A Norwegian family are floating on air after finding “treasure” in the mountains — a note attached to balloons released in West Cork a full six months earlier promising the bearer a host of prizes.

“So we need to get back on track again on Sunday and I am looking forward to that. It was disappointing that we weren’t up for the game."

A piece of Brazilian magic denied Celtic early qualification for the Europa League group stages as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Astra Giurgiu in a fog-bound stadium in Romania.

Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev has been hit with a Scottish Football Association charge over alleged racist abuse.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stepped down as manager of Cardiff, the Sky Bet Championship club have confirmed.

Ronny Deila used the international break to reflect on a "stressful" start to his career as Celtic manager.

THE 2004 Greek Olympics was a “wake-up call” for Derval O’Rourke. A bout of severe food poisoning and appendicitus meant she was in hospital for six days just four weeks before the games. Doctors’ advice was to remove her appendix, skip the games, and recover.

Manchester United are haunted by many things these days, not least the ghosts of times past.

Celtic ran riot on their Scottish Premiership flag day with a 6-1 thrashing of hapless Dundee United at Parkhead.

Vincenzo Nibali completed victory in the 101st Tour de France in Paris yesterday as Marcel Kittel won the final stage on the Champs-Elysees-

Ronny Deila believes his Celtic side will have "no excuses" for failing to perform at the home of Scottish rugby in the second leg of their Champions League second qualifier against KR Reykjavik tonight.

There have been mixed results for Irish athletes so far on the eighth day of the Paralympic games with Boccia hopeful Johnny Cronin unsuccessful in his bid, and cyclist Colin Lynch marked as DNF (Did Not Finish).

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to have ruled himself out of the running for the Aston Villa job.

BLACKBURN’S bloodied goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes the dramatic late point he helped rescue at Wigan on Saturday can provide the platform for his side’s sustained march up the Barclays Premier League table.

Blackburn 4 Newcastle 3 (AET)

VICTORIOUS European Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas was crowned the queen of Killeen Castle and the emotions flowed as freely as the rain and the champagne in County Meath yesterday evening.

A Norwegian and 10 Nigerians were among the United Nations workers killed in a suicide car bomb attack claimed by a radical Muslim group at the world body’s headquarters in Nigeria’s capital last week, the UN said.

ARE you a techno fan and do you feel like taking part in a flash mob in Cork city?

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford’s ambition was vindicated today as Geraint Thomas set up a first Tour de France stage win for the British squad and Norwegian prodigy Edvald Boasson Hagen.

Stoke 3 Brighton 0

Blackburn 2 Aston Villa 0

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton tonight admitted a charge of violent conduct and apologised to Morten Gamst Pedersen for the punch that will earn him a three-match ban.

Birmingham 2 Blackburn 1

TOP man, top player, top manager — Old Trafford legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given his former team-mate Roy Keane a ringing endorsement.

Portsmouth 1 Aston Villa 2

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche has finished runner-up in the 14th stage of the Tour de France, 16 seconds behind Katusha’s Sergei Ivanov, with Hayden Roulston in third.

Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 0

John Carew handed Aston Villa a UEFA Cup lifeline with a second-half equaliser in the last-32 first-leg clash with CSKA Moscow at Villa Park.

A MALE escort who claims singer Boy George beat him after handcuffing him at his flat “can’t really be relied upon”, a jury was told yesterday.

Alex Ferguson has confirmed young striker Fraizer Campbell will remain at Manchester United this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will say a final farewell to Manchester United fans on August 2 when Espanyol visit Old Trafford for his testimonial.

Two Americans and one Norwegian have drowned off the Cape Town coast in South Africa when their boat was hit by a freak wave, tourism officials said today.

ROBERT HEFFERNAN will train at altitude in South Africa for his next big assignment which is IAAF Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, on May 10, following what he described as “a good, strong performance” in Mexico at the weekend.

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva suffered an horrific injury in this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League match at Birmingham. The Brazil-born Croatia star required more than eight minutes treatment for what looked to be a serious ankle injury before being carried off on a stretcher following a tackle from Martin Taylor. The Blues captain was sent off for the challenge which came less than three minutes into the game at St Andrews.

Roma 2 Manchester United 1

World Champion Sebastien Loeb took full advantage of Petter Solberg’s misfortune to lead by almost half a minute on day one of the Rally Mexico.

FORD’S Marcus Gronholm was in commanding form to build an 11.1-second lead over title rival Sebastien Loeb at the Swedish Rally.

Petter Solberg’s hopes of a fifth consecutive Wales Rally GB victory suffered a major blow today.

THE King and Queen of Norway found a safe harbour in Cork yesterday as the country was lashed by the tail end of a hurricane.

THE King and Queen of Norway found a safe harbour in Cork yesterday as the country was lashed by the tail end of a hurricane.

Alex Ferguson is concerned Wayne Rooney may be suspended for the start of the Barclays Premiership season.

John Arne Riise is a rarity in Liverpool’s ranks. He has scored a goal against Chelsea even Jose Mourinho would find hard to claim did not cross the line.

Alex Ferguson is fearing more punishment from a man he once thought about signing at Old Trafford tonight.

Newcastle 0 Blackburn 1