The ‘Week from Hell’ duly ended on Wednesday with the thoroughly expected defeat to City. So, now begins the ‘Fortnight of Purgatory’.

Weeks of pre-season conjecture and speculation were finally put to rest last week, as millions of FPL managers worldwide tinkered their last.

Kilkenny rob Galway of their early thunder

Rich Ricci was no stranger to the winner’s podium in Cheltenham before Douvan and Faugheen earned him two returns to the most sought-after patch of real estate in Prestbury Park yesterday afternoon. 

Question marks over the future of one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time dominated the aftermath of the Indianapolis Colts’ deserved play-off victory at the Denver Broncos late Sunday night.

Andrew Luck enjoyed a landmark day as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Washington Redskins 49-27 on Sunday.

Chicago Bears’ defensive end Lamarr Houston will miss the rest of the season after a freak injury while celebrating a sack.

Baltimore Ravens have released running back Ray Rice hours after a shocking video surfaced showing the NFL star punching his then-fiancee.

A stunning comeback sent the Indianapolis Colts through to the next round of the NFL play-offs at the expense of the Kansas City Chiefs as the post-season got off to a thrilling start.

Nick Luck won the accolade for Racing Broadcaster of the Year at the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association annual awards ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London yesterday.

Remember, remember - we’re shit in November - that ditty seems to be the case no matter our opponents, or our manager.

Houston coach Gary Kubiak collapsed at half-time and was taken by ambulance to hospital, a chilling blow for the reeling Texans after their best start to a game in months.

The highly-anticipated showdown between Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and his former team, the Indianapolis Colts was as tense as it was emotional on Sunday night.

The New England Patriots claimed their 10th consecutive NFL season-opening win when Stephen Gostkowski hit a 35-yard field goal with five seconds left to beat the Buffalo Bills 23-21.

Luck went with the Irish on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival as even the weather could not spoil the racing.

ARE you suffering from all the Christmas excesses — food, drink and stress?

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a career-best 510 yards to lead the reigning Super Bowl champions to their first win of the NFL season on Sunday.

Peyton Manning made a sparkling return after a year’s injury absence from the NFL, leading Denver to a 31-19 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in his Broncos debut.

Why Simon Cox?

Almost there now…

IRELAND’S incredible record of achievement in the Heineken Cup is set to continue with Leinster being offered a tantalising opportunity to reverse last years painful semi-final defeat at the hands of mighty Toulouse.

The two sessions of the opening round of the Laurels were completed at Curraheen Park over the weekend and ante-post favourite Tyrur Enda emerged with his reputation enhanced while his kennel-companion and Derby runner-up Tyrur Big Mike’s suitability to the circuit remains somewhat in question despite a winning start to his campaign.

CORK and Dublin don’t share much in the way of recent championship history but John O’Leary is more qualified than most when it comes to untangling the few strands that drew the counties together twice in 1983 and once again 12 years later.

Luck was not on Ailis McSweeney's side at the European Championships tonight as she missed out on a place in the 100m final by just one hundredth of a second.

Louth handler Steve Gollings secured a 16-1 Market Rasen double courtesy of Viscount Rossini and Springfield Raki - both ridden by rising star Rhys Flint.

A painter said to have carried out the North Carolina nursing home shootings may have been after his recently-estranged wife during the rampage that killed seven residents and a nurse.

IT had been brass monkeys weather all week in Manchester until the day Chelsea arrived, when the thermometer shot up eight degrees.

There is no-one better qualified to assess this season’s Champion Chase than Guillaume Macaire.

AS CHAMPIONSHIP openers go, last weekend’s games produced sufficient talking points to whet the appetite of what lies ahead. Two away wins for Wales and France bucked the trend of most tournaments, particularly the Heineken Cup, where victories on the road are so hard to come by.

GAA fans in West Limerick are on a winning streak — much to the consternation of a local club.

Enjoy The Moment is not only a favourite catchphrase of the inimitable Derek Thompson, but also the name of a stayer with a fine chance of giving Jamie Osborne a welcome high-profile triumph.

Lady luck was smiling on a fortunate Cork punter who won a staggering €500,000 for a €20 bet on racing yesterday.

Joes Edge, one of three co-favourites in the John Smith's Grand National, is recovering well after pulling up lame in the big race yesterday.

ALEX FERGUSON has no plans to step down as Manchester United manager.

Prime time entertainment turned into political protest in Australia when a contestant evicted from hit reality television show Big Brother staged a silent sit-in against the detention of asylum seekers.