I have been reflecting on the management of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, versus the management of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and I’m left pondering the following questions:

Great players hit great shots under pressure and Joe Lyons was thrilled to rifle a beauty to Westport’s 18th to give Galway AIG Senior Cup victory over Carton House.

Galway’s Ronan Mullarney will take a healthy four-shot lead into today’s second round at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship after setting the pace with a course-record and career-low 62 in Sligo.

Ireland are on the brink of retaining their Ladies’ Home International crown heading into this morning’s showdown with Scotland at Ballybunion.

Peter O’Keeffe can become the first man since Pádraig Harrington to complete a famous double after he saw off Kinsale’s John Murphy to reach the last 16 of the AIG Irish Amateur Close at the European Club.

There was relief as much as joy for Galway Golf Club at Carton House as the pain of a third successive Barton Shield final defeat was erased with victory in the blue riband event at the AIG Cups and Shields on Saturday.

Warrenpoint celebrated a second successive AIG Barton Shield title but left Galway needing to quickly banish the demons of a third successive final defeat ahead of today’s Senior Cup semi-finals.

A pre-finals pep talk from All-Ireland hurling hero Joe Canning has helped Galway Golf Club return to today’s AIG Barton Shield decider at Carton House, where they will bid to avenge last year’s defeat to Warrenpoint.

The GUI’s annual AIG Cups and Shields All-Ireland finals look primed to get off to a blistering start this morning when Munster champions Tralee meet Connacht kingpins Galway in the first Barton Shield semi-final.

After a series of outstanding matches throughout the provinces, the way has now been largely paved for the national finals of the AIG Irish Cups and Shields at the O’Meara Course, Carton House, Kildare next month, (September 20-23).

Olivia Mehaffey had a mixed start on day one of the European Ladies´ Amateur Championship in Switzerland, going into this morning’s second round five strokes off the lead.

Irish scientists have identified a potent molecule that may be able to halt the progress of deadly diseases such as Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis.

MORE than one in 10 of the Irish population could have diabetes and not know it, a study suggests.

ACCORDING to Andrew Hamilton and Emer Connolly, of the Clare People, customs officials at Shannon Airport found a pair of rhino horns on Christmas Eve.

IRISH scientists have discovered a new protein in the immune system that could lead to better vaccines for diseases such as HIV and malaria.

THERE are no more probable or confirmed Irish swine flu cases, the Department of Health has stated.

HEALTH authorities last night confirmed they are dealing with the first probable case of the deadly swine flu virus here, with an Irish man in the eastern region now being treated.

THE Courts Service yesterday confirmed it was pressing ahead with plans to build a new courthouse on the outskirts of Tralee, despite local opposition.

AN Irish surgeon who pioneered keyhole surgery in Ireland 18 years’ ago received a lifetime award at the “Medical Oscars” in Dublin last night.

IRISH researchers have been ranked among the world’s best in terms of the impact of their work on immunology.

OPSONA Therapeutics is set to announce a major link-up with a multinational drugs company that will facilitate significant medical research in an area of auto-immune diseases.

THE curtain came down on this year’s Allianz Sciath na Scol football competition at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday where five finals were decided amid tremendous scenes of jubilation by the victors.