League trip to Sunderland when, as though a mere footnote, he concluded his press conference with news that June 30th would be his last day after all.
On a severely news-lacking transfer deadline day Stoke sealed the biggest transfer as they snapped up Gianelli Imbula for €24.4 million from Porto.
Golf
Brandt Snedeker's final round 69 was enough to see him win the Farmer Insurance Open in a Monday finish at Torrey Pines as Paul Dunne secured his best payday so far as a professional. The 22-year-old's tied-13th finish saw him pocket $120,000 with the added bonus of a late sponsor's invite to this week's Waste Management Phoenix Open.
On the European Tour world number three Rory McIlroy will be hoping to get back to winning ways in Dubai this week as he continues to build towards April's Masters at Augusta.
In his past six Dubai Desert Classic appearances McIlroy has finished in the top-10 every time and will be looking to add a third title this week.
Racing
This Saturday's Gold Cup at Leopardstown provides the perfect chance for Mouse Morris' charge First Lieutenant to shed his reputation as a 'nearly' horse and win a fourth Grade One race to add to a remarkable eight second places.
“He’s dead genuine. He couldn’t be more honest. He just usually manages to find one to beat him. But he has won Grade 1s, and won over €600,000 in prizemoney, so how bad is that,” said Morris.
What to watch out for
Soccer: West Ham v Aston Villa. BT Sport 1 from 7pm.
Soccer: Match of the Day (Manchester United v Stoke, Arsenal v Southampton, Leicester v Liverpool, Norwich v Tottenham, Sunderland v Manchester City, West Ham v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, West Brom v Swansea). BBC 1 from 11.45pm.
