Today's other stories in brief
Tricky tie for St Patrick's Athletic
THE draw for the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup was made yesterday, with current Premier Division leaders St Patrick's Athletic drawn away to Sligo Rovers. They travel to the Showgrounds on June 1st.
The other two Premier Division clubs in the competition, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, face tricky fixtures against First Division opposition. Dundalk will travel to the RSC to face Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers travel to the Brandywell to face Derry City.
In an all-First Division affair, Limerick will host Monaghan United.
EA SPORTS CUP – Quarter-final draw: Derry City v Shamrock Rovers; Limerick v Monaghan Utd; Sligo Rovers v St Patrick’s Ath; Waterford Utd v Dundalk.
All ties to be played on Tuesday, June 1st - kick-offs 7.45pm)
Manager award for Hughton
FORMER Republic of Ireland defender Chris Hughton has been named the Philips Sports manager of the month for April after leading Newcastle United back to the Premier League.
Hughton started the 2009/10 season in the Championship as caretaker manager.
After a positive start to the season which saw him awarded three manager of the month awards he was named permanent manager in October 2009.
Maradona leaves out Inter Milan pair
DIEGO Maradona disregarded the vast experience of Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and 136-cap record holder Javier Zanetti when he named his 30-man provisional World Cup squad.
Zanetti and Cambiasso are both key players in the Inter side that reached the Champions League final at the expense of holders Barcelona.
ARGENTINA 30-MAN WORLD CUP SQUAD – Goalkeepers: Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Andujar (Catania), Pozo (Colon). Defenders: Heinze (Marseille), Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Samuel (Inter Milan), Insaurralde (Newells Old Boys), Rodriguez (Estudiantes de La Plata), Burdisso (AS Roma), Coloccini (Newcastle Utd), Garce (Colon). Midfielders: Mascherano (Liverpool), Gutierrez (Newcastle Utd), Di Maria (Benfica), Bolatti (Fiorentina), Veron, Sosa (both Estudiantes de La Plata), Pastore (Palermo), Datolo (Olympiakos), Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Blanco (Lanus), Rodriguez (Liverpool). Forwards: Messi (Barcelona), Higuain (Real Madrid), Tevez (Manchester City), Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Milito (Inter Milan), Palermo (Boca Juniors), Lavezzi (Napoli).
Reid resigned to leaving Blackburn
STEVEN Reid accepts his time at Blackburn is almost over but is convinced he can still do a job in the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland international’s time at Ewood Park has been badly disrupted by injury and he spent the final 10 games of the 2009-10 season on loan at West Brom, helping the Baggies win promotion back to the Premier League.
His contract with Blackburn expires at the end of next month and he has been linked with a permanent move to West Brom.
Reid said: “It is looking as though my time at Blackburn has come to an end, although they haven’t made it official yet. I don’t think I will be getting anything from Blackburn Rovers in the summer. I know I can still play Premier League football though.
“I am disappointed I haven’t played the amount of games I hoped to at Blackburn this season but that is football.”
O'Neill to stay at Aston Villa
ASTON Villa owner Randy Lerner has confirmed that manager Martin O’Neill is staying at the club after talks. The Derryman stated his desire to stay at the club last week.
Villa finished sixth in the Premier League and also reached the final of the League Cup and semi-final of the FA Cup. O’Neill rejected recent unsubstantiated internet rumours that he was unhappy with Lerner’s transfer policy. He insisted there was no fall-out with Lerner and that he would assess everything with the American at the end of the campaign. That has now happened and, although Villa fell short in their bid to break into the top four in the Premier League, O’Neill was delighted with his sides overall campaign.
Lerner said: “Martin will be back next year managing. It has already been settled. He and I spoke on a number of occasions in person and over the phone. Yesterday I dragged him out of a series of meetings with chief executive Paul Faulkner trying to get plans for the summer underway.”
Terry confident of playing in cup final after scare
CHELSEA and England suffered a scare yesterday when defender John Terry had a scan on his right foot after taking a knock in training.
There were initial fears the Chelsea captain had broken a bone and could miss Saturday’s FA Cup final and next month’s World Cup finals in South Africa but the scan showed no break and Terry is confident of facing Portsmouth at Wembley.
“I took a slight knock in training but with such an important match on Saturday the right course of action was to put a protective boot on my right foot and have a CT scan,” Terry said in a statement.
“The scan has shown there is no break and I am hoping to train tomorrow if not Friday and of course play in the FA Cup final on Saturday.”
On Sunday he lifted the Premier League trophy after Chelsea returned to the summit following three seasons of Manchester United domination and he will be the cornerstone of Fabio Capello’s defence in South Africa.
