Rory Patterson scored a second half hat-trick as holders Derry City won 4-0 at non-league Blarney United to cruise safely into the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.

The successful emergence from examinership of DIY giant B&Q (Ireland) and ladies fashion retailer Pamela Scott after releasing themselves from prohibitive rent agreements is likely to set a precedent for other similar-sized chains, according to industry representative Retail Excellence Ireland.

An interim examiner has been appointed to B&Q Ireland’s nine home improvement stores, which employ almost 700.

The Irish division of DIY and garden centre chain B&Q has gone into examinership, it has confirmed.

The 2012 cups and shields get off to flying start at Kinsale Golf Club today with the Barton Shield semi-finals.

A much-loved Gaelic bard ruthlessly decapitated by late night revellers was re-united with his missing head yesterday following an appeal to the public for help in tracing it.

THE father of a man who was swept to his death in the river Lee during the 2009 flood has called on the city’s authorities to build a proper slipway for search and recovery teams.

COLLEGES have been accused of increasing the number of specialised courses with limited places to push up points for entry — making them more attractive, but adding to pressure on Leaving Certificate students to get higher grades.

A record year for college applications has fuelled a rise in points requirements for two thirds of CAO courses.

THE death of a customer at a DIY store in Dublin at the weekend is being treated as a tragic accident but the circumstances are still being probed.

A customer has died in a freak accident at a DIY store, it was confirmed today.

Cork City 0 Bohemians 1

JOHN COTTER was the toast of Avondale United last night after his last-gasp winner helped the Leesiders retain the FAI Intermediate Cup at rain-swept Turner’s Cross.

Avondale United have won the FAI Intermediate Cup.

There are opportunities for every Leaving Certificate student even if they did not achieve the grades they hoped for, education officials said tonight.

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

MOST people who are unhappy in their jobs work in a career unrelated to their third-level education, a study has found.

DANIEL SMYTH is still a little bit annoyed as he prepares to leave for Poland on a four-year stint at a medical school.

THE points needed for college courses could be much higher this year after a marked improvement in Leaving Certificate results.

THE education gap between rich and poor could be narrowed if the assessment of schools’ needs for guidance counsellors was overhauled, an expert has said.

MORE than 14,000 students have been left without a college place after second round offers were released by the CAO.

ALMOST 14,000 students did not take up a college place after the first round CAO offers.

EMER McGRATH was jumping for joy yesterday after being hailed as the country’s top student with eight A1s and one A2 — but for thousands of teenagers the future was not so bright.

THE Government is to review the maths syllabus at all levels following the disappointing performance of this year’s Leaving Cert students in the subject.

Eddie Hickey earned Galway a point as the bottom two still await their