First Division leaders Longford Town staged a remarkable comeback to snatch victory from the penalty spot against nine-man Mervue in the third minute of injury-time at Fahy’s Field last night, having equalised in the final minute.

Drogheda United defender Shane Grimes is said to be “distraught” after testing positive for a banned substance.

Local owner Marie Field from Patrickswell has a strong hand in the J.P. McManus Irish Cup, which gets underway at Limerick Racecourse this morning.

THE surprises of the previous day continued at the second stage of the National Coursing meeting yesterday, with the biggest upsets coming in the Boylesport.com Derby.

IRISH oil and gas exploration company Providence Resources — which is due to begin its much-anticipated two year drilling campaign off the coast of Ireland in September — has raised $60 million (€68m) via a pre-paid oil swap deal with Deutsche Bank.

TWO cracking Harty Cup games down for decision this afternoon with an all-Waterford tie taking place at Fraher Field, Dungarvan between DLS Waterford and Blackwater CS while at Mourneabbey, Coláiste Chríost Rí take on Charleville CBS in an all-Cork clash.

IRISH oil and gas exploration company Petroceltic has seen its first-half pre-tax losses widen to just under $5 million (€3.9m), from just over $2m for the same period last year.

ELECTION candidates hoping to get seats in Cork City Council’s north-east ward may have to walk a tightrope on an issue that proves just how local politics really is.

Oil and gas exploration company Providence Resources has today confirmed that the Aje Field in offshore Nigeria has been deemed a commercial discovery by the operating committee.

The party interested in buying troubled Gretna today held talks with the Scottish Football League.

Island Oil & Gas plc today announced that it had spudded gas appraisal well 57/2-3 on Exploration Licence 5/05 (the Schull Field) in the Celtic Sea, offshore Ireland.

Charlie Swan landed his second big prize of the Fairyhouse meeting when Emmpat (7-1) claimed the valuable Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle.

New Field, 7-1 favourite with Cashmans for the Coral Cup, could instead run in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle if the ground is soft at the Cheltenham Festival.

TOM MULLINS will walk the track before deciding whether to let his stable star Asian Maze take her chance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

GLARING disparities between the prices Irish householders are paying for gas and electricity compared with their British counterparts demand a major policy change in the public interest.

Yeats stands out among the 11 confirmations for Saturday’s Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh.

Police were today hunting a five-man gang who launched a sectarian assault on two other men in Antrim.

Exploration company Providence Resources have announced half-year profits of €12,000 to June 2004.

Dermot Weld will wait until the week of the race before committing Grey Swallow to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 3.

THE estimate of “proven and probable recoverable” gas reserves at the Seven Heads gas field off the Cork coast has been increased by 40% by developers Ramco Energy plc.

A two-line hand-written quotation from a Beatles' song has fetched £1,350 (€2100) at auction.