James Gullen remains on course for the biggest win of his career as he leads the An Post Rás by over a minute entering the final two stages.

Lunacy, he said. That’s a strong word. An emotive word, writes Brendan O’Brien.

"I'm hoping to get back there soon," says Tommy McNamara.

Eddie Dunbar avoided disaster to stay in contention for the yellow jersey at the An Post Rás yesterday, the young Corkman battling to limit his losses to just 14 seconds after a late mechanical threatened to derail his chances.

Taco van der Hoorn of the Dutch Join-S de Rijke squad won yesterday’s opening stage of the An Post Rás on a day that saw 40-year old ex-Irish Olympian Ciarán Power roll back the years and barrel in for a mighty result of his own.

With the new season fully into its stride and the Conroy Report still under discussion, former Cork City player Neal Horgan argues that some of the most crucial issues facing the League of Ireland have yet to be properly addressed and that action is required to improved things.

As the television replays showed Thierry Henry’s handball on an endless loop, Howard Webb reached for his mobile phone.

Dan Martin made a brave but ultimately futile bid for a second ever Tour de France stage win yesterday, the Irishman finishing runner-up to Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) on a gruelling day in the Pyrenees.

Páidi O’Brien made it three wins from four at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan yesterday when he blasted to glory on the fourth stage of the race but it was Sean McKenna who took overall glory.

Paidi O’Brien won yesterday’s opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan after an absolutely bruising day that saw many riders lose over 10 minutes.

Boxing: Hailing from an estate named after Wolfe Tone, fighting seems to have come naturally to the Walsh family.

So Cillian Sheridan, playing for APOEL from Nicosia in Cyprus, is the sole Irish representative in the Champions League group stages for 2014/2015.

Eddie Dunbar is still in the race leader’s yellow jersey after stage three of the Stena Ireland International Junior Tour yesterday was won by Matthew Teggart of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team.

A weekend that promised to be a financial bonanza for Irish rugby ended in disappointment at the Stade Felix Mayol yesterday with Leinster’s defeat by Toulon following on Ulster’s elimination by Saracens at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Warren Gatland has revealed he attempted to resolve his falling-out with Brian O’Driscoll by sending the Irishman a Christmas card in which he asked the centre to ensure he got a good reception at the Aviva Stadium on February 8.

It still seems, frighteningly, like yesterday but eight years have filtered into the ether since Graham Henry named a side to take on Wales in Cardiff before drafting in 15 new faces to go about their business against Ireland a week later.

Can you feel sorry for a man who is the best fly-half in the northern hemisphere, is about to move clubs for a salary that most of us can only dream of and is set to lead a charge for sporting immortality playing for the Lions this summer?

Last week there was something of a ripple about Michael Bent, a rugby player lately qualified to play for Ireland.

Rugby playing numbers are falling in rural areas due to emigration, according to an IRFU report released yesterday.

Once domiciled in London, Eoin Reddan will make his way home to Limerick this weekend to face Munster and, in all probability, Tomás O’Leary who is due to decamp to the English capital come the summer.

A national martial arts champion who hopes to represent Ireland in the Olympics has avoided jail after being caught with over €22,000 of drugs.

THERE was no doubt about who was the star of the warm-up show at the Aviva Stadium yesterday, as Manchester City unveiled their new €40 million man, Sergio Aguero.

THE report that fewer budget flights are being taken as companies, like Ryanair, hike their prices for “low-cost” flights by 12% this year, didn’t surprise some of us at all.

A “championship” boxer who knocked a man to the ground in a one punch assault may be ordered to perform community service in lieu of a two year sentence.

FOOTBALLERS born earlier in the year are more likely to be picked to play at an elite level.

SORRY might seem to be the hardest word, but Steve Bruce is convinced it might be the only way for Andy Reid to resurrect his international career.

Mark Cavenish enjoyed a stunning victory in the second stage of the Tour of Ireland from Clonmel to Killarney today.

Russell Downing of the CandiTV – Marshall’s Pasta team sprinted to victory in the opening stage of this year’s Tour of Ireland in Waterford today.

LANCE ARMSTRONG wants to conquer St Patrick’s Hill in Cork and he will he will grab the opportunity when the Tour of Ireland finishes in the city on August 23.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has admitted that Ireland’s game against his homeland in Bari on April 1 will be an emotional occasion for him.

Giovanni Trapattoni will celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow with his sights set firmly on next summer’s World Cup finals.

JOY can quickly turn to disappointment for any cyclist but for Mark Cassidy it was heart rending yesterday when a crash on the outskirts of Limerick City stripped him of the yellow jersey and put his FBD Insurance Rás hopes on hold for another year.

It was fitting that Steven Gerrard chose Paris to throw his weight behind those calling for his former manager Gerard Houllier to replace Steve Staunton as the manager of the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes a tour win for his side against either New Zealand or Australia would be an ideal way to end a trophy-laden season for Irish rugby.

BRIAN KERR yesterday confirmed that Celtic's Liam Miller and Cardiff City's Alan Lee will be the immediate beneficiaries of the many withdrawals from the Irish team for today's match against Poland in Bydgoszcz (5.00pm Irish time).

Former Irish international Liam Brady has turned down a place on the panel of football experts expected to be appointed to find a new manager for the Irish national team.

Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid has said he would be interested in taking over from Mick McCarthy as manager of the Irish national team.

Soccer writer Eamon Dunphy has said that Mick McCarthy only has himself to blame after resigning as manager of the Irish national team.

CAPTAIN Kenny Cunningham insisted yesterday that he cannot understand the level of pessimism and negativity aimed at Mick McCarthy.