Ireland's Fionnuala Britton had to make-do with eighth place as 40-year-old Jo Pavey made athletics history in Zurich this evening.

Ulster 26 Zebre 3

Sharon Osbourne would "love" to return to 'The X Factor'.

‘X Factor’ runner-up Rebecca Ferguson has blasted her management on Twitter.

First Division leaders Longford Town staged a remarkable comeback to snatch victory from the penalty spot against nine-man Mervue in the third minute of injury-time at Fahy’s Field last night, having equalised in the final minute.

AN UNUSUAL friendship is the theme of Quick, Slow, Mango! By Anik McGrory (Bloomsbury; €7.10).

FLORENT MALOUDA admits his Chelsea team-mates are shell-shocked by a run of form that has produced only two wins in their last nine games, and a loss of confidence is preventing the side from getting back to winning ways.

UNDER-PRESSURE Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini has asked for more time in the post after his side lost their third match in a row against Lech Poznan on Thursday night.

The State Pathologist has said two Polish men, stabbed outside their home, died of penetrating injuries to their heads, possibly caused by a cross-shaped or Phillips-type screw driver.

AS DRESS rehearsals go, this was up there with the best. Ireland’s display against the inexperienced but gritty Fijians left coach Declan Kidney smiling despite the selection headaches he faces ahead of Saturday’s date with world champions South Africa.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has ignored the pleas of Zinedine Zidane and refused to pick his fit-again captain Patrick Vieira for the World Cup qualifying play-off against Ireland on November 14.

IN his letter of August 18, Michael Job questions aspects of my findings relating to alcohol and road traffic crashes.

Extra checks to link July 7 London bombing ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan to terrorism did not take place because of limited resources, a report said today.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

Former Fine Gael leader John Bruton did call a party colleague telling him to ease off raising the issue of garda corruption in the Dáil, the Morris Tribunal was told today.

ALISTAIR CRAGG will have to do something special if he is to convert his indoor gold medal-winning performance to the outdoor track at the European championships in Gothenburg the week after next, following last night’s run at the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix in Crystal Palace where he faded to finish seventh in what was by no means a world class 1,500m.

LIAM REALE threw something of a cloud over Alistair Cragg’s European championship ambitions when he outsmarted the European indoor 3,000m champion and then held him off comfortably in the finishing straight to land the 1,500m title at the Woodies DIY national track and field championships at Morton Stadium yesterday.

CHRISTIAN HOUSE (Recycling.co.uk) held off the challenge of American Danny Pate (TIAA-CREF) to win the FBD Insurance Ras in the tightest finish in the history of the event when the race ended in the seaside down of Skerries yesterday.

The Preliminary Leinster Schools trial teams have been announced.

Dave Billings has revealed the extent of his feelings for St Vincent's ­ despite landing a crushing blow on them as UCD boss in Sunday's Dublin SFC decider.

Alvaro Recoba returned with a vengeance from a year of torment and goes to the World Cup living up to his status as the world’s best-paid footballer.

There cannot be too many goalkeepers throughout the world capable of holding onto their international place after conceding five goals in one game - but Oliver Kahn managed to do just that.

Zinedine Zidane, the most expensive player in the history of football and the inspiration behind France’s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs, is primed for action on the global stage once again this summer.

Despite the mounting pressure being applied by his younger rivals, David Seaman is still England's number one.