ANYBODY watching the mayhem that was the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday could be forgiven for believing the whole EU project is surreal and has little connection to the normal world.

ANYBODY who has been closely watching Clare hurling evolve in the post-Loughnane era would have understood if Cyril Lyons had gone on the attack after his side’s impressive win over Tipperary in the opening round of the Guinness Munster championship.

ANYBODY who was in Croke Park early last Sunday, to witness the better of the two Allianz NFL finals, would readily admit that the best team didn’t triumph.

ANYBODY who gives up a promising job with a leading stockbroking firm to play amateur golf full-time deserves some reward. That’s just what happened yesterday to 23 year-old Mark Ryan from the Grange club in Dublin when he captured the Standard Life sponsored West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point with a 3 and 1 victory over Alan Dowling of Hermitage.