This may be the biggest game of his fledgling career as a head coach but five months into his tenure as Munster boss, Johann van Graan is finally in familiar territory.

For any football fan with a decent soul, saying goodbye to an old ground is always A Moment. 

Jose Mourinho says he has worked “harder than ever” during his first season at Manchester United.

Pre-match press conferences rarely elicit much in the way of insight or emotion, but Isa Nacewa needed just one syllable to communicate both at the RDS yesterday.

A team of secondary students from Kildare will be representing Ireland at a European space competition this summer.

Spain 4 Italy 0: The scoreline that scarred a nation, and above all, one set of players.

As we contemplate the prospect and the implications of a second all-French European final in three years, fans of the Irish provinces might be wondering what their sides must do to get back to the continent’s top table.

Three-time champions they may be, but you tend to forget that yesterday was virgin territory for more than a few of those men wearing blue yesterday.

In Brazil he is Felipão; the world knows him as Big Phil.

Toulon 23 Saracens 6

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL:

Munster head coach Rob Penney has admitted Heineken Cup semi-final opponents Toulon have nothing to fear from his side going into Sunday’s showdown at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.

A group of Limerick secondary school students has proved that the sky is not necessarily the limit for their ambitions after winning a competition to design a satellite which could be sent into space.

Alex Ferguson believes it would be a “fantastic achievement” for David Moyes to win any trophy with Manchester United this season.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will focus on the present as he prepares to lead his team into tonight’s Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam.

Brian O’Driscoll today predicted Ireland’s debutant fly-half Paddy Jackson will flourish against Scotland after rejecting criticism of his performance in last year’s Heineken Cup final.

Leinster 22 Edinburgh 16

Simon Mason turned up at Lansdowne Road bright and early for the game of his life, a net of balls slung over his shoulder.

Brian O’Driscoll is confident he will be fit for Leinster’s Heineken Cup final with Ulster on Saturday despite undergoing a minor surgical procedure on his injured knee last week.

Ronan O’Gara is haunted by what might have been this season – on both club and international fronts.

UEFA have billed it from the off as ‘Dublin 2011 — The Final Adventure’ but for anyone who had to get to the Aviva Stadium on eve of match business yesterday, just crossing the capital city was an adventure in itself.

THE Europa League trophy was officially handed over to the city of Dublin yesterday, the ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham a reminder that the finals of Europe’s premier club competitions are now only two games away.

SO how shall I put this differently from the dozens of times it’s been said before?

SOCCER legend Roy Keane says the All-Ireland SFC final beats anything his own game can offer after seeing his native Cork collect the Sam Maguire Cup at Croke Park on Sunday.

DARREN O’NEILL and Paddy Barnes will represent Ireland in the finals of the European senior boxing championships in Moscow today after more outstanding performances from Billy Walsh’s squad in the semi-finals at the Ice Palace yesterday.

West Ham today appointed Avram Grant as their new manager on a four-year contract.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has no plans to discuss his future until after the Champions League final on May 22.

Wasps 15 Cardiff Blues 18

With the dream of a World Cup winner’s medal now beyond him, Toulouse and former All Black Byron Kelleher tells Ian Moriarty why a Heineken Cup medal would fit the bill instead

John Kelly provides a fascinating insight into the Munster mindset ahead of the 2006 Heineken Cup final – and warns that their Basque opponents are the ones with a score to settle

Liverpool 2 Atletico Madrid 1 (aggregate score 2-2, Atletico win on away goals)

SUNDAY’S surprise bonus-point win by Ulster over Edinburgh, combined with Connacht’s heavy defeat by Llanelli away, has ended any slim hope the western province had of qualification for next season’s Heineken Cup through the Magners League route.

GAA chiefs have opted for a Sunday evening throw-in for their Allianz NHL Division 1 decider on May 2 to avoid a clash with Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final earlier that day.

ALEX FERGUSON believes Premier League basement dwellers Portsmouth are in a false position.

ROB KEARNEY makes a timely comeback from illness for Saturday’s Magners League clash against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (5.30pm), but will be under pressure to produce a top-class display to win his place in the Leinster Heineken Cup final team.

HABIB BEYE has urged his Newcastle team-mates to adopt Alan Shearer’s winning mentality to hand the manager a first victory just when he needs it most.

Tom Shanklin anticipates a nervous month in the build-up towards this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.

A BRITISH man yesterday claimed a new world record for keeping a football in the air, after sailing past the previous record of 19 hours and 30 minutes in London.

RANGERS chairman David Murray launched a scathing attack on the Scottish Premier League and claimed their decision to refuse his club more time to prepare for the UEFA Cup final was so bad the rest of world football will be laughing at Scotland.

Ticket-less Rangers fans hoping to find a way into the UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg were dealt a fresh blow today when the Russian club claimed they would taking up their full allocation.

Walter Smith has no intention of walking away from Rangers just yet – but he would be thrilled to see Ally McCoist installed as his successor when he does quit the Ibrox hotseat.