An Irish rugby star has written an open letter to Israel Folau saying: “don’t judge me – I’m just like everyone else.”

Rugby international Lindsay Peat, one of the country’s most versatile female athletes who has represented Ireland in three different sports, has revealed that she was once the subject of homophobic sledging in an All-Ireland ladies football final.

The Ireland Women's worst Six Nations finish since 2006 was confirmed by a poor 24-5 defeat to a young Wales side who were clinical with their scoring opportunities as they concluded the Championship on a real high at Cardiff Arms Park.

Ireland women’s assistant coach Jeff Carter has confirmed loosehead prop Lindsay Peat will be available for their latest Six Nations assignment against Italy on Saturday.

Ireland coach Adam Griggs admitted his side were well below their best after Scotland secured a surprise victory in yesterday’s Women’s Six Nations Championship at Donnybrook.

Ireland 35 Wales 12: Adam Griggs sang the praises of the “immense” Claire Molloy, after she secured a brace of tries in Ireland’s bonus-point victory over Wales in the Women’s Six Nations Championship at Donnybrook yesterday.

Claire Molloy produced her second successive Aon player-of-the-match display and scored two tries as the Ireland Women registered a confidence-boosting 35-12 bonus point win over Wales at Donnybrook.

Ireland 17 Wales 27

Lindsay Peat hopes France can go on to be crowned Women’s Rugby World Cup champions after their first- half blitz demolished Ireland on Thursday night.

It’s not the job of the Ireland team to sell this Rugby World Cup but Tom Tierney’s side are doing more than anyone to make the wider public, both here and abroad, sit up and take notice of events at Belfield.

Wales 7 Ireland 12: Ireland Women’s head coach Tom Tierney is wary of the challenge his team face in Friday’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider with England.

Jenny Murphy scored a try in the final play of the night to snatch a dramatic victory for Ireland in difficult conditions.

France's two-try first half salvo saw the Ireland Women lose 18-6 in tonight's Women's RBS 6 Nations showdown in Perpignan.

University of Limerick 3-16

Back for more punishment, all so that we can all have even more fun and rows, writes Kieran Shannon.

Team Montenotte and Killester will contest the Senior Women’s National Cup final following their respective semi-final wins over DCU Mercy and UL Huskies.

TODAY

Cork 2-13 Dublin 2-12

Cork 2-13 Dublin 2-12

Cork 1-9 Dublin 2-4

One of Ireland’s best-known electronics retailers has shut down – for a second time – after attempts to refloat the 80-year-old firm collapsed.

Cork 1-19 Dublin 2-12

Cork 1-19 Dublin 2-12

The High Court has approved a survival scheme for electrical retailer Peats which reversed its decision to cease trading earlier this year.

Upward-only rent reviews have forced one of Ireland’s best known electronics retailers to seek the appointment of a liquidator at an upcoming voluntary creditor’s meeting.

Seventy-five jobs are to go at the Dublin firm Peats World of Electronics, it has been announced.

Cork 2-14 Dublin 3-10

Dublin 4-15 Kildare 0-5

PRINCE Charles’s income from the taxpayer and spending on travel shot up last year, prompting demands from republicans for an urgent inquiry.

A war of words between Celtic and the Scottish Football Association erupted last night as the row over Neil Lennon’s six-match touchline ban continues.

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL Association president George Peat has launched a scathing attack on Celtic following their decision to appeal against manager Neil Lennon’s six-match touchline ban.

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon admits he was relieved to avoid another Active Nation Scottish Cup upset after dumping Berwick Rangers out in the fourth round yesterday.

The Scottish Football Association have vowed to do “everything possible” to avert a referees strike at the weekend.

WHEN all looked lost for champions Cork in Croke Park yesterday, trailing by two points with eight minutes remaining and staring defeat in the face, the utter belief in their ability to hold on to the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies football title frustrated a Dublin team which, in truth, turned in the better performance on the day.

Scotland manager George Burley insists he had to end the international careers of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor in order to retain the respect of his players.

SCOTTISH Football Association president George Peat hopes the very fact Artur Boruc was yesterday found guilty of improper conduct — rather than the amount he was fined — will act as a deterrent to the Celtic goalkeeper in future.

David Taylor insists he is leaving Scottish football in a healthy state after starting work today as UEFA’s new general secretary.

This game saw good strong performances from both teams. DCU had a great start to lead by six points at the end of the first quarter and doubled their lead to 12 points by half time.

Ireland 53 Netherlands 77

THERE was little joy for Irish basketball at the weekend, with the national senior teams slumping to defeats in European Championship qualifiers.