None of the big boys are firing on all cylinders at present. Chelsea lost the plot against Roma, Liverpool were lucky to scrape a draw against Atletico after imploding against Spurs and Arsenal drew at home to Fenerbahce after losing to Stoke.
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Take a look at this weekend’s top sports fixtures in our Weekend Sporting Diary.
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Sean Boylan has a number of injury worries following last Friday’s first international rules test against Australia. Aidan O’Mahony, Benny Coulter and Finian Hanley all picked up knocks and will be closely monitored in the lead up to the second test.

Layton Glynn and Kieran Donaghy were also injured but are both expected to be fit for Friday.

Ireland take a one point lead into the game and will hope to reproduce some of the fantastic football played last week in Perth.

Check out the latest betting on Australia v Ireland here.

Brendan

And then there were two!! The third Sunday of September has finally come around which can only mean one thing – All-Ireland Football Final Day. The 2008 final threatens to be the best one in years…and if the 2005 decider between these two exceptional teams is anything to go by we are in for a treat.
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My highlight of the weekend was watching Rory Delap’s missile-like throw-ins for Stoke in their narrow 3-2 defeat to Everton on Sunday. It came not when he set up their first goal or when he basically threw the ball into the net for their second. It was when he actually managed to throw the ball over the crossbar at one stage, and had to tone down his efforts afterwards.
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Who would have known that Amir Kahn was such a fantastic impressionist? Not only was he mimicking Bernard Dunne with his first round knockout to Colombia’s Breidis Prescott on Saturday night, but he did so with an excellent Bruce Grobbelaar “spaghetti legs” impersonation.

I think Sky Sports may be looking for a refund on his contract after this display. Still, if boxing isn’t for Amir, he could always get on the phone to Alistair McGowan!
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It is the biggest weekend in the hurling calendar and what a game we have in prospect.

Brian Cody’s magnificent Kilkenny team, one of the best teams of the last three decades, take on the flair and bravery of Davy Fitzgerald’s rejuvenated Waterford.

Waterford have the forwards to trouble Kilkenny in Mullane, Shanahan, McGrath and Kelly and I am backing the lively Mullane to score a goal anytime.

However, when having a look at this you have to take a step back and leave romanticism to the side. I cannot see past the Cats and the way they played against Cork after such a long break was awesome. Kilkenny are just so strong and ruthless.

I am looking at Kilkenny to win by more than four points so the -4 handicap betting is where my money will go.

I am also backing Kilkenny to be leading at half time and full time.

Check out the latest GAA betting here.

Leon

Check out this weekend’s top sports fixtures in our Weekend Sporting Diary.
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Tyrone’s hopes of winning a third All-Ireland title in six years received a huge boost this week with the news that Stephen O’Neill has returned to the squad.
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“Pillar” Caffrey must be hoping he’s not on duty in Croker this weekend because he surely won’t be able to stomach watching this one. His Dublin side beat this Wexford team by 23 points in the Leinster final and yet the Yellow bellies are still in the All-Ireland and Pillar is out of the job!

In fairness to Wexford, that was their only defeat all year (League and Championship) and they showed (in patches) against Armagh that they deserve to be where they are. But they’ll go no further. I firmly believe Conor Gormley is the best defender in Ireland and I can see him only letting Mattie Forde out of his pocket at full time. With Mattie out of the way, I can see Tyrone winning this quite comfortably.

Verdict: Get set for a replay of the 2005 All-Ireland Final.

Raymond