There may have been no hint of Celtic Park's intensity, but after a testing week for the Republic of Ireland squad and management they bounced back in impressive fashion in last night's international friendly with the USA.
One man who really stood out, playing out of his more familiar position in midfield and slotting in at left-back for the night, Robbie Brady scored two as Martin O'Neill's team earned a 4-1 win in the Aviva. The Hull City player though has no qualms about filling the defensive role, saying he's more than happy to make it his own moving forward.
Looking ahead then to the rugby at the weekend, as Ireland go in search of the perfect Autumn series when Michael Cheika's Australia come to Dublin on Saturday, and hooker Rory Best looks set for a recall following his recent injury troubles. Irish forwards coach Simon Easterby has been reflecting with Gerry Thornley on the added experience the Ulster forward will bring to the camp.
Eager to spoil the party though is Australia's Will Genia. Returning from an almost 12 month absence for the Wallabies, the world class scrumhalf is eager to reignite his international career against Ireland this weekend, and in doing so become the "world's best scrumhalf" once more.
Boxing: Taylor’s delight
In pursuit of a fifth successive World championship, Katie Taylor successfully began her title defence with a comfortable win yesterday morning. Johnny Watterson, reporting from Jeju, caught up with the Olympic gold medallist after the fight. "It's great to get the ball rolling" she told him. "It has been a long wait and it was good to get the lungs open again."
GAA: Bring Pearse home
The Irish International Rules team are preparing for a Titanic battle against one of the strongest AFL panels that has been assembled for this series in recent years, nonetheless Mayo midfielder Aidan O'Shea's focus has been waning. The Irish Examiner report that the Breafy club man has been intent on convincing once teammate and now AFL star Pearse Hanley to come home and play for Mayo.
Meanwhile Cork's Colm O'Neill will look forward to playing with fellow Cork man Aidan Walsh for the last time this year in the upcoming test match, as the rangy midfielder has opted to play with the county's hurlers in 2015. He told the Irish Mirror that there'll be no grudges held over the decision, one which would have been "very tough" for him to make.
Back home and there’s been another GAA ban enforced upon a player deemed to have discredited the association with his tweets. The Irish Independent report that David White, a dual player with the Sean MacCumhaills club in Ballybofey has picked up a six month ban for his tweets regarding the county’s fixture-planning.
Soccer: Premier League investigation
The Telegraph are reporting that Ofcom, Britain’s communications watchdog, has launched an investigation into how the Premier League sells the rights to broadcast its games on television.
So as fan groups call for less games to be shown in support of "fans in the stands", the investigation may lead to the Premier League being told to sell the rights to more live matches. Alternatively, it could be forced to allow more than one broadcaster to show each clash.
Drugs in sport: Armstrong battle won but war still raging
Travis Tygart, chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency and the man who brought down Lance Armstrong(whom he adds there may yet be a way back for), says that he's concerned at a lack of funding and the decision of major sports such as the NBA, NFL and baseball to operate outside of the Wada code.
He also expressed his concern at “what athletes will do in a programme filled with loopholes.”
Meanwhile racehorse trainer Willie Mullins is pondering a steeplechase debut for the unbeaten Vautour at Navan this Sunday, and rarely has there been the sense of expectation surrounding a newcomer to fences that there's likely to be if Vautour turns up at the Co Meath track this weekend.
