Johnny Sexton has rejected suggestions that Ireland have peaked a year too early.

Lost, amid the sublime composure of £75 million Virgil van Dijk, the fan-pleasing marauding runs of full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson and the promise of Joe Gomez, stands Joel Matip, the forgotten centre-half who may have as big a say in tomorrow’s Champions League Final as any Liverpool star.

Never mind the pointless abomination that was United versus Cardiff. The final whistle has just gone at Brighton versus City, and I find myself yelping a cheer for the triumphant Blues.

Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers, the legendary members of Celtic’s 1967 European Cup-winning team who passed away within the last week, were childhood heroes of mine.

Their technique and composure whilst in possession was of the highest order but Ajax’s ability to press their opponents without the ball was even better.

Liverpool players have been told to filter out the noise of history at the Stadio Olympico tonight and focus only on fighting for their dream of reaching the Champions League final on what could be a landmark night in the Jurgen Klopp era.

Few players who have graced the Munster jersey over the last 20 years appreciate more what it takes to beat a top French team in their own country than Mick Galwey.

Bring back Brian McLaughlin, all has been forgiven!

Security barriers are to be erected at Scotland's biggest arts festival in the wake of terrorist attacks in London and Manchester.

Whether it was playing on the pitch, or partying off it, Terry McDermott gave it his all. The Liverpool legend lived life to the full and he remains a larger-than-life character

Did Britain’s political establishment and the media deliberately frame the Hillsborough tragedy as hooligan-inspired and exploit this falsehood to transform football. Brendan Daly examines the evidence.

Kevin Keegan knows a bit about fairtytale endings except, that for him, there was to be no happy ever after when English football’s greatest tale of the unexpected — until Leicester City came along — reached its climax on a famous night in Madrid in 1980.

The stars are aligning as Atletico Madrid seek to invoke the spirit of Luis Aragones to help exorcise the demons of traumas past tonight in Milan, writes Sean Duffy.

"Here we are again, our bright shiny faces upturned hopefully to face another new season’s dawn. Tell your wife summer is officially dead to you, and let’s get our boots on.

Celtic 3 Inter Milan 3

Premier League

Chips and chocolate, for some of us at least, still hold most of the answers.

Toulon 23 Saracens 6

Although Louis van Gaal appears to be closing in on the Manchester United job, this week’s Champions League action offered clues to a possible alternative narrative had the hunt for David Moyes’ successor taken another route.

Yesterday’s announcement by the Irish Sports Council that it will spend €7.4m to support major field sports’ governing bodies — the FAI, GAA, and IRFU — is very welcome but it would be even more welcome had more money been available.

So, that’s that then. It’s 10 months since Jonathan Sexton left the throne vacant with his departure for France, but it was only yesterday with his appearance on Leinster’s team-sheet for tonight did Ian Madigan bend his knee to take possession of the crown.

Sir Bobby Charlton hailed Eusebio as a “true sportsman” and one of the finest players he ever played against following the former Portugal forward’s death at the age of 71 yesterday.

Before kick-off on Saturday, a colleague dryly remarked: “So, we’re a wobbling mid-table side, up against a tight, in-form, Champions League-able team, who have a settled-in manager, with players that he actually wants at the club, in a system they are comfortable with ... I’ll be happy with a point gained.”

The Scottish Football Association believes involvement from Ireland or the Home Nations may see their chances of hosting matches at Euro 2020 boosted, if UEFA decides to make the UK a hub for one of the tournament’s groups.

Harry Redknapp will meet with Daniel Levy today to discuss his future as Tottenham manager, according to reports.

Juventus and Liverpool were today marking the 27th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster which claimed the lives of 39 supporters prior to the 1985 European Cup final.

Eden Hazard demonstrated the increasing power of Twitter by finally announcing he had decided to join Chelsea this summer.

Harry Redknapp may withdraw his offer to be a BBC pundit at Euro 2012, the Tottenham manager says.

Ulster Rugby today announced that flyhalf Ian Humphreys will leave the club at the end of this season to take up a three year contract with London Irish.

The retirement of Garryowen, Munster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions forward David Wallace breaks a link with Irish teams stretching back more than two decades.

Former Ulster Coach Mark McCall believes Ulster have a 50/50 chance of overcoming Leinster in the Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham on May 19.

A startling headline in a newspaper yesterday announced that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Steven Pienaar, who scored Everton’s potentially season-shifting equaliser on Sunday. Harsh, but fair, I briefly thought, before realising it was for a speeding offence.

Ruby Walsh reaffirmed his opposition to the new whip rules today after making a winning return to British race-riding at Wetherby.

HERE are the Seven Steps, those psychological stages you go through after the ‘bereavement’ of a historic thrashing like Sunday’s.

Despite the recent power-shift in Irish rugby from Munster to Leinster, one which has seen Jonathan Sexton promoted to Ireland’s first choice fly-half, Ronan O’Gara believes he has plenty to offer Ireland in the World Cup.

Despite poor punditry it is one of the globe’s elite competitions

SO how do you solve a problem like Messi? Happily for the rest of us, that’s one for Alex Ferguson to puzzle out tonight. Banning him is out of the question, I suppose, so that removes one of the manager’s favourite tactics for handling tricky customers.

Liam Mackey pays a personal tribute to the transformative magic of Europe’s premier club competition.

Drumcondra’s Don Patricio became Barcelona’s manager just before the city was taken over by anarchists, the club’s president was shot and liquidation loomed. Richard Fitzpatrick unravels a club legend’s story

IF United win the Champions League they’ll have overcome a series of questions.

BEFORE we move onto the mouthwatering prospect of a spectacular season finale in Thomond Park on Saturday, I have to go back to what proved a truly absorbing contest in Cardiff last weekend.

IT’S been a busy few days for Sean O’Brien.

RIO FERDINAND is well on the way to becoming part of Manchester United folklore, just as he wanted when he joined the Red Devils from Leeds in 2002.