It’s the job of the Ireland U20s coach to push and prod the players of tomorrow further down the development line but Noel McNamara found himself talking about one from the past yesterday.

He would have been entitled to feel smug or wag a finger in the general direction of his detractors after a torrid 18 months, but Eamonn Burns instead used his winning platform to heap praise on his unfancied Down team after they pulled off the county’s first Ulster championship win over Armagh in 25 years.

A woman “struggling to get by” after her husband “abandoned” her and their children fears she will lose her family home if a bank gets a €65,000 judgment against her, a High Court judge has said.

100 years ago this week, just before shipping was made safer by the entry of the United States into World War I, a number of Cork vessels were sunk by German U-boats and mines. Patrick G O’Shea recalls one of the lost ships, on which a relative was killed.

Kevin Markham gives an A-Z to get you in the mood for the excitement of the Ryder Cup.

A German documentary has claimed Russian leader Vladimir Putin regularly subjected his ex-wife to domestic abuse and was seen as a drunken letch by his Soviet superiors in his early days.

A nurse in Germany has expressed regret for killing up to 30 patients by giving them an overdose of heart medication.

Moorefield 1-15 Sarsfields 1-06 Moorefield cruised to victory and retained their Kildare SFC crown after a dominant display in a largely one-sided replay at St Conleth’s Park.

Sarsfields 1-13 Moorefield 0-16

Convicted rapist Ched Evans has said he is “ashamed” of his actions – but expressed no remorse for his crime as he continues to protest his innocence.

Monaghan 2-16 Kildare 2-14 (aet)

Martin Kaymer began his second round at the US Open echoing Rory McIlroy’s heroics of three years ago.

Italian fashion giants Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have said their “friend” Victoria Beckham may well be a designer but they list her alongside high-street names.

Scarlets 32 Connacht 30

The Cornstore, 40A Cornmarket Street, Cork. 021-4274777, cornstorecork.com

Galway 1-12 Tipperary 0-11

Off-field scandals continue to plague Australian mainstream sport

Beyoncé was allegedly outraged when H&M photoshopped her curves.

Offaly 2-10 Tipperary 1-08

Fermanagh 0-14 Waterford 2-10

Urhan 2-7 Garnish 2-6

It’s been a decade, but Steps are back together and will tread the stage in Cork this summer, writes Tina O’Sullivan

WHO really exerts influence in this country? Is there a golden circle of insiders that dominate decision-making in government? Is opinion manipulated by a select cohort of furtive authoritative figures?

High hopes of Connacht repeating their famous victory of 10 years ago in Cardiff Arms Park were dashed last night when the Blues claimed victory on home soil.

One of the biggest pop bands of the 1990s takes its first steps towards a reunion, in a 'Steps Reunion' reality show starting tonight.

Tottenham 1 Manchester City 5

Horse racing tips for selected courses in Ireland and the UK.

H Samuel and Ernest Jones parent Signet posted accelerating sales declines across its UK business today as consumer caution hit high street spending.

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said a UN resolution authorising military action in Libya resembled “medieval calls for crusades” after Western forces launched a second wave of air strikes.

ANTI-IRISH sentiment in 1970s Britain made its way to the Taoiseach’s office in letters written by British citizens disgruntled at the number of Irish immigrants arriving to work there.

* Shh! Irish designer Eilis Boyle has opened The Silent Gallery, a pop-up online cabinet of curiosities.

Baby P’s mother named her violent partner as her next of kin on an official form but authorities still failed to realise he was living with her, a previously secret report revealed today.

TODAY, as we celebrate St Patrick the man — or men — who brought Christianity to these islands, his Catholic successors preside over a discredited and imploding church.

Hull 1 Manchester United 3

The survival plan for three companies in the Fleming group received the unanimous support of its creditors with the exception of Dutch owned ACC bank, the Supreme Court heard today.

Arsenal 3 Everton 1

Australians entered a new political era today after electing their first new prime minister in more than a decade, and handing four-term leader John Howard a humiliating loss.

France 12 Argentina 17

Celebrity Big Brother bosses were forced to apologise yesterday after a hitch in the previous night’s show left viewers confused about how to evict Shilpa.

Celebrity Big Brother bosses were forced to apologise today after a hitch in last night’s show left viewers confused about how to evict Shilpa.

Jade Goody, unaware of the controversy brewing around her, continued to make allegedly racist comments today - calling her housemate Shilpa "Poppadom".

Dirk Benedict, 1970s pop star Leo Sayer and tabloid journalist Carole Malone are up for eviction from the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Former Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins has confirmed that he is gay, as he prepares to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Ballyliffin’s Brendan McCarroll came from seven shots behind overnight to snatch the East of Ireland Championship in brilliant fashion at Baltray today.