Wedmesday morning headlines

SOCCER

Donegal's Carl McHugh played his part as Bradford knocked Aston Villa out of the league cup to reach Wembley for next months Final.

Villa won last night's semi final second leg 2-1 but Bradford won 4-3 on aggregate.

That means the league two side are the first team from the fourth tier to reach a major final since 1962.

Shay Given, Ciaran Clark and Stephen Ireland all started the game for Villa.

Tonight Swansea host Chelsea in the second semi final second leg.

The Welsh side lead 2-0 going into that tie.

In the Premier league Arsenal host West Ham.

In the Championship, Blackburn were held to a one-all draw by Brighton at Ewood Park.

In Scotland

Celtic are 12 points clear at the top of the SPL following a 4-0 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park.

Gary Hooper grabbing a brace their while Victor Wanyama and Scott Brown also scored.

Alex Ferguson and Andre Villas Boas were in attendance as Wanyama is linked with Man United and Spurs are reportedly joining the chase to sign contract rebel Hooper

In the Africa Cup of Nations the focus was on Group D yesterday.

In the opening game, Arsenal's Gervinho scored a late winner as the Ivory Coast beat Togo by two goals to one. In the late kick-off, Tunisia and Algeria played-out a nil-all draw.

Chelsea have confirmed that Ashley Cole has signed a one-year contract extension.

The 32-year-old England full-back was out of contract at the end of the season, but he's now understood to have agreed a lucrative extension that is rumoured to be worth 200,000 pounds per week.

Bordeaux striker Yoan Gouffran has tweeted he'll join Newcastle today.

The Magpies are also reportedly close to signing Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Nancy defender Massadio Haidara.

There's already a healthy contingent of French players at the club, including internationals Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy.

RUGBY UNION

Irish internationals Rory Best and Simon Zebo have been long-listed for the ERC European Player of the Year award. Best is joined on the 15-player list by his Ulster team-mate Ruan Pienaar.

Following the conclusion of the pool stages of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, French club Clermont Auvergne are the best represented side with three players; Julien Bonnaire, Wesley Fofana and Morgan Parra.

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has revealed that Stephen Ferris could return to first team action by mid-February.

The Ireland and Lions flanker has been sidelined since November with an ankle injury, but Anscombe has hinted that he could still play a part in the closing stages of Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

Northampton flanker Calum Clark looks almost certain to miss all of England's rugby union Six Nations campaign.

He'll have an operation on a shoulder injury tomorrow.

Clark had only just returned to the squad after serving a 32-week ban for breaking the elbow of an opponent.

Out half Ian Keatley and Prop Stephen Archer have both signed new deals with Munster.

According to the Irish Independent both players have penned two year deals however BJ Botha could leave as he's only been offered a one year contract.

The 33 year old former Ulster forward is subject to offers from the Bulls and Toulon.

GAELIC GAMES

Laois welcome Antrim to Rathdowney in the Bord na Mona Walsh Shield this Sunday afternoon

It'll be the 8th game between the sides since 2009 with Laois coming out on top in three of the last seven meetings

In the National League last year the Saffrons came on out on top by two points following a late rally

New Laois boss Seamus Plunkett saw his side narrowly defeated by University College, Dublin last weekend but says his players having been working hard in the last fortnight

We'll have updates on Sunday's match with thanks to Peigs Bar, Portlaoise

The Cork and Kildare county boards have both agreed long-awaited sponsorship deals

After Kildare announced a link-up with Brady Family Ham on Monday night, the Cork county board have called a press conference at Pairc Ui Chaoimh today where they will announce Lucozade Sport as their official sports drink.

There's an all Midlands clash in round two of the Leinster Colleges

Senior Football Championship this lunchtime

Knockbeg College take on St Josephs Rochfortbridge at Dr Cullen Park

at 1 O'Clock, elsewhere Athlone Community College travel to Celbridge

to play the Salesian College at the same time

The meeting of Portmarnock and holders St Mary's Edenderry will now be

played on Friday

Yesterday Mountmellick Community School were crowned South Leinster

Junior Football C Champions yesterday

The Laois youngsters got the better of St Kevin's by 0-13 to 2-3

While Colaiste Iosagain got the better of Mountrath Community School

in the South Leinster Senior Football Semi Finals winning 0-9 to 0-7

BASKETBALL

Colaiste Choilm Tullamore go in search of All-Ireland Schools glory

this morning

They take on Palmerstown Community School at the National Stadium in

Tallaght at 10.30 in the All-Ireland Under 19 B Basketball Final

GOLF

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has confirmed that he has been in touch with new Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley about a possible role with the European team at Gleneagles next year.

McGinley was the person who introduced McGuinness to Dermot Desmond, which eventually led to the All Ireland winner's recruitment to the Celtic coaching staff.

He says he’s now willing to help out the European team in anyway that he can and that they've already agreed to sit down and talk about what kind of contribution he could make.

TENNIS

Serena Willams is out of the Australian Open, the American lost her quarter final this morning to Sloane Stephens 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Victoria Azarenka is through after a straight sets win over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Andy Murray has beaten Jeremy Chardy in straight sets 6-4 6-1 6-2.

BOXING

Westmeath boxers Joe Ward and David Oliver Joyce are among the top ranked boxers in the World Series of Boxing ahead of their break from the series for the National Championships

Moate's European champion Ward is currently second in the light heavyweight standings have won all three of his bouts for the British Lionhearts so far

And David Oliver Joyce, who is representing the Germany Eagles, has two wins from two at lightweight including a victory over his St Michael's Athy clubmate Eric O'Donovan last time out

Those two could meet again when the Nationals get underway on February 8^th

RACING

Leopardstown have announced changes to their racecards for this weekend's two-day meeting.

The Ryan's Event Cleaners Beginners Steeplechase has been transferred from the Saturday card to the Sunday card and The Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) has been switched from Sunday to Saturday.

Hurricane Fly bids for a hattrick of wins in the BHP Insurance Champion Hurdle this Sunday

There's going to be strong competition from either side of the Irish sea with the 2010 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle hero Binocular also among the entries

Hurricane Fly's trainer Willie Mullins has Zaidpour entered but he expects Thousand Stars to run instead

A horse owned by Alex Ferguson has been entered for the Grand National. Harry The Viking is in contention for the race on Saturday the sixth of April.

That's the same day that Ferguson's Manchester United team are due to take on Premier League title rivals Manchester City.

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