Ireland will have to wait another four years for a crack at a first World Cup semi-final appearance after Joe Schmidt’s tenure as head coach came to an end with a comprehensive defeat to the world champions on Saturday.

A stunning strike from Greg Bolger condemned Finn Harps to a relegation play-off following a turgid game at Tallaght Stadium.

There was no sign of a European hangover from league leaders Dundalk FC as they put 10 man Finn Harps to the sword at Oriel Park last night.

Shamrock Rovers began their search for a 25th FAI Cup crown with a 1-0 victory over Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium last night.

Police in Belfast were forced to abandon a bid to dismantle a bonfire planned in the city last night following a stand off with republican youths.

Police in Belfast have retreated from a confrontation at a bonfire site over concerns innocent bystanders could be hurt, a senior commander has said.

The Irish show jumping team will be vying with nine other nations for an Olympic place when they head to the European Championships in Rotterdam next month.

Cork City are still looking for their first league win since May after they were held to a scoreless draw by relegation threatened Finn Harps in a tight encounter at Finn Park last night.

Finn Harps ended a run of five straight defeats with a victory at Finn Park over north west- rivals Sligo Rovers to move above UCD at the foot of the table. Goals for Nathan Boyle in each half did the trick for the Donegal side.

Ronan O'Gara's Crusaders powered past NZ rivals the Highlanders 38-14 Friday to storm into the Super Rugby semi-finals and continue their drive to a third consecutive title.

Shamrock Rovers kept hot on the heels of Dundalk at the summit of the Premier Division with a deserved victory over relegation-threatened Finn Harps at Finn Park.

Cork City’s woes continued as a 76th-minute equaliser from captain Keith Cowan secured a draw for Finn Harps at Turner’s Cross last night.

Winless Finn Harps remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division as St Pat’s notched only their second win on the road thanks to a first-half strike from Conor Clifford and a disputed second-half penalty from Mikey Drennan in Ballybofey.

Daniel Kelly ripped Finn Harps apart at Oriel Park last night with a first hat-trick of his career.

Finn Harps 3 Cork City 4

It mightn’t be the Six Nations but in a World Cup year, the autumn series of Tests is what GAA fans feel at the start of the national leagues every spring, writes Ronan O'Gara

Club GAA has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons.

All Blacks legend Richie McCaw is excited about Ronan O’Gara’s impending move to the Crusaders, after it was announced yesterday that the Corkman will take on the role of assistant coach with the Super Rugby franchise in January.

Chef to the stars Todd Hall is bringing a taste of Mexico Leeside, writes John Daly

If you didn’t realise summer had ended, you’ll soon notice this weekend.

Actor and singer Debbie Reynolds died barely a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher, with her final words being: “I want to be with Carrie,” writes Francesca Gosling.

Actor and singer Debbie Reynolds has died, barely a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher.

Random breath tests will be carried out as part of a new operation targeting drink drivers in the North.

Italy 10, New Zealand 68: Conor O’Shea’s mantra since day one of his Italian job has been “Rome was not built in day”. The 10-try drubbing on Saturday seemed like a reminder it only took the Goths three days to destroy it.

IN THE watershed 1970 film The Boys In The Band, a character remarks, “Show me a happy homosexual and I’ll show you a gay corpse.”

Author Matthew Todd and members of Irish support agencies talk to Sharon Ní Chonchúir about the need for ongoing progress.

The best-performing US stocks right now are ones that usually do well when the economy isn’t, makers of everything from household cleaning products to food. It’s yet another black cloud for investors fretting over a growth slowdown.

Who pushed the boundaries this year?

What a lovely gesture.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the debacle at last month’s European Championships that saw Cian O’Connor impeded in his round and Ireland denied a place in next year’s Olympics.

Smug Europeans already know that the United States’ medical system is ludicrously expensive - but this bill for a snake bite is truly unbelievable.

A man and his seven children found dead in their home were poisoned by carbon monoxide from a generator they were using after the power company cut off their electricity, relatives have said.

Imagine if a barely literate Ned Flanders climbed through your window and got his hands on your books. Your literature, your novels, your classics, your memoirs, your contemporary fiction, your cult titles.

Dynastic dramas are back, thanks to major new Netflix series, Bloodlines. Kyle Chandler tells Ed Power all about it.

One lawyer’s crusade could change the NFL forever, writes Michael Sokolove

Michael Cheika said the "real physical business" was about to begin for Australia, after they marked the start of their European tour with a dramatic 40-36 win over the Barbarians in his first game as Wallaby coach.

YOU know you’ve made it when Jerry Seinfeld phones to take you for a jaunt on his show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Todd Barry, who will perform in Dublin and Galway later this month, joined America’s comedy royalty, including Tina Fey, Mel Brooks and Larry David, for coffee and a chat with Seinfeld (who picks the ride) in a red 1966 MGB Roadster sports car.

Lily Allen has split from her manager.

Belle ★★★★

Publishers Simon and Schuster have signed up a series of novels based on “sexual” stories written online by a One Direction fan about her fantasy romance with singer Harry Styles.