One of the country’s most decorated sports stars talks to Donal O’Keeffe about life off the pitch — and what it feels like to be a modern-day work of art.

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences after thousands of Cologne fans turned up to the Emirates Stadium for their side's Europa League game against Arsenal.

And there you were, thinking you’d never see him or Westmeath again, when who springs up in Croke Park and on your screen but himself. 

Liverpool have won planning permission from the city’s council to start redeveloping Anfield.

Italian champions Juventus will face Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League as they bid to keep alive the dream of playing in the final at their home stadium.

Celtic Manager Neil Lennon has his side's Champions League draw alongside Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax is "the best and the worst draw" they could have had.

The Cottage, Jamestown, Co Leitrim; tel: 071-9625933; cottagerestaurant.ie

EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG

Irish people are apparently looking to the internet to answer to that age-old question "What is love?".

Manchester United’s conquerors Athletic Bilbao scored three late goals to beat Schalke 4-2 in their Europa League quarter-final first leg last night.

New Kerry boss Éamonn Fitzmaurice has named his side to face Tipperary in the Cadbury’s Munster U21 FC quarter-final on Wednesday evening (Semple Stadium, Thurles, 7.30pm).

In the absence of a further income stream austerity is the only alternative to debt restructuring.

Liverpool still have to deal with unresolved questions arising from the Luis Suarez affair, according to aleading anti-racism campaigner.

Liverpool will not appeal against Luis Suarez’s eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, the club announced tonight.

Republic of Ireland U-21 team manager Noel King has named his squad for a friendly international against Austria at The Showgrounds, Sligo on Tuesday, August 9 (kick off: 6pm).

Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against Flora Tallinn of Estonia in the Champions League First and Second Qualifying Round draw today.

Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Noel King has this evening announced a 19-man squad for the upcoming U21 International friendly against Cyprus which will take place on Wednesday, February 9 at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca (kick-off: 2.30pm, local time).

SO, how did we do last night?

YOU don’t need me to tell you that this one hell of an expensive week, although I concede my own particular expenses sheet is probably a tad less onerous than yours, dear austerity-packaged reader.

AMIDST all the brouhaha following the separation (pending divorce?) between FC United and Manchester United in 2005, there is one band of intrepid souls who have, in time-honoured fashion, tried to “keep it together for the kids”: those who follow both teams, cherrypicking the fixtures of each and maintaining dual memberships.

HOW did we do last night, then? Not that it matters very much, I suppose: thanks to the rather fortunate win in Catalonia, this group appears to have gone into a coma, which prompted Messrs Fergie and Carrick pre-match to sound off about how “great” the Champions League still is in terms of excitement in its group stages.

The Argentina Football Association have confirmed a star-studded 24-man squad to face the Republic of Ireland in the first ever international match played in Aviva stadium on Wednesday, August 11 (kick off 7.45pm).

Bohemians have been drawn against TNS of Wales in the Champions League second qualifying round.

Didier Drogba has been banned for two matches by UEFA for his red card against Inter Milan.

HOW does that old line go, which George Dubya once so memorably cocked up on camera?

Cork City 2 FC Haka 2

Militants have killed all 11 men they kidnapped from a minibus in apparent retaliation for an assault by security forces on the stronghold of a militant cleric in north-western Pakistan, a police official said today.

IN THE WORLD of street entertainment, if there is one thing worse than a fella mangling Bob Dylan — and in the world of street entertainment, there’s always a fella mangling Bob Dylan — it’s someone pretending to be trapped in an invisible box or, how droll, passing themselves off as the Statue of Liberty.

IN THE WORLD of street entertainment, if there is one thing worse than a fella mangling Bob Dylan — and in the world of street entertainment, there’s always a fella mangling Bob Dylan — it’s someone pretending to be trapped in an invisible box or, how droll, passing themselves off as the Statue of Liberty.

The draw for the first round of the FAI Ford Senior Challenge Cup has been made tonight.

Derry City will face Scottish First Division outfit Gretna in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup while Drogheda United must face Start of Norway.

FC Thun 0 Arsenal 1

An Irish League football club's ground was badly damaged in an overnight petrol bomb attack.

The draw has been made for the group stages of the Champions League.

FAI cup champions Longford Town will begin their defence of the cup with a trip to Cork to face non-league Leeds.

Reigning champions Dublin lead at half time in this afternoon's Leinster U21 FC final at Navan's Pairc Tailteann.

FOLLOWING a meeting of the Munster Council GAC in Limerick last night, Cork succeeded in postponing tonight’s Munster U21 football championship semi-final against Waterford.

UEFA Cup latest:

Fashion chain French Connection today hailed the “robust formula” which has enabled it to overcome tough trading conditions and lift profits.

Celtic have been handed a tough group draw in the Champions League with Juventus, Porto and Rosenborg in Group E with them.