Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 September 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Monday, 29 Sep 2014 15:42 | Comments
A 35th title for Kilkenny
Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, GAA journalist Jackie Cahill and Kilkenny corner-back Michael Kavanagh join James Rae to review the replay of the All-Ireland final.
After a hard-fought battle at Croke Park on Saturday evening, Kilkenny emerged once more as champions, with no shortage of star performances on the day.
A 35th title for the Cats, a tenth medal for Henry Shefflin and a sweet victory for a side that was regarded by many as 'over the hill' just one year ago.
The post mortem will be a familiar one for Tipperary - we ask if Bonner Maher was 100% fit, if Kelly and Corbett will stay on for another year and ponder the future for Eamon O'Shea as manager.
And as the curtain falls on 2014, our experts pick out their highlights, favourite games and look ahead to pick out the teams with something to prove next year.
Ireland's Jonathan Walters is a doubt for the game with a calf problem
Stoke manager Mark Hughes understands how Alan Pardew must be feeling as he battles to keep his critics at bay, but also knows the only way the Newcastle manager can end the negativity is by turning around their current slump.
The Magpies are the visitors to the Britannia Stadium tonight (8pm) and are without a win after five matches, with only Burnley below them in the Premier League table.
That run has prompted a barrage of abuse aimed at Pardew from Newcastle fans unhappy with the way the team has performed so far this season - and this year in general.
And Hughes, who repeatedly came under fire during his 18-month spell at Manchester City, feels there is too much expectation on managers at some clubs.
"A lot of people don't know the reason why certain things have occurred or why there hasn't been a good performance," said the Welshman.
"There are always other things people outside the immediate group don't know about and you know yourself you can't go out and say, 'well, these are the reasons'.
"So you have to protect yourself, your position and your club sometimes from situations and sometimes that's to the detriment of yourself.
"It's not easy because there is more focus on you as a club and you, as the figurehead in terms of football. It goes with the territory and you have to deal with it.
"The focus on big clubs is always there and the only way you can deal with it, to take that focus off you as a manager, is by winning football matches and if you don't there is a negative focus."
"A lot of people don't know the reason why certain things have occurred"
Hughes has also laughed off comments from City boss Manuel Pellegrini after he described the Potters as a "small team".
Pellegrini was left annoyed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's tactics in last Sunday's 1-1 draw between the sides at the Etihad Stadium.
Having been beaten at home by Stoke three weeks previously, the Chilean held up Chelsea and the Potters for comparison, seemingly belittling both clubs.
Describing the match with Chelsea, Pellegrini said: "It was very similar to the Stoke team, with a big team playing against a small team with very good players, trying to defend, trying to keep the score (0-0)."
However, Hughes said: "I think everybody understood what he meant.
"We didn't take any umbrage with it, as criticism of ourselves. It was more the Manchester City manager's take on how he thought one of the top teams went up against his side.
"On the day they were gracious in defeat, which sometimes doesn't happen with big clubs. But I felt we fully deserved the victory and they said so."
Hughes has no fresh injury concerns for the meeting with Newcastle, with only Ireland striker Jonathan Walters (calf) a doubt.
Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley shared Ryder Cup success as players in the past but their relationship has cooled
Audio
Paul McGinley insists his strained relationship with Darren Clarke will not influence his opinion on who should be Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.
Clarke is odds-on favourite to lead the side at Hazeltine in 2016, when Europe will be looking to claim their fourth straight victory and ninth in the last 11 contests.
The former Open champion sent McGinley a letter in 2011 offering his support for the latter's bid to become captain in 2014, but later changed his mind and also put himself forward for the role.
And when Tom Watson was named US captain in December 2012, Clarke suggested 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie should also be considered as "whoever it is standing on that stage opposite Tom Watson needs a huge presence".
With the public backing of players such as Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, McGinley subsequently won the day but admitted recently that his conversations with Clarke were now "short and sweet" and amounted to little more than passing pleasantries.
However, the 47-year-old vowed to be professional when the new selection process gets under way.
Since 1999, the captain was selected by the European Tour's 15-strong tournament committee, but changes announced in August last year mean the responsibility now falls to the previous three captains (McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Montgomerie), the Tour's chief executive and a tournament committee representative.
Asked by Press Association Sport if his relationship with Clarke would be a problem, McGinley said: "Absolutely no problem whatsoever. I'm going to be very professional in my input.
"I'm going to get opinions from a lot of players and a lot of people before I put my opinion forward as to what it will be. Just like I was very much pushed over the line by the players, I want to get the opinion of the players.
"I think a lot of us have benefited hugely from being vice-captains. Darren has been a vice-captain along with many other guys" - Paul McGinley
"I think we're very fortunate in Europe, a little bit like the Liverpool soccer team and the boot room, I think a lot of us have benefited hugely from being vice-captains.
"Darren has been a vice-captain along with many other guys. We will see where that all evolves and I'll make a professional decision based on the views of people that I respect."
As to whether he would be a vice-captain under Clarke, McGinley added: "I don't think I'd be vice-captain to anybody going forward to be honest. I'm very happy to help in an unofficial capacity but I don't think I have the personality to go back in as vice-captain.
"I would like to be able to support the new captain in whatever direction he went, and if I had a belief about a different area, I'm afraid there would be a conflict."
That means McGinley's Ryder Cup career is officially over, a career which has seen three wins as a player (2002, 2004 and 2006), two as a vice-captain (2010 and 2012) and one as captain.
"That's six I have been involved in and six wins," he said. "Like a heavyweight fighter, I will retire undefeated."
Undefeated but perhaps not uninvolved, McGinley raising the possibility of using his expertise in the same way he got former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to speak to the team on Tuesday.
"What he did was he solidified my ideas and he gave me confidence that, yeah, my hunches were right" - Paul McGinley on Alex Ferguson's input
"I would certainly like to play a role, if required, a little bit like Alex Ferguson did this week for me," he added.
"I bounced ideas off him. He didn't preach to me. He didn't tell me what to do, but what he did was he solidified my ideas and he gave me confidence that, yeah, my hunches were right.
"I certainly won't be pushing myself forward (but) whoever the next captain may be, if he has any questions, I'll help in any single way I can."
Meanwhile, world number one McIlroy insists he is not the new Ryder Cup king-maker, but appreciates that his voice was heard.
"I wouldn't say I am a king-maker but I feel like my opinion and view is listened to," McIlroy said.
"I wanted to throw all my support behind Paul because I thought this would be his only chance to do it and I knew there was no better candidate and I'm glad he proved me right this week."
Treve (r) was unplaced at Arc trials in Paris two weeks ago
Connections of Treve were pleased to see some rain fall in Paris ahead of her bid to retain her Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe crown at Longchamp on Sunday.
The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained filly was an impressive winner of Europe's premier middle-distance prize last October, but has had her fair share of problems since then and has yet to hit the heights in any of her three starts this year.
However, she is reported to have done everything right since her latest run in the Prix Vermeille, when she was fourth to Baltic Baroness.
"Treve is in good form. They had rain in Paris today, so the more of that the better as far as making it good or on the easier side of good, which would suit her best," said Harry Herbert, manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing.
"They have had a little bit of rain and it all helps, but Criquette reports her to be very well and fingers crossed we're nearly there.
"There's no way I've lost faith in her. If she gets her ground and she will have needed the run last time as well - hopefully she will go to the Arc spot on."
"There's no way I've lost faith in her"
Al Shaqab have an equally strong contender as part-owners in the Elie Lellouche-trained Ectot, who burst into the picture with a smart performance to win the Prix Niel on his first try at a mile and a half after a five-month lay-off.
"Ectot worked this morning and did it very nicely. It was his last gentle piece before the weekend," said Herbert.
"I thought it was a bold move to run him over a mile and a half by Elie first time after a lay-off.
"It said a lot about the horse. He was very impressive and will come on a lot for that run, obviously, match-fitness wise.
"He showed a terrific turn of foot. I was impressed."
Rhona Ní Bhuachalla: 'We never give up till the final whistle and it worked'
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Two-goal Cork heroine Rhona Ní Bhuachalla hailed their never say die attitude built up over the years that paved the way for an amazing All-Ireland final comeback.
The Rebelettes trailed Dublin by ten points midway through the second half but goals from Ní Bhuachalla and Eimear Scally helped them claim their ninth title in ten years, winning by 2-13 to 2-12 at Croke Park.
"It was [a mountain to climb]," she told RTÉ Sport.
"We have a saying in the dressing room – don't give up till it's over.
"It was playing in the bus a few times before we came. It's a motto we have had since I started playing for this team, for years and it stuck to us.
"We never give up till the final whistle and it worked today."
"We have a saying in the dressing room – don't give up till it's over"
Recounting her first goal, which came just three minutes after her introduction as a substitute, Ní Bhuachalla said:
"I remember Val [Mulcahy's] excellent pass took out my player.
"All that was in my head was get on it, try keep it as low as I can and hit it hard. Thanks be to God it went in."
Conor McGregor said he had brought his whole country with him
Conor McGregor took just one minute and 46 seconds see off Dustin Poirier in his UFC 178 fight in Las Vegas.
Before the fight McGregor had predicted that he would beat Poirier, the No 5 featherweight, within the first round, and he was as good as his word.
After Poirier had landed the first punch to the face of the fight, McGregor hit him with a combination, then an elbow to the head.
'The Notorious' also used spinning back kicks to good effect, and ultimately Poirier had no response, the referee calling a halt to proceedings within two minutes.
"I wanted to come over here and show the American public the new era of the fighting Irish, and I brought my whole country with me" - Conor McGregor
Speaking after the fight, McGregor told UFC's Joe Rogan announced: "I don't just knock them out. I pick the round."
McGregor said that he had torn ligaments in his thumb four weeks before the fight, which had disrupted his training, but that he had wanted to "put on a performance" before the crowd at the MGM Grand.
He said Poirier had not anticipated what was in store for him.
"These featherweights don't understand until they get hit by me," he said. "It's a whole other ball game when they get hit by me.
"I said I'd knock him out in the first round and I knocked him out in the first round. You can call me Mystic Mac because I predict these things."
McGregor said that Poirier's "old style" of movement, based on Thai boxing, did not work against his own lighter, in-and-out style.
"It's the old age; this is the new age. I wanted to come over here and show the American public the new era of the fighting Irish, and I brought my whole country with me. If one of us goes to war we all go to war."
After what was his 12th straight win, McGregor called for a title fight against Jose Aldo. Asked what was next for him, he said: "You know what's next. That world title is next. I'm gonna fly to Brazil and if they want, I'll eliminate Chad 'Mini' Mendez, and step in and give the fans what they want, Aldo versus McGregor."
New Zealand scrum half TJ Perenara dives to score the team's fourth try
New Zealand clinched the 2014 Rugby Championship with a bonus-point 34-13 win over Argentina in La Plata.
The All Blacks ran in four tries through Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Julian Savea and TJ Perenara, while Beauden Barrett kicked 14 points.
The hosts' only try came at the death, with Horacio Agulla crossing.
The victory made it four wins and a draw from five games for New Zealand and saw them wrap up the title with the final round of fixtures still to come.
It was their third consecutive Rugby Championship crown.
Barrett got the All Blacks up and running early on with two penalties before Smith crossed for the first try in the 12th minute.
The ball was worked out wide to Dagg, who burst clear and then found Smith on the switch to score. Barrett added the extras.
Nicolas Sanchez got the hosts on the board with a penalty, but New Zealand hit straight back.
Dagg and Smith were again heavily involved, this time the latter turning provider as he accepted a Malakai Fekitoa offload before helping the ball on to Dagg to score down the right.
A successful conversion had New Zealand 20-3 up.
Another Sanchez penalty made it 20-6 at half-time.
In the 57th minute Savea added a third try, bouncing off three opponents before powering over.
Barrett's kicking was again flawless.
And 12 minutes later Perenara grabbed the bonus-point try which would seal the title, adding the finishing touch following a great break from Jerome Kaino.
Barrett's conversion made it 34-6.
Argentina continued to show spirit and crossed two minutes from time, Agulla crossing before Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias added the conversion.
But it was far too little too late as the All Blacks were already home and dry, the championship secure.
Dennis Kimetto celebrates his world record winning time
Kenya's Dennis Kimetto smashed the marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday, winning the race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds after setting a scintillating pace from the start to shave 26 seconds off the previous best.
Kimetto dazzled hundreds of thousands of spectators along the inner-city course with his quick and seemingly effortless running style that saw off any challenge during the race.
The 30-year-old pre-race favourite broke away in a seven-man group, including fellow Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Geoffrey Kamworor, after 20 kilometres on a sunny and cool Berlin morning.
With four km remaining, he pulled clear from Mutai after the pair had shaken off Kamworor a little earlier to become the first man to complete the race in less than two hours and three minutes.
Kimetto, whose time also eclipsed the 2:03:02 clocked by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011 on Boston's record-ineligible point-to-point course, clocked under three minutes for all but three kilometres with an average of two minutes and 55 seconds per km in a sensational race.
His second half was about 30 seconds faster than the first.
"I feel good because I won a very tough race," Kimetto told reporters. "I felt good from the start and in the last five kilometres I felt I could do it [break the record]."
Tirfi Tsegaye won the women's race with a time of 2:20:18, nine seconds ahead of fellow Ethiopian Feyse Tadese who was second. American Shalane Flanagan was third.
Speedball Tiggy Wiggy will carry just 8st 2lb if she lines up in the Prix de l'Abbaye
Richard Hannon stressed the brilliant Tiggy Wiggy "is by no means certain" to run in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp next Sunday.
The Group One five-furlong dash, for which she would need to be supplemented, was the race on everyone's lips after the speedy juvenile made it six wins from eight races in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
While the Marlborough trainer is keen on taking her to Paris, there a lot of things to consider, especially the well-being of the filly.
"Tiggy Wiggy has come back fine and she may yet be heading for Paris, but I would like to stress that it is by no means certain," he told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.
"There are so many key factors to consider - would it be one race too many, will it come too quick and is it worth taking a chance when the draw out there is so important, not to mention the vital fact that either Richard Hughes rides at 2lb overweight or we look for a new jockey?
"The owners would love to run in France and so would we, but the welfare of Tiggy Wiggy comes first, and we will see how she is in a couple of days before making a decision as to whether to supplement."
Hughes also has the best interests of the filly at heart and would not be too upset if another jockey rode Tiggy Wiggy in the Abbaye because he couldn't do the weight.
"If she was fine to run, don't worry about me, I'll get over it," the champion jockey told At The Races.
"I think Richard is going to monitor her and unless he's 120 per cent happy he wouldn't do it to her and send her.
"The nearest I could do to the weight is 8st 6lb, but that is neither here nor there."
Looking ahead to next year, Hughes feels Tiggy Wiggy deserves the chance to see if she can stay the mile of the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
"We probably have to let her have a go at the Guineas. We all have a fair idea that she probably wouldn't stay, but it would be a terrible shame not at least give her a go," he said.
"And if she was to get a mile, there is nothing out there that would beat her.
"The plan would probably be something like the Fred Darling next spring and if she won that, let her take her chance. Why not?
"You've nothing to lose. You can always come back in trip."
Paul McGinley congratulates Jamie Donaldson on the 15th hole shortly before Europe won the Ryder CupGraeme McDowell celebrates victory against Jordan Spieth
Europe have retained the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell both securing vital points in their singles games.
In the 40th edition of the competition, It was Jamie Donaldson who secured the match-winning point, bringing Europe to 14.5 with a 4&3 win over Keegan Bradley.
Before that world number one McIlroy led by example after Europe were given an early scare at Gleneagles.
The home side were overwhelming favourites with a 10-6 overnight lead, but saw McDowell three down after five to Jordan Spieth in the opening match and the unbeaten Justin Rose four down after six to Hunter Mahan.
At one point, the US were ahead in six early matches but McIlroy was an approximate eight under par in thrashing Rickie Fowler 5&4 to put the first European point on the board.
McDowell won five out of six holes from the 10th to complete a remarkable 2&1 victory.
American rookie Patrick Reed reduced the deficit by beating Henrik Stenson on the 18th, but US Open champion Martin Kaymer chipped in for an eagle on the 16th to complete a comfortable win over Bubba Watson and make the score 13-7.
Victories for Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar over Stephen Gallacher and Thomas Bjorn respectively kept the contest alive before Rose claimed an unlikely half against Mahan thanks to eight birdies from the seventh, the last of which was conceded after Mahan made a hash of the 18th.
That put the home side one point away from outright victory - an eighth in the last 10 contests - and the honour of sealing it fell to Welshman Donaldson, who was already four up with four to play when he hit his approach to the 15th to within inches of the hole to beat Keegan Bradley.
Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 September 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Saturday, 27 Sep 2014 15:43 | Comments
Tiggy Wiggy hugged the rail and made all under Richard Hughes
Tiggy Wiggy made all to claim the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Richard Hughes always appeared supremely confident on the Richard Hannon-trained filly, who was winning for the sixth time this season in what has been a stellar campaign.
She was closely tracked for much of the way by old rival Anthem Alexander, but when Hughes kicked he stole a vital couple of lengths and that proved decisive in the finish.
Anthem Alexander tried to claw back the deficit, and while she was closing at the line she never looked like getting to the 6-4 favourite.
French raider High Celebrity took a keen early hold but ran on for third having been a little short of room at the two-furlong marker, just as Hughes was gathering momentum.
Elm Park outstayed his five rivals on the Rowley Mile
Elm Park relished every yard of the mile trip to claim the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.
Winner of two starts since finishing third in his maiden, the Andrew Balding-trained colt looked to be one of the first of the market principals to be feeling the pinch, as Andrea Atzeni was at work quite a way from home.
Up front Salateen had taken them along, with 5-4 favourite Nafaqa in close attendance.
The latter finally mastered the Jamie Spencer-ridden leader as they began to meet the rising ground, but just as it looked like he would go on to take the Group Two prize, the 11-4 winner finished with a real rattle on the far side, scoring by a length.
Atzeni said: "I always thought I was going to get there. The ground is quick enough for him, he probably wants better ground which is why he came off the bridle quite early I think.
"He stumbled coming out of the stalls, but he travelled nicely. He started racing quite a long way out, but he came home really well.
"He's a nice horse. This was the first time I had sat on him but I know Andrew liked him a lot."
Phil Jagielka of Everton scored in stoppage timeSteven Gerrard scored from a free-kick in the 65th minuteIreland's James McCarthy closes down Mario Balotelli
Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Phil Jagielka rifled a shot into the top corner in injury time to earn Everton a dramatic 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The hosts looked to have earned what would have been a deserved victory through Steven Gerrard's 65th-minute free-kick - a record ninth Barclays Premier League goal in the fixture for the Reds captain.
But, with 91 minutes on the clock, Jagielka, who had not scored for Everton since April 2013, let fly with an effort that gave Simon Mignolet no chance.
It still leaves Everton without a victory at Anfield since 1999, but rarely will a point ever have felt so sweet.
There was a surprise in the Everton team, with veteran full-back Tony Hibbert making his first league start since December 2012 in place of the injured Seamus Coleman.
Midfielder Muhamed Besic made his first league start for the visitors while Liverpool were again without influential striker Daniel Sturridge, who had targeted a return in this game from a thigh injury.
The Merseyside derby has not disappointed in recent years, although the red half of the city has had much the better of it.
As well as their long drought at Anfield, Everton were looking for a first derby win of any kind in four years.
Roberto Martinez was hoping the fact the game was being played exactly 15 years to the day since their last win at Anfield could be a good omen.
Both managers saw the match as a potential injection of life into their respective seasons, with Brendan Rodgers looking back to January, when a 4-0 win began a sequence of 37 points from a possible 39.
The game started at a frenetic pace and referee Martin Atkinson might have given two penalties and a red card in the opening 10 minutes.
Gareth Barry was booked for a foul on Adam Lallana inside the first minute and the Liverpool fans were baying for blood when he brought down Balotelli, but Atkinson kept his cards in his pocket this time.
Everton were the first to appeal for a spot-kick when Alberto Moreno appeared to bring down Romelu Lukaku but Atkinson said no, as he did four minutes later when Raheem Sterling's shot struck Barry's arm.
The hosts were attacking with verve and lots of pace, keen to get on top of Everton's leaky defence early on.
Following Barry's second foul, Balotelli drew Tim Howard into a first save with a deflected free-kick, and from the corner the American reacted brilliantly to keep out Lallana's header.
The boyhood Everton fan looked particularly bright, and the space down the flanks created by Everton's narrow midfield was giving full-backs Moreno and Javier Manquillo plenty of space to attack into.
Applying the finishing touch was the problem, though, and Balotelli, Liver bird sculpted into his hair, lacked the necessary conviction on a number of occasions as he sought his first Premier League goal for the Reds.
Everton's attacks were ponderous in comparison, although Leighton Baines did get away down the left and rolled the ball across goal, where it was scrambled clear by Dejan Lovren.
The visitors were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark when Kevin Mirallas appeared to pull a hamstring in full flight and was carried off to be replaced by Aiden McGeady.
The good news for Everton was the league's worst defence was holding up well and, when Liverpool did get through, Howard was on form, keeping out shots from Jordan Henderson and Sterling as the half drew to a close.
Liverpool were straight on the attack after the break and James McCarthy did superbly to foil Lazar Markovic as he looked to convert a Sterling through ball.
On the hour mark the Serbian was taken off to be replaced by Philippe Coutinho, and five minutes later Liverpool finally made the breakthrough.
Baines was judged to have brought down Balotelli 22 yards out and, although Howard got a hand to Gerrard's free-kick, he could not keep it out.
Two minutes later it should have been two as Sterling got away down the left before crossing for Balotelli, who hit the top of the bar from six yards.
Martinez responded by sending on 20-year-old Tyias Browning for his debut in place of Hibbert, while Samuel Eto'o came on for Besic in a final throw of the dice.
Everton piled on the pressure without really looking like finding a leveller until Jagielka's dramatic intervention, and Barry could even have won it with a late back-heel.
Johnny Murtagh's Ebor winner Mutual Regard was part of the contingent of European horses to arrive at Weribee
A group of 19 European runners have arrived in Australia ahead of the Spring Carnival meeting.
Melbourne Cup stalwart Red Cadeaux, Johnny Murtagh's Ebor winner Mutual Regard and Roger Varian's Ambivalent are settling in at the International Quarantine Centre at Weribee following the mammoth journey.
The total travel time for the horses was approximately 30 hours, stopping off in Amsterdam, Sharjah and Singapore on the way.
Racing Victoria's international recruitment officer, Leigh Jordon, told www.rv.racing.com: "The IRT team were very happy with the way all 19 horses travelled and to my eye they've stepped off the plane in really nice order.
"The horses will be given some time to settle in to their new surroundings at Werribee and I'm looking forward to seeing them hit the track during the week.
"There's a great mix of talent that has arrived today and I definitely think we've seen horses that can fight out the finish of the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
"We've been reacquainted with some old favourites and we're most pleased to have Red Cadeaux lining up for his fourth straight Spring Racing Carnival, a record for an internationally-trained horse.
"Likewise, we're excited to welcome back Dandino and Side Glance, who both performed so well last year, and highly-rated new talent like Ambivalent, Mutual Regard and Protectionist."
A final shipment of European-trained horses is due to arrive in Melbourne on 11 October, with the likes of Adelaide and Cavalryman set to make the trip.
Jimmy Walker was one of the outstanding players in a morning of stunning golf
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson fired an amazing 10 birdies in succession to claim a third straight win in the 40th Ryder Cup, but it was Europe's only success as the United States fought back on Saturday.
After two victories on the opening day, Rose and Stenson were sent out first in the morning fourballs by captain Paul McGinley and responded with a stunning display of golf to beat Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3&2.
The home pair were 12 under par for 16 holes and their American opponents nine under in defeat in a record-setting contest as the players revelled in the calmer conditions at Gleneagles.
However, Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan then combined to beat Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson 4&3 and rookie pair Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed thrashed Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer 5&3 to reduce the gap.
And it took some belated heroics from Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter to ensure he and Rory McIlroy claimed half a point against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler to keep the home side in front by 6 1/2 to 5 1/2.
Poulter holed a pitch from short of the 15th green for birdie to avoid going two down and also birdied the par-five 16th, but by that stage had already been left out of the afternoon foursomes.
"Late delivery, second class post," said Poulter, a reference to his nickname of 'The Postman' because he always delivers a point in the biennial contest. "I made a couple of quick birdies to start off which was nice and then fell asleep in the middle.
"Holing that (pitch on 15) and turning one over on the next makes a massive difference."
With Stenson sitting out the foursomes to rest a niggling back problem, McGinley sent Donaldson and Westwood out for the third session running to face Zach Johnson and Kuchar, with Kaymer joining an inspired Rose in the second match against Spieth and Reed.
McIlroy and Sergio Garcia had been due out second but their match against Furyk and Mahan was moved down the order to allow McIlroy time to rest, with the final match between Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell and Walker and Fowler delayed by 15 minutes.
That meant Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley sat out the entire day, while Stephen Gallacher also missed out after a fourball defeat with Poulter on Friday.
Back issue or not, Stenson started his and Rose's recovery from two down after six with a birdie on the seventh and Rose birdied the next to get the home pair back on level terms.
Both players birdied the par-five ninth and Rose birdied the 10th and 11th as well, although that was only good enough to stay level in a match of the highest quality.
Stenson's birdie on the 12th took Europe ahead for the first time - Rose was also within five feet of the hole - and another Rose birdie on the next put them two ahead.
Stenson maintained that advantage by matching Watson's birdie on the 14th and the Swede looked to have struck a decisive blow when his approach to the next left a tap-in, only for Kuchar to hole from 30 feet across the green for a half.
However, Rose produced another superb pitch to three feet on the par-five 16th to seal a remarkable win.
"It might be a highlight to put on the big screen with the grandkids one day," Stenson admitted. "I was lucky enough to be there and back Justin up on a couple of occasions."
Bronze Angel won off just a 4lb higher mark than in 2012
Bronze Angel became a rare double winner of the Betfred Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
Produced to perfection by apprentice Louis Steward, who raced in the group on the far side of the track, the Marcus Tregoning-trained 14-1 chance burst through just inside the final furlong to repeat his victory of 2012.
Velox on the near side dead-heated for second with Niceofyoutotellme in the far group, two and a quarter lengths behind the winner. Buckstay was fourth.
It was another huge Saturday handicap winner for Steward, who won the Ebor at York for Johnny Murtagh on Mutual Regard.
Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 September 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Friday, 26 Sep 2014 14:46 | Comments
Kilkenny and Tipperary prepare to do it all again on Saturday
By Joe Dooley
The first meeting Kilkenny and Tipperary on 7 September was the best game of hurling that I have ever witnessed.
In particular, the determination, commitment and heart shown by all players was just immense.
Both teams went behind at different stages and could easily have thrown in the towel, but managed to claw themselves back into it with hard graft and drive.
That was not an easy thing to do in the cauldron of an All-Ireland final atmosphere in front of over 82,000 spectators.
No player was overawed by the occasion and with the game so tight throughout, both managers were very reluctant to make any changes.
I thought Kilkenny could have introduced Padraig Walsh and Henry Shefflin earlier. Tommy Walsh would have been an addition in the tight finish as well.
But the standard of score-taking and crisp accurate striking by both teams, but particularly Tipperary, was unreal.
There were brilliant individual displays and great goals scored.
The Premier were a little too intent on seeking goals when points were there for the taking and it will be interesting to see if they take something from three weeks ago in that area.
Prior to the drawn game, I expected Tipp to single out Richie Hogan and TJ Reid for special attention, which they did, but yet both players still managed to perform brilliantly.
Equally I expected the Cats to have plans to curtail John O'Dwyer and Lar Corbett and both had great games.
Seamus Callinan and Noel McGrath also played superbly, chipping in with nine points from play.
The sides went home happy to live to fight another day with Kilkenny probably slightly more relieved, given how accurate O'Dwyer had been all day.
The revised interpretation of the penalty-taking rules also worked in the Cats' favour, but it could be the other way round on Saturday night. The rules will no doubt be changed for next year.
This replay is a whole new ball game. It will be played under lights in evening conditions and consequently a less-hyped occasion than a prime time Sunday afternoon slot.
It will be all about which team will learn the more from the drawn game and make the tactical changes to improve their chances of winning.
The ability to remain fresh and hungry for the extended three weeks in an already long season will also be a big factor.
Eamon O'Shea will be looking for a repeat performance from his team with room to tighten up even more in defence and stop the Cats scoring goals.
"By my reckoning Tipp won at least eight of the 14 outfield battles and broke even in two more positions"
He will find it hard not to start Michael Cahill (O'Shea's selection last night named Cahill among the substitutes - more will be known Saturday).
But if he does come in, the big question is where, given how well his defenders played.
I thought Paddy Stapleton showed massive character to win some vital balls near the finish and came up field to score a crucial point.
By my reckoning Tipp won at least eight of the 14 outfield battles and broke even in two more positions with the Cats winning four duels.
This has to be a worry deep down for O'Shea, to have such a dominance in key individual battles, and still not win.
However he will take the positives from it and say to his players, if you can do it once, why not do it again?
The Tipp players will have got great encouragement and confidence from their display.
Kilkenny did manage to close down Darren Gleeson's short puck outs and their forwards performed better that they did all year. But they are still not hurling with fluency.
Tipperary got their scores more easily and it's an area Brian Cody's players must be better again.
The Cats will be seeking a big improvement in defence where Tipperary managed to pull them all over the place, creating big spaces in which they used their speed to exploit a lack of pace in the Kilkenny backline.
Brian Cody will want to see his defenders much closer to their markers on Saturday evening.
He can thank Eoin Murphy for keeping them in the championship when he pulled off a number of key saves. I expected a number of changes in the Cats starting line-up for Saturday and not just in defence, with John Power coming in for Walter Walsh not surprising me.
Midfield is an area that I think both managers will target to dominate in the replay. Neither team got any advantage in this area in the drawn game.
Ultimately it is very difficult to predict a winner.
Tipperary have been the form team all year and all their top players are back playing well, while the Cats have been doing consistently well without reaching any brilliant heights.
There is no doubt that, as a team, many of Kilkenny's players are nearing the end.
But as said before the drawn game, they have a stubborn streak to their play this year and a never say die attitude which might be enough to get them over the line one more time against their great rivals.
Roll on Saturday. It should be another cracker - and as they say, let the best horse jump the fence.
Robin van Persie (r) during Manchester United's defeat to Leicester City
Manchester United held a deep hour-long inquest into their dismal 5-3 defeat to Leicester, Robin van Persie has revealed.
Manager Louis van Gaal was unhappy with his team's performance at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, where they conceded four goals in the last 28 minutes, and told his squad to meet for a detailed debrief 24 hours later.
Van Persie said "confronting" views were exchanged during the meeting, which he feels was beneficial to the squad as they look to improve following their worst start to a Premier League campaign.
Nearly a week on from the capitulation, Van Persie is still at a loss to explain how United failed to win the match, which they led 3-1 thanks to his first goal of the season, and strikes from Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera.
"It shouldn't be possible, but it still happened," Van Persie told Fox Sports ahead of Saturday's home game against West Ham.
"So we have to deal with it. We had a proper look at it the next day. "Sometimes it was a bit confronting.
"It was a really good meeting as everyone spoke up and shared their feelings.
"It was a long meeting, one hour or something meeting, but we went from there, started again this week and a couple of really good sessions in and everyone feels ready to face West Ham."
Spirits were high before the start of the season following United's successful tour of the United States, but Van Gaal has endured a poor start to life in England.
The former Ajax and Bayern Munich manager has recorded just one win so far, against relegation candidates QPR.
Defeat to West Ham would raise further questions about Van Gaal's ability to take United back into the Champions League, but Van Persie is sure his fellow Dutchman is the right man to revive the club's fortunes following the failures of David Moyes' reign.
"I think his numbers speak for themselves, he has had success everywhere he has managed," said Van Persie, who captained Holland under Van Gaal at the World Cup. "And everyone believes in his philosophy as well. "If you look at the players we have now, the staff, the stadium, and the fans, I am very confident for the future."
Much to Van Gaal's dismay, he has been hit by an injury crisis ahead of the visit of Sam Allardyce's side.
Summer signing Marcos Rojo is United's only fit centre-back as Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are injured while Tyler Blackett is missing through suspension.
At the other end of the pitch, Van Gaal has no such worries thanks to his summer recruitment drive.
Last week the Dutchman deployed Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and loan signing Radamel Falcao in a three-pronged attack to good effect.
Van Persie insists there is room for all three stars in the starting XI. "We want to play together," Van Persie said.
"We are constantly talking to each other: how can we improve our game together because everyone feels together we are stronger.
"It's quite interesting to see one of these conversations because we all have the same targets. We all want to win games and to share success."
Van Persie says the poor start to the season has not had a big impact on the confidence levels within the squad.
"I don't think we have confidence issues to be honest, but you have to be realistic," he said.
"You have to know where to improve. Me, I'm 31-years-old, but I can still improve."
New York Yankee legend Derek Jeter bowed out in the most dramatic fashion last night, scoring a game-winning hit, in his final at bat, at the bottom of the ninth inning, in his final game at Yankee Stadium.
Fans came in their thousands to bid an emotional farewell to "the Captain" and Derek Jeter responded with a game-winning single against the Baltimore Orioles.
The retiring veteran, with two decades in the major leagues, was serenaded throughout the game by fans chanting his name as he played in his 1,391st and last game at Yankee Stadium - and contributed to a fairytale send-off.
Jeter drove in the first run of the game with an opening-inning double off the fence in left-centre, snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI grounder in the seventh and broke a 5-5 deadlock with a single to right for a game-winner that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
And at the end, Jeter was mobbed by team mates near second-base as the stadium rocked to the 6-5 victory.
He hugged each one before heading toward the dugout where his former 'Core Four' team mates -- Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada, who won five World Series together -- waited to congratulate him.
He then walked out to his shortstop position, and with the crowd still roaring and opposing Orioles players applauding at the railing in front of the visitors' dugout, he acknowledged the crowd and took some time for personal reflection.
"I never dreamed of an ending like this," Jeter said. "I wouldn't have believed it myself."
All-day rain had threatened to spoil the party, but it came to a stop an hour before game time and the grey skies brightened for the 48,000 fans that packed Yankee Stadium for the 40-year-old Jeter's final home performance.
Jeter, the face of the storied club and often that of Major League Baseball over a turbulent two decades, said he had played his last game at shortstop, and would appear as a designated hitter for the final games of the season in Boston against the Red Sox.
"Today I decided I wanted to take something special from Yankee Stadium and New York and it would be playing shortstop," he said.
"I wanted to take my last view from shortstop at Yankee Stadium."
Jeter has already ensured he will retire as having played the most games, amassed the most hits and stolen the most bases of any Yankees player - no small feat when you played for the same club as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe Di Maggio and MIckey Mantle.
The game-winning single through the hole into right field gave him 3,463 in his career, the sixth all-time on the major leagues hits list.
Emotions ran high as fans saluted the 14-time All-Star who came to symbolize the best in baseball in terms of consistency on the field and the way he handled himself off it.
Critics have asserted that Jeter, despite his five Gold Gloves for fielding excellence at baseball's arguably most demanding position, was overrated as a shortstop.
They pointed to statistical research that showed he had sub-par range and might have hurt the team during the last couple of seasons by continuing to hit near the top of the order despite fading at the plate.
Others have taken shots at the commercialization of Jeter's farewell tour, with the Yankees marketing every conceivable product they could tie into the campaign.
It did not stop souvenir hunters packing into the roomy Yankees Store behind home plate on Thursday as they purchased everything from a $275 replica game jersey to a $120 hoodie sweatshirt, to a package deal of a Jeter teeshirt, hat, lapel pin, baseball and an 'I Witnessed History' button for $75.
But after all that buying, the sell-out crowd still paid him wave after wave of affectionate tribute by breaking into "Thank You Derek" as a late-innings tribute.
"There were a couple of times I almost broke down," the usually stoic Jeter said.
"I was almost thinking of telling Joe (manager Girardi) get me out of here before I cost us this game."
Kieran Joyce comes into Kilkenny side after little action over the summer
Michael Kavanagh, winner of eight All Ireland medals with Kilkenny, has given his reaction to the selection changes made by manager Brian Cody for Saturday evening's All Ireland hurling final replay with Tipperary at Croke Park.
While Tipperary are unchanged Cody has made three changes in personnel on the Cats side, with two of those coming in the half-back line where Padraig Walsh replaces Joey Holden and Kieran Joyce comes into centre back in place of Brian Hogan.
In the forwards, John Power replaces Walter Walsh in the corner.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Kavanagh said: "Brian was on record during the week that probably 11 or 12 players would pick themselves and it was a matter of two or three players up for grabs.
"Obviously Kieran Joyce and John Power must have been playing very well [in training] and put up their hand for inclusion.
"Brian Cody true to form is not afraid to make changes. In 2012 he went for Walter Walsh and it's similar maybe with John Power. He is giving him his go; he must be in a rich vein of form."
Former defender Kavanagh, who retired from inter county hurling in 2011, was surprised by Joyce's inclusion in the starting XV announced last night.
"Brian's seen something in him that could work on Saturday evening" - Michael Kavanagh on Kieran Joyce's inclusion
"Kieran Joyce coming back in, he hasn't started a game since the first Galway game, the Leinster semi-final, so he hasn't played in a while but obviously he must be going well in training and Brian's seen something in him that could work on Saturday evening."
Kavanagh added that Ballyhale Shamrocks half back Holden was unlucky not to hold onto his place.
"Padraig Walsh's inclusion was probably expected, he did well when he came in on the last day. He was very unlucky to lose out. Joey Holden losing out, he's had a terrific year for Kilkenny and he's a bit unfortunate," said Kavanagh.
Live coverage of Kilkenny v Tipperary in the All-Ireland hurling final replay from 4.15pm on RTÉ2 (throw-in 5pm). Watch live on RTÉ Player (Ireland only) and worldwide via GAAGO. Live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1.
Phil Mickelson holed his putt on the 18th to give the USA an early one-point lead
The United States snatched a late 2.5 to 1.5 lead from the morning fourballs at the Ryder Cup but more significant was the psychological advantage they gained from it.
Early on things appeared to be going the way of the hosts but once their talisman Ian Poulter, paired with debutant Stephen Gallacher on home soil, was destroyed 5&4 by rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed the tide turned as the US finished ahead by a point.
Poulter - Europe's leading points scorer for the last three Ryder Cups - had previously won seven matches in a row, with 11 victories in his last 12 outings, but his partnership with Gallacher always looked a gamble and it failed to come off as they managed just one birdie between them.
The short game of Jimmy Walker, who carried partner Rickie Fowler over the final 10 holes and twice chipped in to win a hole, allowed the Americans to then snatch half a point having recovered from an early blitz by their opponents.
It was a blow for Martin Kaymer, who holed the putt which retained the trophy for Europe in Medinah two years ago, and veteran Thomas Bjorn as they were three up after four and two up with three to play.
But worse was to follow as Europe's star pairing of world number one Rory McIlroy and number three-ranked Sergio Garcia lost to America's top two Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley at the 18th hole in a match which swung both ways but which the Europeans led with three holes to play.
It meant the point secured by Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, who led off the team and swept aside an out-of-sorts Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, seemed a very long time ago.
Follow the Ryder Cup live with Ed Leahy
McIlroy, whose match took almost five and a half hours and meant the final foursomes were put back by 36 minutes, said: "We're very disappointed, but (have) just got to pick ourselves up this afternoon and make up for it.
"It was a little scrappy at times but we fought until the end. Obviously (we're) a little disappointed that neither of us made birdie at the last."
Garcia added: "Probably the fairest thing would have been a draw, but you're not supposed to be fair here. They played the last two par fives well and they beat us."
McIlroy and Garcia at least had the opportunity to make amends against Fowler and Walker, but it was no surprise that Gallacher and Poulter were given the afternoon off.
"The first tee was magic, just exactly what I was expecting," Gallacher said. "The fans have been great all the way around. Just a shame we never really got the birdies today to compete with them."
Poulter, who also sat out the second session in Medinah despite winning his opening match on that occasion, added: "Clearly in this format you have to hole putts. We didn't do that. They did and obviously it's a point on the board for them."
Both captains did as they predicted and picked the four players who had sat out the morning for the afternoon foursomes, with Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson taking on Matt Kuchar and Jim Furyk, Rose and Stenson staying together to face Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson and Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson in the final match against Mickelson and Bradley.
US captain Tom Watson surprisingly left out Spieth and Reed after their comprehensive victory, admitting: "They were very upset with me for not playing them this afternoon. I said, I know you're going to be mad at me, but you'll be playing tomorrow for sure."
Liverpool hope to have Daniel Sturridge back from injury for the Merseyside derby
SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
LIVERPOOL v EVERTON, 12.45
Liverpool remain hopeful striker Daniel Sturridge could return for the Merseyside derby. Sturridge suffered a thigh injury on England duty earlier this month and will be given every chance to prove his fitness.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson (hip) and playmaker Philippe Coutinho (groin) are among a number of other players who could return.
Everton duo Seamus Coleman and Steven Pienaar are facing a race to be fit. Full-back Coleman has missed the last two games with a head injury while midfielder Pienaar damaged a thigh in Everton's second game of the season.
Midfielder Darron Gibson and full-back Bryan Oviedo have both proved their fitness after long-term injuries but striker Arouna Kone needs some minutes on the pitch and playmaker Ross Barkley (knee) is still several weeks away.
CHELSEA v ASTON VILLA, 3pm
Diego Costa is to return to Chelsea's starting line-up despite his hamstring travails.
Striker Costa, who has scored seven Premier League goals this season, was rested for the midweek Capital One Cup defeat of Bolton, in which Chelsea made nine changes from the side which began the draw at Manchester City.
Manager Jose Mourinho is likely to revert to the majority of the side which started at City, although Brazil midfielder Ramires (abductor muscle) is out for at least another week.
Aston Villa hope to be close to full strength after a virus hit the squad last weekend.
A number of players were affected by a bug before, during and after their 3-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal. However, manager Paul Lambert believes the illness has cleared up and only captain Ron Vlaar (calf) and strikers Christian Benteke (Achilles) and Libor Kozak (broken leg) are unavailable.
CRYSTAL PALACE v LEICESTER, 3pm
Marouane Chamakh is available again for Palace after the Morocco striker missed Saturday's 3-2 Premier League win at Everton and the Capital One Cup loss to Newcastle with hamstring trouble.
Manager Neil Warnock reported no further injury problems following the midweek extra-time loss to the Magpies.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has no fresh injury concerns. Defender Matthew Upson remains the only absentee with an ongoing calf issue, although Pearson has confirmed Zoumana Bakayogo - not listed in the squad at the start of the season - is to undergo surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
On-loan striker Nick Powell is available again after missing last week's 5-3 win over parent club Manchester United due to ineligibility.
HULL v MANCHESTER CITY, 3pm
Hull manager Steve Bruce will continue to ease Hatem Ben Arfa in slowly with a place on the bench.
The loan star made his first Tigers start in the Capital One Cup defeat at West Brom but is not yet considered fully fit by Bruce.
Fellow new boy Gaston Ramirez is likely to sit out with a groin complaint, David Meyler took a knock in midweek and Robert Snodgrass (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Manchester City have Sergio Aguero and David Silva back available.
Aguero and Silva are set to return after missing the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday due to knee and ankle problems respectively, along with Pablo Zabaleta, who sat out the tie as he served a one-match suspension.
Samir Nasri, Fernando (both groin) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) remain sidelined.
MANCHESTER UTD v WEST HAM, 3pm
Teenage defender Paddy McNair could make his first-team debut after Louis van Gaal's Manchester United squad was decimated by injury.
Tyler Blackett (suspended), Jonny Evans (ankle), Chris Smalling (thigh) and Phil Jones (hamstring) are all out, which leaves Marcos Rojo as Van Gaal's only fit senior centre-half.
Left-back Luke Shaw is expected to make his debut, but midfielders Ashley Young (groin), Michael Carrick (ankle), Jesse Lingard (knee) and Marouane Fellaini (ankle) are unavailable.
West Ham will be without midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate. The Senegal international has been ruled out with a groin injury suffered in the 3-1 win over Liverpool and could be missing for up to six weeks.
Captain Kevin Nolan is back in training following a fractured shoulder but will not be considered at Old Trafford, whilst Matt Jarvis (thigh) is in a similar position.
Joey O'Brien (knee) and Andy Carroll (ankle) are also missing but James Collins is in contention to start after coming off the bench last weekend.
SOUTHAMPTON v QPR, 3pm
Southampton centre-back duo Toby Alderweireld and Maya Yoshida's respective hamstring and ankle complaints will be assessed and they are both doubts.
James Ward-Prowse has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a fractured foot, while Sadio Mane could make his Premier League debut after impressing in Tuesday's Capital One Cup win at Arsenal.
Sandro's knee injury is less serious than first feared but the QPR midfielder is unlikely to return at St Mary's.
The Brazilian appeared to injure his knee while celebrating a goal in training and was absent for last weekend's 2-2 draw against Stoke.
Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch are both out with hamstring injuries while Niko Kranjcar is doubtful after picking up a knock against Stoke. Adel Taarabt has a sore ankle and is also unavailable.
SUNDERLAND v SWANSEA, 3pm
Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet will make late decisions on a trio of key players.
Defender Wes Brown and striker Steven Fletcher both missed Tuesday night's Capital One Cup defeat by Stoke with calf problems, while midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini sat out with an ankle injury, and all three are being assessed.
But Poyet has indicated he will make changes with full-back Billy Jones and winger Will Buckley confirmed as starters with the Black Cats still looking for a first league win of the campaign.
Wilfried Bony will return for Swansea after serving a one-match ban.
Bony was sent off in the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton last weekend but served his ban in the Capital One Cup in midweek as Swansea swept aside Everton 3-0 to reach the last 16.
Swansea boss Garry Monk has no new injury worries ahead of visiting the Stadium of Light, but defender Jordi Amat (knee) and midfielder Leon Britton (knee) are still absent.
ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM, 5.30pm
Arsenal expect to have midfielder Mathieu Flamini back from a dead leg.
Defenders Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker should also be available after being kept on the bench for what was a much-changed squad in the midweek Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton.
Spain defender Nacho Monreal (back) remains out, as does striker Yaya Sanogo (hamstring).
Winger Theo Walcott (knee) continues his recovery along with midfielder Serge Gnabry (knee), but full-back Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and France forward Olivier Giroud (fractured foot) are long-term absentees.
Mauricio Pochettino has no fresh injury concerns. The Tottenham head coach made 11 changes for Wednesday's Capital One Cup win over Nottingham Forest and is expected to make wholesale alterations for the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Ex-Arsenal man Emmanuel Adebayor, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli are all likely to be recalled to the Spurs attacking line, with Kyle Walker the only significant absentee from Pochettino's squad following abdominal surgery.
SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
WEST BROM v BURNLEY, 4pm
West Brom are sweating on the fitness of strikers Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe.
Ideye injured his ankle scoring his first goal for the club in Wednesday's 3-2 Capital One Cup victory over Hull while Anichebe is struggling after a hernia operation.
Saido Berahino, who scored the winner against Hull, and Georgios Samaras are primed to start up front after coming on in midweek. Chris Baird is still suffering from the illness which kept him out against the Tigers and is likely to sit out the game.
Burnley will run the rule over Kieran Trippier, David Jones and Dean Marney.
Full-back Trippier has a minor groin complaint while the central midfield pair of Jones (thigh) and Marney (hamstring) have also been struggling with slight problems this week.
Strikers Danny Ings (hamstring) and Sam Vokes (knee) remain absent while utility man Matt Taylor has an ongoing Achilles concern which will keep him sidelined.
MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
STOKE v NEWCASTLE, 8pm
Stoke manager Mark Hughes has virtually a full squad to choose from.
Midfielder Jonathan Walters is the only doubt as he will undergo a late fitness test on a calf problem that has sidelined him for the last two weeks.
The game comes too soon for defender Geoff Cameron (hernia) who is nearing a return, whilst striker Peter Odemwingie (knee) is a long-term casualty.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will hope to restore big guns Tim Krul, Yoan Gouffran and Papiss Cisse to his starting line-up.
The trio missed the Capital One Cup third-round victory at Crystal Palace in midweek because of illness and could return, while Pardew will keep his fingers crossed over full-back Daryl Janmaat, who suffered a muscle strain at Selhurst Park.
However, midfielder Mehdi Abeid is suspended after being sent off at Palace, while defender Davide Santon (knee) and midfielders Siem de Jong (thigh) and Rolando Aarons (hamstring) are still out.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 25 September 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Thursday, 25 Sep 2014 15:48 | Comments
Nafaqa is bred to appreciate the step up in trip from seven furlongs to a mile in the Royal Lodge Stakes
Nafaqa looks to hold all the aces among six runners in Saturday's Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.
The Barry Hills-trained juvenile beat subsequent easy Mill Reef winner Toocoolforschool in a Listed race at Doncaster on his last start and would be the most significant winner for Hills since he stepped into the breach following the death of his son, John.
Andrew Balding's Elm Park has looked a smart juvenile so far, specifically in winning a Listed race in easy fashion at Salisbury, after which he was bought into by Qatar Racing Ltd.
Karl Burke has enjoyed a great year with his two-year-olds, highlighted by Toocoolforschool's win last week, but Lord Ben Stack is highly regarded and beat a nice sort from Michael Stoute's yard at Haydock on his second start.
Another northern raider, Kevin Ryan's Salateen, steps back up in class after an easy win off top weight in a nursery at Doncaster. He had previously finished fifth in the Acomb.
Richard Hannon's Misterioso has not been seen since winning a Salisbury maiden in July while David Brown's Medrano completes the sextet.
Aidan O'Brien decided not to run any of his seven possibles.
Rory McIlroy and the European team will seek to win a tenth Ryder Cup title at Glengeagles this weekend
By Ed Leahy
Two years have passed since the Miracle in Medinah as Europe prepares to host America in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Such a turnaround would perhaps cause years of dominance for the fortuitous team in many other sports, but in reality, those two years have helped resign that feat to history and effectively create a clean slate for the three-day encounter at the PGA Centenary Course at the renowned Gleneagles resort.
Europe will enjoy their favourites tag and arrive to the opening fourballs with a swagger in their bid to maintain their recent dominance in the tournament.
But the Americans have not come to make up the numbers and their Ryder Cup ambitions were set out from the beginning, calling on legend Tom Watson to take the side into battle in a land that has proved a happy hunting ground for the five-time Open champion.
Europe's captain may be considered a low-key appointment Stateside, but there are few more passionate than Paul McGinley when it comes to the Ryder Cup and the enthusiasm, commitment and vigour the Dubliner has brought to his captaincy has taken the role to a whole new level.
And McGinley has been helped by the way his side came together with nine qualifying automatically leaving him to select three wildcards. Lee Westwood was chosen alongside Mr Ryder Cup, Ian Poulter, while there was widespread agreement that Scot Stephen Gallacher was more than worth his place having narrowly missed out on automatic spot.
In fact, there was very little if any backlash about European players who were not picked and even former world number one Luke Donald couldn't grumble about his non-selection.
The American team, on the other hand, has been a bit more interesting.
Tiger Woods' absence is a major talking point, while several players who showed great form in the season-ending FedEx Cup, most notably Billy Horschel and Chris Kirk, missed out.
Horschel may actually have turned down the pick had he been selected as his wife has just given birth, however, you would have to wonder about the American process considering the Ryder Cup dates are designed to fit into their end of season tournaments.
And such has been Europe's domination in recent years, only three of the USA team know what it is like to win the trophy and who is to say those stats will change come Sunday evening.
The main men
A few years ago, Rickie Fowler was unfairly dubbed the American Rory McIlroy and the charismatic Californian struggled with the tag as he worked his way to eventually winning a PGA Tour event. In the meantime, McIlroy has landed four majors and established himself as world number one, even allowing himself a "poor" year in 2013 in the process.
Fowler has had to work a lot harder at his game than the more naturally gifted McIlroy but that graft is reaping rewards with his best year to date in 2014, including four top-five finishes in this year's majors.
While a lot of the focus is on McIlroy and Fowler, both sides will rely on their big hitters with Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood giving a wealth of experience to the European challenge.
And if USA are to have any chance of victory at Gleneagles, then their own experienced campaigners, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson need to impress from the opening fourballs through to Sunday's singles.
The course
The PGA Centenary Course is a Jack Nicklaus designed track and is a classic, modern golf course with a links feel in a parkland setting. The only real advantage that the home side have in the Ryder Cup is that the captain can set the course out however he likes. Paul McGinley will, no doubt, be looking to reward accuracy off the tee and will allow players to plot their way around the course.
"I've aligned it very much with the set-up that we play on the European Tour," said McGinley, which essentially means more rough, narrower fairways and slower greens.
The captains
What does a Ryder Cup captain really do, apart from selecting the wildcards and a plethora of old friends to work as vice-captains for the week?
A cycnical look at the role, perhaps, but this view has certainly been changing over the last few events and this year brings two very different captains to the table.
Watson's aura and track record will hopefully inspire his side, while McGinley's personal approach will really have his players playing for him, while establishing a more formidable team-spirit.
As mentioned before, the European wildcards picked themselves, while Watson is setting himself up for a fall with his choices, selecting Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley and Hunter Mahan ahead of in-form players.
The rookies
Three on each side but again, the most impact could comes from the European trio of Victor Dubuisson, Stephen Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson, all more than capable of impressing at this event.
The quiet Frenchman Dubuisson has already proved how adept he is at matchplay golf, finishing runner-up at this year's Match Play Championship, while Gallacher's recent form will fill him with confidence, and he will be keen to impress in front of his home crowd.
Jordan Speith is the one to watch for USA, having come so close to landing the Masters in April, and his accuracy and simple approach to the game should suit in Gleneagles.
But Speith's end of season form has been average, at best, while fellow rookie Patrick Reed burst onto the scene before proclaiming that he was one of the top five players in the world. The comments didn't go down too well with fellow pros so it will be interesting to see who Reed will partner.
The Tiger factor
Tiger's withdrawal could work to the USA's favour as his presence can often take away the focus from his team with media scrums hanging off his every word. Playing against Tiger must be a daunting task but playing in the same team as the former world number one must also bring its own pitfalls with players possibly afraid to let him down.
Europe will miss the Tiger competition as a motivation tool and also due to the fact that players are no longer afraid to take him on.
From a neutrals' point of view, the Ryder Cup will be missing a spark with no Tiger Woods.
The verdict
It really is hard to look past another win for Europe, or at least a tie, which would see them retain the trophy. Quality and confidence should see them take the trophy with a bit to spare on Sunday afternoon.
USA will need to start well and rely on the experienced group to try to get their noses in front. They will need to be ahead going into the singles on Sunday, as when you line up the two sides head-to-head, Europe really have the edge.
@Ed_Leahy
Follow's Ed Leahy's live text commentary on the Ryder Cup all weekend starting at 0700 on Friday morning.
Rory Gaffney pictured with his award at Thomond Park
Limerick striker Rory Gaffney has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month for August.
It is the first time that Gaffney, who has netted ten league goals this season, has won the monthly award award.
Gaffney was in flying form in August as he bagged five goals, including a hat-trick against Bray Wanderers which was his first in senior football.
"Personally for me it is great to win this award and it is a real honour," he said.
"As a team we played three and lost three so that could have been better but we are playing well.
"The hat-trick against Bray was my first in senior football. I remember Ian Turner passed the ball to me in the 90th minute when he could have shot, so I think I owe him one! He left me with an open goal."
Gaffney puts his terrific form down to the help he is getting from the players around him.
He also reckons that boss Martin Russell - who was appointed in July - has been a huge plus for the team.
"Martin has brought in some terrific players and that has helped. We now have some attacking players that I think we might have been missing before," the striker said.
"That's not to say the players that we had before were bad players, but at the moment I think we have really clicked as a group and that is helping me to get more goals."
Gaffney is hoping to keep his goalscoring run going as the season enters its final stages.
"We've been playing better as a team lately and hopefully we can keep that going. At the start we weren't playing well but the new players [have] helped," Gaffney added.
"Hopefully I can kick on now and get some more goals before the season is over. That would be great."
In winning the award, Gaffney saw off competition from Dundalk's David McMillan, who finished second, and Bohemians striker Dinny Corcoran who was third.
Cian Healy (pictured with ball in hand) has suffered what would appear to be a serious hamstring injury
By Tadhg Peavoy
Leinster's Cian Healy is set to be out of action for a prolonged period having suffered a hamstring injury in training.
The Ireland and Lions international will be assessed by doctors today in order to ascertain the severity of the injury; however, at this early stage it is believed Healy could be out for a number of months as opposed to weeks.
With Ireland's autumn internationals commencing six weeks from now the injury would appear to jeopardise the prop's chances of featuring against South Africa at Aviva Stadium on 8 November.
More details on the injury are expected in the coming days.
Estimate (middle) finished second past the post in the Gold Cup as Leading Light (right) gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a sixth win in the race
Estimate, owned by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, has been disqualified from her second place in this year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot following a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing in London.
A post-race sample containing morphine had been produced by Estimate, although trainer Michael Stoute did not face a penalty as the source of the positive test had been found to be contaminated feed, with the BHA satisfied all reasonable precautions had been taken to avoid any breach of the rules.
Despite that, the Rules of Racing state that horses producing a positive sample for a prohibited substance should be disqualified from relevant races.
Stoute's Russian Realm was ninth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal fixture and was another to be disqualified.
The BHA tweeted: "The horses have been disqualified from the races in question. No financial penalty has been imposed upon the trainer."
Four other trainers - Barry Hills, Charlie Hills, Gay Kelleway and Tony Carroll - also faced having horses disqualified at today's hearing, all in the same circumstances as Stoute.
Brian Cody and Henry Shefflin celebrate Kilkenny's 2012 All-Ireland final replay win over Galway
Kilkenny's veteran star Henry Shefflin may be hoping to land a 10th All Ireland winners medal on Saturday but manager Brian Cody insists there will be no favouritism when it comes to naming his team for the final replay against Tipperary at Croke Park.
Shefflin, an 11-time All Star, came off the bench for the last three minutes of the incredible 3-22 to 1-28 draw in the final nearly three weeks ago.
Cody, who has been at the Kilkenny helm since 1998, said any selection decisions will be based on the team rather than individuals.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Cody dismissed any thought of guaranteeing Shefflin or anyone else a shot at a winner's medal: "I've been doing this quite a while, I've always operated a panel system. The panel is hugely important.
"We would never have won anything without the strength of our panel and the trust that the panel has in each other, and the respect that's there between all the players on the panel.
"It will never be brought down to individuals or anything else, to me or to anybody else as an individual.
"That has been a great strength of ours and that will continue to be a great strength of ours."
Although quality was in abundance in the thrilling drawn game, Cody said he will still be looking for an improvement on his team's performance this weekend.
"You'll always look for improvement, every individual player himself will look for improvement because the reality of it is there's nobody perfect. You can always do things a bit better," said Cody.
"The quality of both teams was top class and there was some outstanding hurling done which will be difficult to improve on" - Brian Cody
"The quality of both teams was top class and there was some outstanding hurling done which will be difficult to improve on.
"Other aspects though there can be improvement."
Cody believed Tipperary's John O'Dwyer would score when he stepped up to take his last gasp free, but the Cats boss admitted he hadn't realised it would be the last play of the game that would've ultimately won Tipp the Liam McCarthy.
O'Dwyer was inches wide with the free from inside his own half, with Hawk-Eye called in amid dramatic scenes.
"I thought he'd [O'Dwyer] score it because he'd been hitting the ball brilliantly," said Cody. "He's a top class striker of the ball, a great long-range free taker and he hits them over the bar normally. I thought he'd score it.
"I also didn't realise it was the last puck of the game, so my thoughts simply were 'he's probably going to score this and we must go down the field and score a point to equalise it'. And that's what I was planning on doing."
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 24 September 2014 | 23.06
Updated: Wednesday, 24 Sep 2014 16:44 | Comments
Bradley Wiggins signed off in style at his final Road World Championships
Bradley Wiggins has won gold in the men's time trial at the Road World Championships in Spain.
The Olympic champion clocked 56 minutes 25.52 seconds for the 47.1-kilometre route in Ponferrada to win by an emphatic margin of 26.23secs.
Germany's Tony Martin, seeking a fourth straight world title, had to settle for silver in 56:51.75, while Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands finished in 57:06.16 to take bronze.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche was almost four minutes behind the winner as he finished 41st of the 64 competitors in the line-up.
Wiggins is a multiple world champion on the track but now has his first world title on the road.
The 2012 Tour de France champion plans to return to the track for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and vowed this would be his last Road World Championships.
Wiggins was second to Martin in 2011 and 2013, but overturned the German in winning the Olympic title at Hampton Court in 2012.
The 34-year-old Londoner was second to Martin at the first time-check, but then moved ahead by two seconds and then by more than nine seconds at the third time-check.
Wiggins crossed the line well clear of the rest of the field and with Martin the only man remaining on the course and the only man who could beat him.
And Wiggins put his thumb up when he learned Martin had been unable to surpass his performance.
It was Britain's first gold in the event in 20 years, since Chris Boardman won the inaugural edition of the road time-trial.
"I paced it perfectly," Wiggins told the UCI.
"I still had gas in the final. Even on the last descent, I knew I was ahead, but I was pushing all the way.
"I don't know what to say. I knew coming into it that I had the legs.
"Once I saw the course I knew if I was ever going to beat Tony it would be here."
Wiggins has had a challenging year, missing out on Team Sky selection for the Tour de France, which began in Yorkshire, despite having placed an impressive ninth in Paris-Roubaix in April, won the Tour of California in May and the British Championships time trial in June.
"It's been an up and down year," added Wiggins, who won the time trial at the Tour of Britain earlier this month.
"I want to dedicate this to my family. My wife and children were there for me all summer and had to put up with me during (the Tour de France in) July."
Wiggins refocused for the team pursuit at Glasgow 2014, but England had to settle for silver behind the Australian quartet.
Wiggins has also announced his intention to ride for the Hour Record in 2015.
"That's the next thing now," he added.
"Just to add the world title to the British title and the Olympic title, I've got the set.
"Very Good. Along with the pursuit world titles it's fantastic."
The previously unbeaten Taghrooda was turned over in her last start in the Yorkshire Oaks as the 1-5 favourite
Taghrooda delighted connections in a workout over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Wednesday as part of her preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday week.
The John Gosden-trained filly heads the ante-post market on Betfair at 6-1 (7) for the Longchamp showpiece, despite losing her 100% record with a shock defeat in the Yorkshire Oaks last month.
However, Taghrooda appears to have put that behind her as she continued her build-up for the Arc in a racecourse gallop, in which she was accompanied by a lead horse.
The Investec Oaks and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner was partnered in the exercise by Paul Hanagan, retained rider to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
"She worked this morning and, touch-wood, it went well," said Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold.
"Paul was very happy with her. She looked good, moved well and seemed enthusiastic, so it's so far, so good.
"The plan is very much to go for the Arc.
"Today was a case of taking her away to give her a change of scenery. She'll have another gallop. I don't know when, it will be up to John.
"The main thing was she seemed enthusiastic and Paul was delighted with her."
Rory McIlroy practising at Gleneagles on Wednesday
Much has been made this week of Rory McIlroy being a target for the opposition in the Ryder Cup, one of Europe's "big dogs" that US captain Tom Watson wants to bring down.
But anyone fortunate enough to be at Medinah in 2012 and Gleneagles this week might be hard-pressed to spot the difference between the situation then and now.
"This week I'm not the number one player in the world," McIlroy said in Chicago.
"I'm one person in a 12-man team and that's it. It's a team effort. There's 12 guys striving towards the same goal. I'm just part of that."
Fast forward two years and the answer is eerily familiar.
"I've got a responsibility just to put points on the board and I'm one-twelfth of a team unit here," the 25-year-old said.
"I'm going to play the same role as everyone else just to try and get points on the board."
And the similarities do not end there. In 2012, McIlroy went into the Ryder Cup as the hottest player on the planet, the reigning US PGA champion and winner of two of his previous three tournaments in the FedEx Cup play-offs.
Arriving at Gleneagles, McIlroy is again top of the world rankings with four wins under his belt this season, having won the flagship BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour in May and following it with the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA titles in consecutive appearances.
It is therefore understandable that Watson would single out McIlroy and 'Mr Ryder Cup' Ian Poulter for special attention, but McIlroy was content to play the perfect team member ahead of Friday's opening day.
"They can try and target us all they want, but there's guys alongside us that can do just as good a job." - Rory McIlroy
"I have a job to do which is to go out and win points for Europe and I don't care what number I play or who I play with," McIlroy said.
"I wouldn't say it wouldn't be a thrill, of course, leading the team out would be a huge buzz and a great thrill.
"But no matter where I play, I've still got the same objective, which is just to win my match."
Asked to put himself in an American player's shoes and decide whether his scalp or Poulter's would give greater satisfaction, McIlroy added: "I think maybe in this format and in this environment and in the Ryder Cup, probably Poulter just because how good his record is (12 wins from 15 matches).
"I know Watson has been talking about targeting us two and whatever, but at the same time it's only one-sixth of the team.
"There's 10 other world-class players that he has to worry about as well and they are just as capable of putting points on the board for Europe.
"They can try and target us all they want, but there's guys alongside us that can do just as good a job. Someone beats me, they win a point. They win a match against me, they get a point, no more, no less."
Meanwhile, Manchester United fan McIlroy revealed he was in a "trance" listening to former Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson address the European team on Tuesday evening, the four-time major winner seeking Ferguson's advice after his meltdown in the Masters in 2011.
Ferguson was invited to Gleneagles by home captain Paul McGinley and, as a fan of the Red Devils, world number one McIlroy in particular was thrilled to listen to what Ferguson had to say.
"For me, being a Manchester United fan, it was the highlight of the week so far," said the Open champion, who paraded the Claret Jug at Old Trafford earlier this season.
"I was just sitting there and looking up at him and I didn't take my eyes off him. I was sort of in this trance just listening to everything that he was saying and I'm sort of thinking, this is all the stuff that he's probably said to Manchester United teams over the years.
"He told us a couple of stories just of past experiences in some big games and some of the players that he managed and it was a great evening. It was a really cool thing to be a part of."
McIlroy joked that the non-Manchester United fans in the team made their feelings known, adding: "But (it was) very useful because we got to ask some questions, just about different things and what he thought was the key element to being successful as a team.
"He's a very inspirational sort of man when he talks. He's got a lot of authority and the room just goes quiet and everyone listens."
"He's got a lot of authority and the room just goes quiet and everyone listens"
Asked if Ferguson had offered advice about playing in front of large crowds, the 25-year-old added: "Not about crowds in general. We play in front of big crowds week in, week out.
"United were obviously favourites and whenever he was managing, they made Old Trafford a bit of a fortress. And when teams went there, it was very hard to compete against United. He was just talking a bit about that. We're slight favourites for a reason. We deserve to be. We've played well this year. It's not something that we should shy away from. It's something that we should embrace."
"He's got a lot of authority and the room just goes quiet and everyone listens." - Rory McIlroy
It has become a habit for big names from different sports to be brought in to speak to Ryder Cup teams, McIlroy admitting the one he remembers most was speaking to Seve Ballesteros via teleconference at Celtic Manor in 2010.
And he added: "These things, they help. They are little details in the bigger picture, but it could be that half a per cent or that one per cent that helps us to get back that little trophy."
Real Madrid fan Sergio Garcia conceded he was not Ferguson's biggest fan, but added: "I think when you have the possibility of listening to somebody that has been up there in sports and been able to perform at a really high level for that long, it's always interesting to kind of pick his brain and see what things he's gone through.
"It was really, really interesting, and I'm actually glad that I got to... I think we all did, got to know him a little bit better and listen to him a little bit."
Celtic fan Stephen Gallacher revealed he had received a good luck message from former Parkhead boss Martin O'Neill, but was also impressed by Ferguson.
"I thought he was brilliant," Gallacher said. "He spoke for half an hour and then we sort of asked him some questions and he was very candid and very open. There's bits that I definitely would take away from it, not just as a team aspect, but for progression going forward.
"I kind of knew he was (a confident person) anyway, but to hear him talking you can see why the players respected him so much. You can see his sort of passion for the game and how much he loves football and how much he loves the strategy and the game.
"He misses it a bit, he said, but, you know, an absolute legend in my eyes."
