Watching Roy Keane and the Irish players striding into Celtic Park past the statue of Jimmy Johnstone was to be reminded that, to paraphrase Martin O’Neill, some pre-match "distractions" are definitely more distracting than others, writes Liam Mackey.

A Malaysian football fanatic who travelled to the UK to watch his team play for the first time was left disappointed tonight after the game was postponed due to stormy weather.

CHILDREN as young as six will be given sex education in Malaysian primary schools from next year, an official said, as part of a drive to curb “baby-dumping”, promiscuity and HIV.

REGULAR readers of the Irish Examiner's weekly television sports column - a big hello to Brendan and Irene Blennerhasset, Old Youghal Road, Cork - are doubtless both suffering intense withdrawal symptoms, what with its author obviously being entirely preoccupied with dossing around the Far East, under the pretence of "covering" the 2002 World Cup.