Remember the name: Cüneyt Çakır

For almost an hour, Manchester United were tactically perfect against Real Madrid. A Gonzalo Higuaín cross which evaded everybody and a rightly disallowed goal aside, United nullified the much-vaunted counter-attacking threat of José Mourinho’s outfit that undone a diminished Barcelona twice in the space of five days. Enter Cüneyt Çakır.

Can Boyd and McFadden rejuvenate the SPL?

So James McFadden has returned to the SPL with his first club Motherwell, making substitute appearances in Motherwell's back-to-back defeats to Dundee United and Ross County, and looks all set to feature against runaway leaders Celtic tonight. And Kris Boyd has also returned to his roots, to Kenny Shiels' Kilmarnock - and he too could feature tonight, against Hibernian.

Teaandtoast.ie: Mafia Wars (July 10th, 2012)

On Sunday morning, I woke up at around seven o’clock because I have to go work. As if I’d stir that early for any other reason; I hate the sanctity of my lazy Sundays being breached by anything. By now, I have a routine for the early shifts: I’ll get up, go about my bathroom business, get dressed, go downstairs and breakfast while Facebooking. I enjoy that 20 minutes to myself to listen to some music and to laugh at the ridiculous things the internet has to offer, as they help me battle on through the day – but not this day.

Teaandtoast.ie: Donaghmede Binn

When you’re forced to wait ten years for something, you’ll most likely build it up into some sort of ridiculous expectation which the eventual reality can never hope to match. The obvious example is the first time you have sex. For years, our teenage selves were force fed these glorified, exaggerated images of sex in movies which gave us all an unreal picture of what the event was actually like. Unless you’re a twelve year old Anthony Kiedis and you banged your dad’s 18 year-old girlfriend. Then you’re just a tank.

Teaandtoast.ie: Portmarnock riots: all for one bus

“Up rolls the riot van and sparks excitement in the boys…”

Teaandtoast.ie: A good game of hurling

The ironic thing about me answering the call of a friend to contribute to this new section of Teaandtoast.ie is the fact that I’m not a fan of tea. Never have been, never will be. I can feel people leaving this article in droves already. Let me redeem my self by affirming my faith in toast: it’s alright…sparingly. 

De Klassieker: January 29th, 2012 - an excerpt from my Rotterdam journal

“De Kuip is Feyenoord and Feyenoord is De Kuip. So it was and so it always will be.”[1]

Drogheda Independent: Campbell helps seal Irish spot in world finals

Megan Campbell is becoming something of a talisman for the Ireland under-17s ladies side.

During the Elite Qualifiers for the recent UEFA Championship finals, the Drogheda native produced a crucial goal for Ireland in a game they had to win against Sweden, one of the strongest women's national sides in Europe.

Fingal Independent: Byrne "gutted" at the manner of the defeat

Conan Byrne admitted he was "gutted" with the manner in which Sporting Fingal let three points slip from their grasp against UCD at Morton Stadium.

Fingal Independent: Sporting let the points slip through their fingers

SPORTING FINAL   1     UCD   2

Sporting Fingal were hit by an Evan McMillan sucker-punch in the 87th minute as UCD snatched all three points to dent the Ravens' title hopes.

The Argus: Dundalk jet out for first leg of European adventure/Grevenmacher - the story so far

Dundalk jetted out to Luxembourg in the early hours of yesterday morning as they get ready for the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying round tie with CS Grevenmacher on Thursday. 

Drogheda Independent, Living in Drogheda supplement: Schoolchildren's league goes from strength to strength

Schoolboy soccer in Drogheda has changed drastically since its inception over two decades ago.

Fingal Independent: Clarke calls for Fingal title push

Sporting Fingal goalkeeper Brendan Clarke is pleased with the Ravens' position going into the mid-season break and sees no reason why the club cannot push on to win the Airtricity League title.

Fingal Independent: Fingal step up title chase

SPORTING FINAL   2     GALWAY UNITED   0

Goals from Ronan Finn and substitute Eamon Zayed at Morton Stadium moved Sporting Fingal to within three points of the Airtricity League summit with a game in hand last Saturday.

Fingal Independent: Mals seeking redemption

Malahide United will be hoping to put a dismal league season firmly behind them on Friday night when they face Galway United in the third round of the FAI Cup.