What would a United Ireland look like? Would it mean the end of the Irish language? Would we see King Billy’s Day competing with dear old St Patrick?

An unholy trinity of ghastly misadventures in sport happened at three historic venues: Aintree; the old twin-towered Wembley; and St Andrews. That the misadventures are still talked of five decades later says everything about their enduring appeal, writes Peter Jackson.

Tyrone’s top scorer Lee Brennan has emerged as a doubt for the big Ulster SFC opener against Monaghan on May 20.

Playing rules committee chairman Jarlath Burns has revealed they have been asked to address the cynicism that was seen in the closing stages of last month’s All-Ireland senior football final. However, he admitted they are unlikely to bring forward any proposed rule changes to do so.

A woman who remains on paid administrative leave from her job as programme director of the HSE’s Aras Attracta facility has settled her case over an alleged HSE move to “re-discipline” her after she won an appeal against a decision to dismiss her.

Derry 1-07 - Down 1-15: Down boss Eamonn Burns was thrilled after watching his side destroy Derry to chalk up successive National League victories and move clear of the bottom two in Division Two.

The son of an advisor to the Kennedy family is reported to be the next American ambassador to Ireland.

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill praised Freddie Burns’ “stardust” qualities after the fly-half inspired Tigers’ 27-17 European Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 at Welford Road.

After seeing through the mark last Saturday, playing rules committee chairman Jarlath Burns was quizzed about the possibility of introducing a trial to Gaelic football limiting the number of consecutive hand-passes.

Edmond Sexton beat James O’Donovan by a bowl at Ardcahan.

A Belfast man yesterday lost a High Court challenge to his 1970s Portlaoise Prison medical records being handed over to the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland for use as evidence in an attempted murder charge which he currently faces.

Thomas Mackle is Ulster senior champion following a last shot win over his uncle, Martin Toal, at Port Mór-Blackwatertown.

New GAA playing rules chairman Jarlath Burns admits he now feels under pressure to come up with solutions after announcing the “death of Gaelic football” at the weekend.

It was hard to know which prompted the greater sense of outrage last Saturday night: the way Dublin and especially Derry went about the joyless business of trying to get a result in Croker or Jarlath Burns declaring via Twitter that the game signalled ‘The death of Gaelic football’, writes Kieran Shannon.

RBS 6 Nations

Longford u21s 1-17 Louth u21s 1-04: Longford advanced to the semi-finals of the Leinster U21 Championship for the third year in-a-row with 13 points to spare over Louth.

European Champions Cup

Leicester 40 Scarlets 23

With an Ireland-Netherlands two-day test at Skibbereen, the final of the John Cronin Cup and two Mick Barry Cup ties this was one of the busiest weekends of the year.

A 37-year-old delivery man who was injured while he was being taken to hospital in an ambulance after falling off his mountain bike has been awarded €27,700 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

I take issue with Paula Burns’ recent “Give me chic Carrie...” article (Life/Style, Jan 21).

Cork chairman Bob Ryan has questioned what value next year’s Allianz Hurling League will have for developing counties.

The National Hurling League row could yet rumble on past Saturday’s Central Council meeting after Dublin raised doubts about the legitimacy of the new proposal.

Forgive us, reader.

Carlow manager John Meyler last night launched a broadside on the new hurling league proposal, which would see the county and Westmeath demoted from Division 1B.

Wing Jonny May’s late try gave Gloucester a dramatic Heineken Cup victory as Perpignan had their former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi sent off.

Tyrone 1-12 Roscommon 0-13

Egypt’s top security body warned that the clock was ticking for a peaceful end to the stand-off over sit-ins by supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, suggesting authorities would break up the protests unless mediation produced results soon.

WBO world lightweight champion Ricky Burns believes he was starting to get on top of Jose Gonzalez at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow last night before the Puerto Rican dramatically quit on his stool before the start of the 10th round.

Where once under-achieving Spanish players were more virility and machismo than style and substance, now they go in search of a hat-trick of major tournament titles.

ARMAGH Central Council delegate Jarlath Burns has voiced his opposition to managers being paid but concedes the GAA might have to swallow the “unpalatable bitter pill” of remunerating them to restore the Association’s integrity.

Wales forward Lloyd Burns will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship after being ruled out for three months with a neck injury.

IRELAND senior men’s coach Paul Revington received a deserved early Christmas gift yesterday when he was named as one of world hockey’s best coaches for 2011.

FERMANAGH County Board had been warned that “John O’Neill would not work” as a manager “because of history between him and former members of the panel under the previous management”.

Bohemians and Bray Wanderers go head to head in today’s Airtricity League Premier Division clash at Dalymount Park, kick-off 7pm.

CORK proved they will not be relinquishing their Gala All-Ireland senior camogie title without a fight after a gutsy last-ditch victory over Wexford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

A Co Tyrone man appeared before Dublin’s Special Criminal Court today charged with murdering a man in Donegal two years ago.