Padraig Harrington has been included in Monty’s  European Ryder cup team as a wild card and may have fellow Irishman vice captains Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke to thank for that. The 3 time major champion has had a bad year so far and his chances have been written off by many. Harrington makes up a pack of 3 Irishmen in the team, as well as himself, there is Ulsters Greame McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

Harrington was the first wildcard Monty called out along with Luke Donald from England and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.  The Italian who won his second European tour event today at the Jonny Walker Championship in Gleneagles and after his performance couldn’t be left out. He also joins his brother Francesco on the team

Europe’s captain also revealed that Spain’s Sergio Garcia as a fourth vice captain for golfs biggest event in October.

Europe’s full Ryder Cup 1010 team:

Padraig Harrington IRE (Wild Card)
Rory McIlroy NIR
Greame McDowell NIR
Lee Westwood ENG
Martin Kaymer GER
Ian Poulter ENG
Ross Fisher ENG
Frencesco Molinari ITA
Miguel Angel Jimenez ESP
Peter Hanson SWE
Luke Donald ENG (Wildcard)
Edoardo Molinari ITA (Wildcard)

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni today named a 28 man squad who will take on Argentina in the first international game in the Aviva Stadium. The list includes eleven players who took part in the summer training camp in May, with Cillian Sheridan joining the squad after the under 21 game against Estonia on August 10th. The squad also sees two un-capped players, Preston’s Keith Treacy and Portsmouth’s Marc Wilson. The big news from the squad announcement was that Shay Given has recovered well from his shoulder injury he sustained while playing for Manchester City late last season.

Sportspeak's Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher was in Abbotstown this afternoon for the squad announcement and now brings us this report.

Wolves began their preparations for their opening game of the new season against Stoke with a comfortable win over League of Ireland champions Bohemians.

The champions started very well and almost caught the visitors on the hop, Jason Byrne worked a lovely ball to Aaron Greene but  his shot lobbed over the bar.

Moments later there was a first goal. From a Wolves corner from Ronald Zubar, Jody Craddock got his head to it and it flew past Chris O'Connor in the goal and Wolves took the lead only after 6 minutes. An early goal to give the 200 odd fans who travelled over something to cheer about but it was a totally un inspirational opening period and that goal was their only shot on goal in the first 20 minutes

Bohs had another golden opportunity on 21 minutes and really should have scored. Jason Byrne making his first start since returning from injury worked his way into the area and tried to launch the ball over the  keeper but got an un lucky bounce and it just went over the bar.

Bohs from then were putting pressure on the Wolves defence and once again managed to break them down. Lee Dixon was putting in an impressive performance and was certainly trying to claim his place on more starting teams, on the 25th minute he caught the entire Wolves defence napping and smashed a shot off Hennessey and out for a corner but the keeper did well to claim the ball coming across. Pat Fenlon said earlier in the week that this game was only going to be a run out for Wolves but credit to the Bohs team they really were causing problems.  Wolves went in leading 1-0 at the break.

The second half started the way the first finished with no pace at all, although this was only a friendly both teams could have put alot more of an effort into the game. It wasnt any surprise that Wolves had the first goal scoring chance of the second half and it was Stephen Fletcher but he shot well wide of goal.

Bohs had a good penalty shout on 52 minutes he was working up a good shot on goal and he was pulled off the ball by Andy Keogh in the box right infront of referee Richie Winter, but the atrocious referee clearly still hadn't made a switch to Specsavers waving play on and it allowed Wolves to clear their lines.

Wolves second goal arrived straight after that penalty claim, Kevin Doyle put a through to Stephen Fletcher who to his credit hit a beautiful shot into the net.

On 72 minutes Mick McCarthy decided he would confuse the living daylights out of everyone including journalists in the ground by bringing on his entire bench, Van Damme, Jones, Craddock, Berra, Doyle, Fletcher and Jarvis all came off replacing them, Elokobi, Halford, Ebanks Blake, Mujangi Bia, Edwards, Vokes and Foley. Then to make it easier for everone 10 minutes later after everyone in the ground figured out who came off and on, Monaghan native Aaron McCarey replaced Wayne Hennessey in goal.

Last kick of the ball was a third goal for Wolves, from a corner substitution Geoffrey Mujangi Bia got it into the back of the net. And that was where the game finished.

Bohemians: C O'Connor(GK), M Doherty, O Farrell, G Cronin, J McGuinness, M Rossiter, L Dixon, S Traynor, A Greene, J Byrne, G Burke SUBS; C Sexton, S Keeley, R lopes, Y Laro, J Dwane, C Forrester

Wolves: W Hennessey, R Zubar, J Van Damme, D Jones, J Craddock, C Berra, A Keogh, K Henry, K Doyle, S Fletcher, M Jarvis SUBS; G Elokobi, A Mc Carey, R Stearman, S.E Blake, G Halford, G.M Bia, S Vokes, D Edwards, K Foley,S Ward

Thousands of People Will Pass Thru These Doors On July 31st Pic by Daniel Pitcher Copyright @Sportspeak.eu

An Taoseach, Brian Cowen officially opened the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road, earlier today. The stadium which will be the new home of Ireland’s international rugby and soccer teams is a joint venture by the IRFU and the FAI. Funding of €191 million was provided by the government for the project which came in slightly under the budgeted figure of €410 million.
Speaking at the official opening An Taoiseach said he believed that the new stadium was a tribute to all involved in the project given the fact that not alone had it come within the budgeted figure but that it had also been delivered on time in no less than three years. He especially thanked the board of the stadium company, which he said epitomised the partnership between the FAI and the IRFU in delivering an iconic stadium which he believed everyone in Ireland could and would justifiably be proud.

A Sneak Peak Inside What Used To Be Called Lansdowne Road. Pic by Daniel Pitcher Copyright @ Sportspeak.eu

Planning permission for the new stadium was received in 2007 with work on the site beginning two months later in May with the demolition of the old Lansdowne Road Stadium. From the start of demolition, through to the handing over of the stadium to the FAI and the IRFU, the project took slightly less than three years to complete.
The first fixtures in the new stadium will see an under 20’s Connacht/Munster rugby selection take on an under 20’s Leinster/Ulster selection on the 31st July, followed by an Airtricity League team playing Manchester United on 4th August. The first international will see Ireland’s soccer team playing former world champions Argentina on August 11th. The first rugby international will be Ireland facing current world champions South Africa on November 6th.

Irish Football Legends Ray Houghton and Keith Wood Discuss The Beauty of The Aviva. Pic by Daniel Pitcher Copyright @Sportspeak.eu

Speaking at the opening Mr Cowen said the new stadium would be of major economic benefit not alone to the city of Dublin but to the country as whole. “Sports tourism has become a major source of revenue worldwide. The IRFU and FAI have estimated that a minimum of five soccer and rugby internationals a year could be worth upwards of €250 million to the economy. When you factor in international events such as the Europa League Final in 2011 and the Heineken Cup Final in the not too distant future, the potential is huge”
Mr Philip Browne said “It only seems like yesterday that the IRFU and the FAI announced the formation of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company. That was in September 2004 when all we had was a vision to create a world class sporting infrastructure that would do justice to our two most recognised international teams, which would also act as the financial engine to generate funding for the development of soccer and rugby in this country” he went on to thank all of those involved in the project. Over the course of the three years over 6,000 people had been involved with up to 1,300 people on the site at the busiest of times.

John Delaney, CEO of FAI and Phill Browne of IRFU. Pic by Daniel Pitcher Copyright @Sportspeak.eu

John Delaney, CEO of the FAI said “The opening of the Aviva Stadium and our new home marks a new chapter in the story of Irish football. It could not have been achieved without the unity, purpose and determination shown by the IRFU and the Government, our partners in this project.

Sportspeak reporter Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher was at the opening of the stadium and the press conference. Click the links below to hear some of the conference.

Keith Wood, Ray Houghton,Packie Bonner and Reggie Corrigan

Phill Browne and John Delaney

 
Last night Bohemians lost their 100% start to the new season of the Airtricity League Premier Division, with a scoreless draw at home to Sligo Rovers. Before the game Bohs boss Pat Fenlon knew that Sligo were going to cause them even more problems this season than last season. Sligo had to finish the game with 10 men after Gavin Peers was shown a second yellow card for a nasty tackle on the goalbound Jason Byrne, and even with one man down it was a credit to the Sligo defence that Bohs didn’t take advantage of that. After the game Sportspeak’s Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher caught up with Sligo manager Paul Cook and Bohemians Pat Fenlon.

 
Listen to Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and pack leader Paul O’Connell give their reaction following Ireland’s 23-20 RBS 6 Nations loss to Scotland in the final rugby game at Croke Park on Saturday.

 
Scotland coach Andy Robinson (first), captain Chris Cusiter and kicking coach Gregor Townsend give their views after a slender 23-20 win over Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations final round clash at Croke Park.

 
Sportspeak got the reaction of Declan Kidney and captain Brian O’Driscoll at today’s team announcement.

Ireland Head Coach Declan Kidney and Captain Brian O’Driscoll were two happy figures after Ireland’s impressive 27-12 victory over Wales at a packed Croke Park.

O’Driscoll proclaimed his delight at victory on the occasion of his 100th cap for his country.

“It was a different game, a different feeling – probably more emotional than I thought it would be,” he said.

“It was a fantastic feeling, it was a massive, massive honour for me to captain my country 100 times.

“The reception on the way out was just an extra on winning the game today. I’d have passed up all of that for just the win.

“I’m delighted for the boys and for the staff and the greater squad that don’t get to pull on a jersey week-in, week-out – that nobody sees on the telly – they are the people that need a mention because they do massive work for us.”

Sportspeak was in Croke Park to get the post match reaction.