There is a fresh look to the Cork team to face Limerick in tomorrow night's Munster SFC quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 7pm).

As events, and my 12-year-old girl would have it, I've just spent back-to-back Saturdays in the Parochial Hall on Cork city's northside.Watching Basketball.

Four footballers were cleared today of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room.

It's the eve of an all-Irish Rabo Direct pro 12 final, again underlining just how strong the provincial game remains in this country.

Future Racing Metro coach Laurent Labit refused to be drawn on whether they will issue Ronan O'Gara with a squad number for next season.

Dr Crokes defender Fionn Fitzgerald will make his Championship debut for Kerry in Sunday's Munster SFC quarter-final against Tipperary at Fitzgerald Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Manchester United are to part company with coaches Mike Phelan and Eric Steele.

It's been a busy time for Tipperary footballer Paddy Codd of late. As well as having to prepare for Sunday's Munster SFC quarter-final clash with Kerry, the full-back has also had to contend with his final exams in the University of Limerick.

Kevin O'Brien hit a magnificent 84 from 47 balls, but Ireland were denied a first win on home soil against one of the elite cricket nations as they tied with Pakistan at Clontarf yesterday.

According to today's Evening Echo injuries to first-choice defenders Eoin Cadogan and Jamie O'Sullivan have forced Cork into a reshuffle ahead of their clash with Limerick on Saturday.

Teacher unions and others that remain opposed to €300m public sector pay cut proposals will be subjected to laws cutting higher salaries and other work changes, Enda Kenny said yesterday.

University College Cork intends to be largely self-funding within five years, saving the Irish taxpayer millions of euro a year.

The British parliament is to investigate if security services could have done more to prevent the murder of a soldier hacked to death in a London street after it emerged that his suspected killers were known to intelligence officers.

British police arrested two more people yesterday in a hunt for accomplices of two British men of Nigerian descent accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London street in revenge for wars in Muslim countries.

It is believed the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan told the IMF that he will look to Contingent Convertible Capital (CoCo) Notes if the banks need additional capital buffers following the stress tests.

ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:Donegal v Tyrone For too long, we've been decrying the anti-climactic starts to thevarious provincial championships. Now we have a genuine no-holds barred contest in Ballybofey.

Joe Schmidt has opted against speculating whether Sean O'Brien will miss the opening weeks of the British and Irish Lions tour after omitting the injured flanker from his squad of 23 for today's RaboDirect Pro12 decider.

First volume of Margaret Thatcher's authorised biography is predictably flattering, but not a hagiography, says Shaun Connolly

Highlights include Colin Stafford Johnson's new series on the Shannon, and highly-rated new spy drama The Americans.

The latest addition to our stellar team of rugby writers reflects on the ups and downs of a magnificent playing career — and reveals the reasons why he's chosen to move to Paris to kick-start his coaching career.

Mice raised without bacteria in the gut showed distinctly autistic patterns of behaviour, choosing to interact with objects more than other mice, scientists at University College Cork (UCC) have found.

THERE are three reasons why a managed exit by Ireland from the eurozone is the most urgent economic priority. But first consider this reality.

WATCH them riding on, the three musketeers, Alan Shatter, James Reilly and Phil Hogan!

The latest addition to our stellar team of rugby writers reflects on the ups and downs of a magnificent playing career — and reveals the reasons why he's chosen to move to Paris to kick-start his coaching career.

A TD has said those behind misleading anti-abortion leaflets being circulated in her constituency which contain graphic images and purport to come from her are "sick people".

The sleek white Lauren L yacht has become Cork's latest tourist attraction, and you have to admit, it definitely adds a touch of glamour to the place.

Paddy Power are today refunding all win and each way singles to customers who backed Ireland's Ryan Dolan for last night's Eurovision.

A man was killed and two others were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds today following a "serious incident" understood to involve a serving British soldier.

A man who mugged an 83-year-old lady in Cork city centre thought he could outrun his pursuer — but found to his cost the chaser was training for a marathon.