Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes the club’s recent victory over Dundee remains a vital moment in their pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title.
The 72-year-old was assessing the domestic landscape after the reigning champions secured a crucial three points to maintain intense pressure at the top of the table.
Celtic’s title credentials have been heavily scrutinised this season amidst fierce and relentless competition from their city rivals.
Resilience in the championship battle
However, the former Republic of Ireland boss remains adamant that the current squad possesses the necessary character to go the distance.
We’re still fighting on!
Martin O’Neill
The celebrated pundit utilised that rallying cry to highlight the unyielding determination pulsating within the Celtic camp.
This hard-fought triumph against the Dark Blues provides a significant morale boost for the Glasgow giants as the campaign enters its decisive final phase.
Navigating the crucial run-in
Having guided the Hoops to three league crowns during his highly successful five-year tenure, the Northern Irishman is intimately familiar with the unique demands of a Scottish top-flight battle.
His upbeat public assessment reflects a growing confidence among supporters that the team can successfully navigate their remaining fixtures.
The defending champions must now build upon this hard-earned momentum as they prepare for a string of season-defining encounters.
Duke freshman Cameron Boozer has revealed he suffered multiple facial fractures around his eye during his team’s Elite Eight defeat by UConn.
The highly rated forward sustained the injury after taking an elbow to the face from 7ft 1in centre Eric Reibe.
Despite the severity of the damage, the projected top-five NBA draft prospect has decided against undergoing surgery.
Draft stock and recovery
The 18-year-old was forced to use a cold soda can to reduce the severe swelling while sitting on the bench during the closing stages of the game.
There are concerns the facial trauma could impact his physical evaluation ahead of the NBA draft, which takes place in just two months.
However, the 6ft 9in standout insists he is solely focused on his recovery and remains confident in his ability to succeed at the professional level.
“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said while accepting the Associated Press player of the year award.
“I’m just going through the healing process.”
Final Four heartbreak
The physical setback compounded a devastating end to the season for the Blue Devils, who were eliminated by a 0.4-second three-pointer from UConn’s Braylon Mullins.
The dramatic finish also led to intense social media criticism directed at his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, following a crucial late turnover.
The reigning United States Basketball Writers Association player of the year firmly defended his sibling amidst the online backlash.
“First of all, I’d like to say it’s definitely nasty, but that one play is not the reason we lost,” he explained.
“We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re going to get through it together.”
UConn advanced from the bruising encounter to face Michigan in Monday’s national title game in Indianapolis.
The New York Islanders have sacked head coach Patrick Roy and appointed Peter DeBoer with four games remaining in the NHL season to salvage their faltering playoff hopes.
First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the abrupt coaching change on Sunday amid a devastating spring slump.
The Eastern Conference franchise has suffered four consecutive defeats and dropped seven of their last 10 fixtures.
That disastrous run of form has seen the team slide from a comfortable post-season position into a precarious battle for wild-card qualification.
Veteran DeBoer steps into the breach
DeBoer arrives on a full-time basis immediately after serving as an assistant coach for Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
The 57-year-old boasts immense pedigree, having previously guided two different franchises to the Stanley Cup Final.
His most recent NHL tenure involved leading the Dallas Stars to three consecutive Western Conference finals before his departure last year.
The incoming tactician inherits a pivotal situation for the New York organisation, tasked with developing a highly promising crop of young talent.
A brief and turbulent tenure
For the departing Hall of Fame goaltender, this marks the end of a stint that began only in January 2024 as a mid-season replacement under former boss Lou Lamoriello.
Despite sparking an immediate turnaround that culminated in a first-round playoff exit against the Carolina Hurricanes last spring, severe regression ultimately sealed his fate.
The Montreal native previously spent three years managing the Colorado Avalanche, winning the Jack Adams Award before walking away in the summer of 2016.
Building around youth
Eighteen-year-old rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer has been a major bright spot this campaign, spearheading the next generation of prospects arriving on Long Island.
This dismissal represents the NHL’s second major coaching casualty in just eight days, following the Vegas Golden Knights’ decision to replace Bruce Cassidy with interim boss John Tortorella.
Brighton pulled off a shock 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Meadow Park to reach the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals, while Liverpool required extra time to eliminate Charlton.
The 14-time winners suffered a frustrating cup exit after head coach Renee Slegers made six changes to her starting lineup.
The North London side had beaten rivals Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday but failed to carry that momentum into this domestic quarter-final.
Kirby inspires historic Seagulls win
The visitors struck three minutes into the second half when Madison Haley latched onto a precise pass from Fran Kirby.
Haley fired her effort past goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, mere moments after Stina Blackstenius had a goal disallowed for the hosts.
Kirby turned provider once again in the 63rd minute.
The veteran midfielder delivered a dangerous corner that was emphatically headed home by Caitlin Hayes.
Victory ensures the South Coast club reach the semi-finals for only the fourth time in their history as they chase a maiden major trophy.
“We knew we could come here and get a result, but to do it against a team like Arsenal, who have quality all over, is really special,” Kirby told TNT Sports.
Shaw returns to rescue Liverpool
In Sunday’s other quarter-final, Liverpool were made to work hard by Championship promotion hopefuls Charlton at The Valley.
The hosts produced a resilient defensive display to frustrate the Merseyside outfit for almost two hours.
However, Zara Shaw marked her return from a year-long injury absence with a decisive late intervention.
With just five minutes of extra time remaining, Shaw converted following a frantic goalmouth scramble where Jenna Clark had struck the woodwork twice.
The 1-0 triumph ensures Liverpool progress to the semi-finals for the second successive season.
Semi-final draw details
The draw for the last four takes place on Monday afternoon.
Chelsea face Tottenham and Birmingham City host Manchester City in the remaining quarter-final ties to complete the semi-final lineup.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been placed on the injured list and is expected to miss four to six weeks with a strained right oblique.
The 33-year-old sustained the injury during a checked swing in the first inning of Saturday’s 10-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday after a magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed the extent of the damage.
Roberts optimistic on recovery timeline
Initial estimates suggest a lengthy absence, though the Dodgers manager expressed optimism regarding a swifter return.
I would take the under.
Dave Roberts on the projected four-to-six-week recovery
The versatile veteran initially remained in Saturday’s contest to draw a walk and score on Freddie Freeman’s two-run double before being withdrawn.
Miguel Rojas replaced him in the field and subsequently assumed starting shortstop duties for Sunday’s fixture.
Roster reshuffle for reigning champions
To fill the void on their active roster, Los Angeles have recalled infielder Hyeseong Kim from the minor leagues.
The setback interrupts a challenging start to the current campaign for the World Series champion, who is batting just .179 with two home runs and seven runs batted in.
It marks a stark contrast to his heavy workload last season, where he played 150 games and famously initiated the decisive double play that clinched Game 7 of the championship.
UConn guard Solo Ball has suffered a foot injury and is a major doubt for Monday’s NCAA tournament championship game against the Michigan Wolverines.
The 6-foot-4 junior is currently wearing a protective walking boot and will miss Sunday’s practice session.
Head coach Dan Hurley revealed that his third-leading scorer has sustained a foot sprain, casting a shadow over preparations for the final.
I couldn’t tell. We’ll know more as we get later in the day.
Dan Hurley
Easter scheduling complicates medical scans
Hurley noted that arranging a comprehensive MRI scan on Easter Sunday has proven difficult, leaving the exact severity of the issue unclear.
The technical staff have not disclosed exactly when the crucial playmaker sustained the damage during Saturday’s Final Four triumph over Illinois.
The dynamic guard had just broken out of a recent slump to register 13 points against the Illini, shooting an impressive three-of-seven from beyond the arc.
Huskies prepare contingency plans for Wolverines clash
He has been a constant presence in the starting lineup this season, averaging 12.9 points and 3.1 rebounds across 38 appearances.
Losing such a pivotal figure would be a significant blow for the Huskies, who enter Monday’s showpiece event as clear underdogs against Michigan.
Should the injured star fail to recover in time, senior guard Malachi Smith and junior wing Jayden Ross are expected to shoulder increased responsibilities.
World champion Tadej Pogacar claimed a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders victory by dropping rival Mathieu van der Poel with a blistering solo attack.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crossed the line 33 seconds ahead of the Dutchman to continue his flawless start to the 2026 season.
The decisive moment arrived on the brutal cobbled gradients of the Paterberg, where the Slovenian finally broke his great rival’s resistance.
Battle on the cobbled climbs
The two pre-race favourites had forged clear of a world-class peloton and arrived together at the base of the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont with 18 kilometres remaining.
Mirroring his race-winning move from last year, the four-time Tour de France winner launched a ferocious acceleration.
Van der Poel initially clung on, limiting the gap to a handful of seconds over the summit of the iconic hill.
However, the relentless pace proved too much for the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider on the subsequent Paterberg climb, which features punishing gradients exceeding 20 per cent.
Monumental history awaits
Sitting up to punch the air in triumph, the 27-year-old celebrated adding another prestigious title to his rapidly expanding palmares.
Belgian debutant Remco Evenepoel secured third place for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, finishing just ahead of compatriot Wout van Aert.
Affectionately known as De Ronde, the grueling 278km Flemish route featured 16 short but demanding climbs and several treacherous cobblestone sections.
Having already triumphed at Milan-San Remo and Strade Bianche earlier this spring, the unstoppable Slovenian has won all three races he has contested this year.
He now looks ahead to next weekend’s Paris-Roubaix, which remains the only cycling Monument missing from his extraordinary trophy cabinet.
The NBA has launched an investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks after Giannis Antetokounmpo publicly disputed the franchise’s claim that he is medically unfit to play.
The two-time league Most Valuable Player insists he is completely healthy and available for selection.
However, his team maintains that the 29-year-old is still recovering from a left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise.
This unprecedented clash has prompted league officials to intervene under their strict Player Participation Policy.
Growing friction over fitness
The Greek forward has not featured since landing awkwardly following a dunk against the Indiana Pacers on 15 March.
He was subsequently ruled out of Sunday’s fixture against the Memphis Grizzlies, marking his 11th consecutive absence.
That latest omission means the former NBA champion has missed a career-high 42 games this season.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed that certain facts regarding the superstar’s recovery process remain heavily disputed.
“The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate.”
The league statement added that officials are continuing to monitor the escalating situation closely.
‘A slap in my face’
The eight-time All-Star has recently been participating in pre-game warm-ups without any visible physical limitations.
Speaking prior to a heavy defeat against the Boston Celtics on Friday, the franchise cornerstone expressed immense frustration with his employers.
“I’m healthy. I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”
“You know who you’re dealing with. So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”
Extension talks loom large
This public war of words arrives at a particularly turbulent time for the struggling Eastern Conference outfit.
Milwaukee were officially eliminated from post-season contention in late March, ending an impressive streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances.
Speculation is now mounting over the future of the generational talent who delivered their first championship in 50 years back in 2021.
The highly coveted forward becomes eligible to sign a lucrative four-year contract extension worth up to $275m (£217m) this October.