Sports Digest: Irish defender Sean St. Ledger Sorry for Kevin Foley axe

BIRMINGHAM boss Chris Hughton is no longer wanted by West Brom as their new manager but Norwich are keen to talk to him about their vacancy after Paul Lambert’s departure for Aston Villa . . .

CELTIC have confirmed that coach Alan Thompson was sacked over the phone by manager Neil Lennon on Sunday. Thompson is now taking legal action against the club . . .

IRELAND’S under-21 side drew 2-2 with Italy in a Euro Championship qualifier in Sligo on Monday afternoon when Robbie Brady and Greg Cunningham got the goals . . .

ULSTERMAN Brendan Rodgers is the new manager of Premier League giants Liverpool.

Healy Fit

LEINSTER prop Cian Healy is fit to play for Ireland in their first summer test against New Zealand at Auckland Park on Saturday, but fellow front rower Mike Ross is a major doubt.

Healy returned to training on Monday to prove his fitness to coach Declan Kidney ahead of the opening game of Ireland’s tour.

Ireland are given little or no chance of beating the world champions, but full-back Rob Kearney believes they can take inspiration from last year’s World Cup win over Australia when they face the All Blacks.
He said, “It was a huge occasion for us to turn over Australia in a World Cup.

“As players, we always believe that we can match it with the best teams in the world when we turn up and we play good rugby. As a player and as a team, you have to believe that.

“There wasn’t a huge element of surprise for us (afterwards) as a group of players. What’s important for us is that we keep trying to reproduce that form.

“We set a bar there in that game, a standard, and it is important for us to keep matching that.”

Ireland have never beaten New Zealand but the Leinster full-back added, “Saturday is our best chance to beat them because it is our next chance. And if the first test doesn’t go our way then the one after that will be our best chance again after that.”
 
O’Brien Double

IRISH trainer Aidan O’Brien and his teenage son Joseph made history as Camelot moved a step closer to flat racing’s Triple Crown with a stunning win in the English Derby at Epsom.

The pair became the first father and son partnership in history to win the biggest race of the flat calendar to add the Derby to the 2000 Guineas title.

Now a tilt at the St. Leger and the treble awaits for the horse brilliantly steered home by 19-year-old Joseph to the delight of his watching father.

Joseph was happy to sit towards the rear for much of the mile-and-a-half journey, beginning to make headway on the outside of the field rounding the home turn before a burst of speed that secured a five-length success.

Winning jockey Joseph said, “I was a bit worried as he didn’t come down the hill at all. He didn’t handle the track that well, so he did well to win.

“He’s a very special horse and I’m just very fortunate to be on his back.”

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Nster.com