Superhero origin stories have been all the rage at the multiplex this summer, with Marvel Comics alone accounting for two such films, ‘Thor’ and ‘X-Men: First Class’, both of which happily surpassed critics' expectations.

Down captain Ambrose Rogers is unlikely to participate in Sunday week's All-Ireland SFC final against Cork, unless his cruciate knee ligament injury improves significantly in the coming days.

Ambrose Rogers is a doubt for Down's All-Ireland SFC semi-final date with Kildare later this month after picking up a knee injury during a club match.

Sligo Rovers 1 Galway United 1

Silent Oscar pipped last year's winner Macs Joy as the pair battled it out down the Punchestown straight in a thrilling ACC Bank Champion Hurdle.

Shelbourne 4 Glentoran 1 (Shelbourne win 6-2 on aggregate)

A 32-year-old Dublin man was today found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend's former lover at the Central Criminal Court.

Shelbourne 2 Hadjuk Split 0 (Shels win 4-3 on agg)

EMPLOYERS' group IBEC launched a €500,000 publicity campaign yesterday urging a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty.

Quiz show contestants who take sips of water between questions may be ruining their chances of striking it rich.