Midlands Sport

MORNING HEADLINES

SOCCER

Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo sank Manchester City with a dramatic late winner in their Champions League Group D opener against Real Madrid.

City looked like they might snatch a clash in which they had been outplayed when Aleksandar Kolarov struck late on.

But Madrid responded to the delight of the Bernabeu as Karim Benzema levelled and Ronaldo won it at the death.

The visitors had taken a 1-0 lead against the run of play through substitute Edin Dzeko in the second half but Marcelo quickly cancelled out the strike.

In the other game in the group Robert Lewandowski's 87th-minute goal gave Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 victory over Ajax.

Arsenal got their Group B campaign off to a winning start after coming from behind to beat Montpellier 2-1 in France.

Lukas Podolski and Gervinho were on target for the Gunners while Schalke opened up with a 2-1 victory over Olympiakos in Greece

Elsewhere,

Paris St Germain won 4-1 against Dynamo Kiev at Parc des Princes, Porto won the other Group A match 2-0 away to Dinamo Zagreb.

Malaga began their first ever Champions League campaign in perfect fashion as two stunning goals from Isco guided them to a 3-0 Group C win over Zenit St Petersburg at La Rosaleda.

AC Milan's struggles continue in a 0-0 home draw against Anderlecht.

Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa are likely to be recalled for Manchester United's home match with Galatasary in Group H tonight

Holders Chelsea host Serie A champions Juventus in group E

Celtic host Benfica, all those games are at 7.45

Blackburn stay top of the Championship after coming from behind to beat Barnsley last night.

Rovers have now gone five league games without defeat.

Blackpool are still a point behind Blackburn after thrashing Middlesbrough 4-1 last night.

The side contained six changes after the draw at Barnsley at the weekend.

Rangers lost on penalties to Queen of the South in the quarter finals of the Scottish Challenge Cup.

GAELIC GAMES

Reports are suggesting that Mayo defender Colm Boyle may not be fit enough to start Sundays All Ireland final against Donegal in Croke Park.

Boyle missed the semi final through illness but it's hoped he may play some part this weekend.

Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald is tipping Galway to dethrone Kilkenny in next week's All Ireland final re-play.

The Tribesmen have already beaten the Cats this year after their dramatic Leinster final success and their late equaliser in this year's All Ireland final means that they're unbeaten in their last two outings against Brian Cody's side.

Fitzgerald believes that the Galway players' belief will be strengthened by those performances

The details of the Westmeath Senior Football Semi Final replay have been confirmed

St Lomans and Mullingar Shamrocks will meet again on Sunday September 30th at 5pm at Cusack Park

The winners will go on to play Garrycastle in the final next month

  

RUGBY UNION

Cistercian Roscrea classmates will go head to head as Leinster and Connacht face off in the Under 18 Schools InterPros this afternoon

Abbeyleix native Rory Moloney captains Leinster into the game with Oisin Heffernan selected in the front row

Their Roscrea schoolmates Ciaran Gavin and Mark Kelly are in the Connacht pack while Dwayne Corcoran is inside centre

Marist College, Athlone have three players in the Connacht backs, Sean Dempsey, Brian Gilligan and Sean Doyle while Jack Codyre from Garbally College wears number 8

Kick off at Donnybrook this afternoon is 2.30

GOLF

There were 6 birdies for Birr's Stephen Grant in a two under par second round at the European Tour Qualifying School in Germany.

He's now 2 over, while playing through a back injury, which is on the qualifying mark for the next stage

CRICKET

Ireland begin their World Twenty20 campaign this morning.

They go up against Australia in Colombo at 11am

There's inside knowledge in the Irish camp in former Aussie fast bowling coach Craig McDermott

RACING

It's Kerry National Day at the Listowel Festival this afternoon with the big race off at 5 past 4

The first of eight goes to post at 5 to 2, with the going heavy on the flat and heavy to soft on the jumps course

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