While Ireland’s men are still riding high on the back of Olympic qualification, the same can’t be said of South Africa.

Teenage starlet Shane O’Donoghue is one of many Irish internationals facing a busy Easter weekend of hockey across two different countries, as the U21 interpros, EuroHockey League last 16 and an international series in Germany test the country’s top players.

CARGO ships that enter restricted waters of the Great Barrier Reef will face the full force of Australian law, the prime minister said yesterday, after a vessel ran aground near the natural wonder and leaked fuel oil.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen is due before the Mahon Tribunal today to explain his decision to grant a right-of-way across State lands to a company under investigation by the inquiry.