Ireland held off a determined Scotland fightback to secure a three-wicket victory in yesterday’s second one-day international at Malahide.

Joe Kinnear's return to Newcastle could be the beginning of the end for manager Alan Pardew's reign on Tyneside.

Dublin-based fruit retailer Total Produce has agreed to buy up to 65% of Canada’s Grandview Ventures over four years for €32m.

Persistent rain and slippery underfoot conditions suggested this Cork SHC Round 2 clash would be a tight affair and that proved to be the case as Bishopstown prevailed by just a single point in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

Ninety years ago today, Michael Collins supposedly accepted the surrender of Dublin Castle, but Ryle Dwyer notes that this was really a sly piece of press manipulation

ROBERT Emmetts’ turned up the heat in the second half, to dispatch St Gabriels in the London SHC final.

IT was James Herriot who said that enthusiasts are appealing, but fanatics are irresistible.

NEW leader, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden Team Sprocket Pro), will wear the yellow jersey when the FBD Insurance Rás arrives at the top of Seskin Hill tomorrow, but it would take a big prediction to identify the possible leader when the race departs the spiritual home of cycling.

The Republic of Ireland rekindled memories of their eventful trip to the 2002 World Cup finals when they very nearly claimed the scalp of reigning champions Italy on Saturday evening.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was today awaiting developments as the race to take the club off his hands gathered pace.

Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne has been told to keep doing what he is doing after being compared favourably to the legendary Paul McGrath.

ALAN SHEARER flexed his muscles in uncompromising style yesterday to effectively signal the end of Joey Barton’s Newcastle career.

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson is convinced Alan Shearer can only win as he prepares to take over as manager of his home-town club.

MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley is expected to face a large protest when he visits a town in North Cork later today.

Joe Kinnear will take training for the first time at Newcastle tomorrow knowing he has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

A landowner will throw open the gates of his private country estate to the public this weekend to raise funds for people bereaved by suicide.

Glen Rovers 1-13 Na Piarsaigh 0-11

Ireland will take on Scotland in the AIB Club International game in Donnybrook on Friday, February 22. Kick off is at 7.35pm.

A massive £36.2bn (€54bn) was wiped off the FTSE 100 Index today after the London market was hit by its biggest fall since May last year.

Gaming company 888 Holdings was facing more questions over its overseas operations today after it emerged French authorities wanted to interview its former chief executive John Anderson.

Shares in gaming group 888 Holdings surged today as investors reacted to the possibility of a £470m (€702.7m) takeover by high street bookie Ladbrokes.

A FEW short years ago, when they won the Intermediate title for the first time, a rosy future beckoned for Delanys.

ALAN SHEARER’S dream of becoming manager of Newcastle United moved closer yesterday when he stepped in to assist caretaker boss Glenn Roeder after the sacking of Graeme Souness.

Glen Rovers 1-19 Cloyne 3-11

Internet casino 888 Holdings gave encouragement to the online gaming sector today as the number of regular players on its tables more than doubled in 12 months.

The world’s largest online casino made its stock market debut today at a flotation price towards the lower end of expectations.

The world’s largest online casino today valued its flotation as high as £714m (€1.1bn), in the latest test of London City’s appetite for internet gaming stocks.

The world’s largest online casino unveiled plans today to float on the stock market and cash in on the flurry of investor interest in internet gaming.

The stock market’s appetite for online gambling looked set to be tested again after it was reported today that a major casino operator was planning a £700m (€1.03bn) flotation in the next week.

MANAGER Pat Roe has given the thumbs up to the starting 15 that shocked Tyrone and brought Wexford to their first National Football League final since 1946 for Sunday’s final showdown with Armagh at Croke Park.

Cork Con 23 Belfast Harlequins 27

Ballymena 22 Belfast Harlequins 20

A number of changes have been made to the Cork senior hurling squad for the forthcoming National League, the Evening Echo reports.

Clare 1-17 Cork 1-16

AFTER a week of speculation, Cork hurling fans glimpsed Setanta Ó hAilpín hurling again yesterday.

GRAEME SOUNESS will take over as Newcastle boss next week confident that he is ready for the challenge of ending the club’s 35-year trophy drought.

THERE was a major shock in the permanent tsb Cork County SFC at Bandon yesterday when former All Ireland Club champions Nemo Rangers went under to Clonakilty 1-13 to 0-15.

AUSTRALIAN authorities said yesterday a misunderstanding may have triggered a flight alert that forced a Los Angeles-bound plane to turn back to Sydney, in one of the country's worst airline scares since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

AN American passenger jet flying from Australia to Los Angeles returned to Sydney International Airport yesterday after the crew found a written bomb threat which turned out to be a hoax.

An American passenger jet flying from Australia to Los Angeles returned to Sydney International Airport today after crew found a written bomb threat which turned out to be a hoax.

Cork 2-26 Antrim 0-10