Fergus McFadden was the last-gasp hero for Leinster last night as he secured a tremendously hard-fought victory by nailing a long-distance penalty with the final kick of the game.

FRUSTRATING, sloppy, tight and an uncomfortable finish — and those are the words of the winning captain.

NORTHAMPTON crashed to a second consecutive Heineken Cup defeat and to the brink of elimination.

Northampton 23 Scarlets 28

FROM the high of a memorable victory over Australia, it was back to the bread and butter of the Magners League for Munster at Musgrave Park last night - but in many respects, this result was just as satisfying.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made two changes to the side that defeated Australia during the week ahead of Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park (kick-off 5.35pm).

HUMAN slingshot Rory Delap strides into the room, a new World Cup football loaded in his oxter.

MICHEAL CHEIKA has kept faith with the Leinster side that started last weekend’s 32-7 victory in Parc y Scarlets which means that all four try scorers – Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy, Shaun Berne and Sean O’Brien will start today’s return clash.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has the luxury of being able to go with the same side that eclipsed The Scarlets for the return leg between the clubs in Saturday afternoon's Heineken Cup round 4 clash in the RDS (kick off: 3.45pm).

Stores across the UK hope for a Christmas trading boost today after recent indications that shoppers are struggling to part with their cash.

Llanelli Scarlets 32 Ulster 8

THE blows just keep on coming for Irish rugby.

Leinster 23 Llanelli Scarlets 52

Fiji won the first Adelaide Sevens beating Samoa 21-7 in the final to stretch their lead to 10 points over their closest rivals in the race to the IRB Sevens World Series crown.

England’s Kenneth Ferrie, who came from seven shots behind to win the European Open in July, will be the man everybody looks to catch at St Andrews tomorrow.

Colin Montgomerie found himself in yet more discussions with a rules official today as he lost the lead in the Dunhill links championship to England’s Kenneth Ferrie.

Colin Montgomerie found himself in yet more discussions with a rules official today as he lost the lead in the Dunhill links championship to England’s Kenneth Ferrie.

When Ernie Els overtook Colin Montgomerie as the biggest money-winner in European tour history a year ago it appeared to be the end of an era.

Colin Montgomerie made an amazing return today to St Andrews, the course on which he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the Open in July.

David Howell’s remarkable return from injury continued today when he took a share of the first round lead in the Dunhill Links championship.

It was a case of making hay while the sun shone when the £2.7m (€3.95m) Dunhill Links championship began today – and 51-year-old Eduardo Romero was among those who did.

Captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal have agreed on a change to this week’s Seve Trophy – to try to avoid any grudge matches.

Triple-jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards was today named as a key figure in the organisation that will stage the 2012 London Olympics.

Ashia Hansen has vowed to bounce back from her Athens heartbreak by winning a medal at the Beijing Olympics in four years’ time.

UK Athletics chief Max Jones today admitted Britain’s track team will struggle to match their Sydney medal haul in Athens next month – but insisted comparisons between the two games are unfair.

Wales got their Under-21 World Championship campaign off to a winning start at Netherdale, running out 46-11 victors against Russia.

A 19-year-old Limerick man has been acquitted of the killing of another man in Limerick city in August 2001.

A murder trial jury was sent to a hotel overnight after failing to reach a verdict in the case of a Limerick man who denies murder in the city in August 2001.

A murder trial jury has retired to consider a verdict in a case of a Limerick man who denies murder in the city in August 2001.

A 20-year-old Limerick man died after being struck with significant force by an accused wielding a metal object, a murder trial jury heard today.

The BBC is to follow up Fame Academy with a new TV talent show aimed at creating sporting superstars, it was announced today.

A 38-year-old man appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Saturday charged with murder.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN put in a spirited finish in the 3000m in Zurich last night and almost snatched second place from Russia’s Tatyana Tomashova, but neither were a match for winner Berhane Adere.

Kelly Holmes was backtracking quicker than she performed on the track in Munich today as she unsuccessfully attempted to extricate herself from a drugs row.

ON a day when controversy threatened to take over, there was double joy for Irish sprinters at the European championships in Munich last night.

World triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards is having second thoughts about early retirement and may continue until the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

David Beckham reflected on the moment he was the most hated man in England, after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

England soccer hero David Beckham - who won the hearts of the nation as he led the team to a place in the World Cup Finals - was tonight named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2001.

Gardai in Limerick have launched a murder hunt following the death of a man

Another murder investigation is underway in Limerick City tonight after two violent attacks left one man dead and another in a critical condition.

Former England skipper Alan Shearer today followed in the footsteps of such luminaries as Nelson Mandela and Bob Geldof when he was granted the freedom of Newcastle.