New results from a look into the split second after the Big Bang indicate the universe is 80 million years older than previously thought.

It’s a “shop local” drive with a difference. Bridegrooms can win a free wedding by sourcing all their flowers, cars, dresses, suits and so on in one town.

THE HSE in Limerick yesterday apologised after an ambulance took almost half an hour to attend a pensioner who lay injured just 200 yards from the emergency control centre.

CERN scientists have staged their first speed-of-light particle collisions of the year, resuming their probes into the origins of the cosmos in the centre’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Terence Flanagan of Fine Gael has been elected in the first count in Dublin North East with 12,332 votes.

Double Crossed: IT’S not like Dick Roche to second guess a member of the public trying to have their say.

THESE are the options for a chat, says Timmy McCarthy over the phone.

RAW POWER, pure brawn, a force of nature — all have been used to describe Irish backrow forward Denis Leamy, wordsmiths of varying levels of ability attempting to describe the destructive capacity of this favoured son of Boherlahan.

ONE woman married to a Dell worker who is to lose her job told her local GP yesterday she will have to reconsider plans to have another child.

THE news that the man who captained Waterford to Munster senior hurling championship glory for the first time in almost 40 years in 2002 is set to make a sensational return has taken virtually every Déise follower by surprise.

Mount Sion (Waterford) 1-13 Toomevara (Tipperary) 1-14

Waterford champions Mount Sion take on Tipperary kingpins Toomevara in today's Munster club hurling final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

MOUNT SION make just one change in personnel from the side that defeated Kilmaley for Sunday’s Munster club SHC decider against Toomevara at Semple Stadium.

Mount Sion 4-13 Kilmaley 0-9

Mount Sion 4-14 Ballygunner 4-7

PETER QUEALLY is the new physical trainer and selector with the Waterford senior footballers - a move that probably rules out any return to the hurling panel.

A SENIOR GAA official has warned that Waterford cannot deliver on the huge expectation in the county unless they achieve a united camp.

Waterford hurling selector Nicky Cashin has made it clear that three players controversially dropped from the county panel could yet figure in the team's plans.

Justin McCarthy will not be finalising his Waterford senior hurling panel for a few weeks.

WATERFORD hurling manager Justin McCarthy and fellow selectors Nicky Cashin, Seamie Hannon and Kevin Ryan will announce a training panel for the 2004 National League campaign this week.

Patrickswell 0-16 Mount Sion 1-11

Waterford GAA chiefs have jumped to the defence of underfire hurling manager Justin McCarthy following a number of outspoken comments by players.

WATERFORD County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan moved speedily yesterday to confirm his and his board’s total confidence in hurling manager Justin McCarthy, in the wake of claims by some players that they will not play for the county again under the former Cork All-Ireland star.

Waterford hurling has been rocked with the news that a string of county stars are set to hang up their hurls in defiance of boss Justin McCarthy.

ONE could be forgiven for thinking there’s a jaded appearance about Sunday’s Mount Sion/Ballygunner showdown in the Waterford SHC decider at Walsh Park, being as they’ve met in six of the last 11 finals.

REIGNING Waterford hurling champions, Mount Sion will almost certainly be without Allstar Ken McGrath for tomorrow’s mouthwatering county semi-final with arch rivals Lismore at Dungarvan (3.30pm).

Cork 3-16

DEFENDING champions Waterford have been given a huge lifeline ahead of Sunday’s Munster final with a declaration from inspirational midfielder Tony Browne that he is fit to play.

SOME things never change.

CORK’s awesome demolition of Clare underlined the Rebels’ ability to mix hurling’s rough with the smooth, Waterford ace Ken McGrath warned last night.

Waterford 1-12

EOIN MURPHY and Peter Queally return to the Waterford team for Saturday’s Munster hurling championship semi-final replay against Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

TWENTY-FOUR hours on from Sunday’s dramatic Munster hurling semi-final draw, the Waterford and Limerick managers were both philosophical about the refereeing in the game.

LIMERICK hurler Mike O’Brien faces an anxious wait ahead of the Shannonsiders Guinness Munster SHC semi-final against champions Waterford on June 1.

An injury pile-up has forced the Waterford hurlers to rejig their team for Sunday's Munster SHC opener against Kerry at Walsh Park.

AN INJURY crisis has forced the Waterford senior hurling selectors to delay naming the team for the first defence of their Munster SHC title against Kerry at Walsh Park on

MEATH hurling boss Michael Duignan has applauded the county’s brave stance in boycotting championship fixtures and believes it may even set an historic trend.

A CONFLICT over club and county interests has forced Meath hurling manager Michael Duignan and his selectors to quit only days before their vital Allianz NHL game against Antrim.

Waterford boss Justin McCarthy has recalled Brian Greene and Brian Flannery to his starting lineup for Sunday's NHL clash with Limerick.

FORMER Allstar full back Diarmuid O’Sullivan returns to the Cork team for next Sunday’s Allianz National Hurling clash with Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis, but in the unfamiliar position of right half back.

PAUL FLYNN makes his first competitive appearance for Waterford since the All-Ireland semi final seven months ago in their crucial NHL tie against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

FERGAL HARTLEY and John Mullane return to inter-county action for the first time since Waterford’s defeat by Clare in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final when they line up in their regular centre back and corner forward berths respectively for Sunday’s Allianz League clash with Laois in Portlaoise.