The Republic of Ireland women's senior manager, Noel King, has announced a squad of 18 for the European Championship, Group Two, qualifier against Italy on Wednesday, May 30th (7.45), at Belfield.
Included are Arsenal's Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant, who were part of the recent historic quadruple: League, FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup.
A new deal, worth €150,000 over three years, will see Umbro become the title sponsor for all WFAI Cups from under-12 to senior.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Niamh Fahy (Salthill Devon), Susan Byrne (St John's, NY), Alisha Moran (NY AC), Sharon Boyle (Raheny Utd), Marie Curtin (Hofstra University), Diane Caldwell (Hofstra University), Elaine O'Connor (Long Island Fury), Ciara Grant Arsenal), Sonya Hughes (Franklin Pierce), Stefanie Curtis (Bristol Academy), Áine O'Gorman (Stella Marris), Noelle Murray (Raheny Utd), Katie Taylor (Peamount Utd), Laura Hislop (Predators), Olivia O'Toole (Raheny Utd), Michele O'Brien (Long Island Lady Riders), Katriona Connolly (Knock).
Brown hopes to stay
Wes Brown would be happy to commit himself to Manchester United for the rest of his career.
The England defender (28) is coming to the end of his ninth season as a first-team player and is hoping to celebrate by squeezing out John O'Shea in the battle to take skipper Gary Neville's spot in the FA Cup final side to face Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
Although he only has a year on his contract to run, he has made it clear he would sign another one. "I have been at Manchester United since I was a kid and I always want to be here," he said.
Cup final fiasco
Wembley Stadium will launch an internal inquiry into the fiasco that has left hundreds of executive club fans waiting for their FA Cup final tickets with two days to go.
Tickets for Manchester United's showdown with Chelsea were scheduled to be sent out on Monday but staff were last night working to clear a backlog caused by a computer problem .
Around 400 of the 6,000 individuals and companies with 10-year licences still do not know if they will have access to the final.
Wembley Stadium yesterday told fans they would be able to collect tickets on the day.
Gonzalez unsure
Mark Gonzalez admits he could be leaving Liverpool either permanently or on loan, after the Champions League final.
The 22-year-old Chile international has struggled to come to terms with the Premiership after his arrival last summer from a loan spell at Real Sociedad. It is believed Real Betis and several other Spanish clubs are interested in Gonzalez, who said, "I have a three-year contract but you never know what might happen . . . if I have to go somewhere else then I will have to deal with that."
Roma lift Coppa
Roma lifted the Coppa Italia despite going down to a 2-1 defeat to Internazionale in last night's second leg of the final. The visitors from the Italian capital had drubbed Inter 6-2 in the first leg and therefore claimed a 7-4 aggregate win.
Champions Inter started well at the San Siro and goals from Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz gave them hope. But a strike from Roma's Italian World Cup-winning midfielder Simone Perrotta effectively killed the tie off.
In brief ...
Wigan have announced captain Arjan de Zeeuw and fellow defender David Unsworth will be released this summer . . . Bolton have confirmed the permanent signing of the Slovakia under-21 international Zoltan Harsanyi . . . the Brazil coach Dunga has named Ronaldinho and Kaka in his squad for the friendlies against England and Turkey next month.
