Harlequins’ hopes of progression in the Champions Cup were virtually extinguished as they crashed to a third-consecutive defeat in Europe, a 17-5 loss at home to Ulster.

Dublin’s TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football winner Noelle Healy received the Croke Park Hotel Player of the Month award for September yesterday. And she hopes to add to her awards collection at tonight’s TG4 All Stars ceremony, writes Jackie Cahill

Sterling fell sharply yesterday after the Bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in more than a decade but said it sees only gradual rises ahead.

The pressure facing retailers over the ‘Long Black Friday’ weekend following the plunge in sterling since the Brexit vote could ease significantly as the euro faces the first of its own looming tests next week, according to analysts.

Munster 52 Worcester Warriors 21: It certainly wasn’t a happy return to Cork for former Munster and Ireland hero Donncha O’Callaghan as Munster stormed to a comprehensive pre- season win over Worcester Warriors at Musgrave Park last night.

They rowed every length, they heaved, they hunched over on their seats, and gritted their teeth...they even unleashed the famous Munster roar.

As Cork Film Festival marks its 60th edition, attendees select their favourite memory through the years, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

This was special, arguably the most special of the bunch.

Dublin held off a stiff challenge from Monaghan to prevail in their TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-final at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones this afternoon.

Ballinlough Castle, Co Westmeath

DENMARK: A radio station is defending a live show during which the host killed a baby rabbit by hitting it with a bicycle pump, saying it was intended to show the hypocrisy of animal lovers.

Or you’ll quickly reconsider once you get "the look".

Cork 2-13 Dublin 2-12

Dublin 2-12 Kerry 1-10

Go west young auction-goer, go west. Auction junkies in need of a fix this August Bank Holiday weekend should head to Clifden where viewing is now underway for the two day Connemara art and antiques auction by Dolans next Monday and Tuesday (aug 4-5).

The handicapper’s ratings say he can’t win, but Rupert Lamb nevertheless gets the nap in the Listed Racecourse Supporters’ Club Chase at Thurles this afternoon.

Larry Lamb has blasted 'EastEnders' as a "sweatshop".

Galway 3-13 Dublin 2-14

A pensioner caught importing €280,000 of cocaine through Kerry Airport last January has been given a seven-year prison sentence.

A hospital charity fundraising to refurbish one of the country’s largest children’s wards has received a major shot in the arm.

A High Court action against music promotors MCD by tribute act 'The Complete Stone Roses' has been struck out.

A man who set up the tribute act 'The Complete Stone Roses' is suing music promoters MCD for damages claiming they tried to take over the running of the band.

A British man has appeared before Tralee District Court charged with unlawfully importing cocaine.

Northampton 6 Ulster 25

Northampton 6 Ulster 25

Richard Dunne wasn’t at The Point in March, 2007 when Bernard Dunne defeated Yersin Jailauov by TKO but the thoughts of how some of his Irish team-mates were booed by sections of the crowd still rings in his ears.

Pc David Rathband – the police officer shot and blinded by Raoul Moat – was found hanged, a coroner in Britain heard today.

A £963,000 bonus for the boss of a UK taxpayer-funded bank has been attacked as “out of touch” by Labour, as a British government minister claimed he had a public “duty” to refuse it.

Northampton Saints 36 Munster 51

NORTHAMPTON produced a disciplined and ruthless performance to defeat Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins and record their seventh win in their last eight outings.

NORTHAMPTON coach Jim Mallinder has questioned the consistency of refereeing in the Heineken Cup after his side suffered a crushing defeat at sunny Stade Pierre Antoine.

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

Northampton 23 Scarlets 28

WHETHER it was a desperate act of survival or a statement of intent, it did not really matter as Ronan O’Gara sent over that overtime drop goal to claim another epic Heineken Cup victory for Munster.

Munster 23 Northampton 21

PREMIERSHIP club Northampton Saints gained a small measure of revenge as they won this Heineken Cup final rematch at Donnybrook last night.

SLANE is over for another year but Irish festival season is only beginning.

IF the grapevine is to be believed, Kilmacud Crokes have serious injury worries going into this game.

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 0-15 Rhode (Offaly) 1-7, Portlaoise

SARACENS kept the pressure on the Aviva Premiership leaders yesterday, inflicting another defeat on struggling London Irish.

London Irish 13 Toulon 19