Amongst his more familiar but less tactful friends, Donal Leahy is oft jokingly referred to as The Nearly Man. Mafi Magic and Two Excuses must accept their share of the blame for that.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were among hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday to pay tribute at the funeral of former minister Noel Davern, who died suddenly at the weekend.

Willie Mullins’ Cadspeed, having his first run since May and backed from 6-1 to 9-2, was a desperately unlucky loser of the Kilsheeelan Beginners’ Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Kyle King collected back-to-back all age cups at Kilflynn yesterday.

Hope springs eternal, and at the end of another superb National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel, why not?

GREYHOUND RACING: The cost of the January and December snow blizzards to the general greyhound has been enormous and there is no let-up with many tracks losing out this week as the snows returned with a vengeance. Tonight’s meetings at Galway, Mullingar and Drumbo Park have been called off.

It is getting down to the serious end of affairs in the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park and the talk of the greyhound world this week is that intriguing fourth quarter final to be run on Saturday night.

It was ten years ago this year, the unforgettable drama of Big Fella Thanks and his hugely popular Derby win for the O’Driscoll clan of Skibbereen; in the big stand that day, on one of my regular tours around Powerstown, I bumped into Kevin O’Shea.

TOP Of The Rock has solid claims in the Powerstown Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

THOUSANDS of hare coursing fans are due to descend on Tipperary for the annual three-day national championships.

Thousands of hare coursing fans are due to descend on Ireland for the annual three-day national championships.

FEARS are growing that work on the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen route could be delayed.

SENIOR design staff involved in the development of the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway say they hope to begin the first phase of the 64km route by this time next year.

THERE are no plans to toll the major new dual carriageway link between Waterford and Kilcullen, according to those behind the project.

NEVER before in the history of the Irish livestock and meat industry has the issue of quality become so central to its future success, Bord Bia’s new chief executive Aidan Cotter has told producers.

A €1 BILLION dual-carriageway linking the outskirts of Dublin to the south east is expected to get the green light next week, despite more than 100 objections to the route.

TOP officials from the GAA and members of a local club whose grounds are under threat will make presentations to an oral hearing which begins today.

WHY YOU MONTY, winner of the Local Stake at Rathcormac last season, was a decisive winner of the Ballyarthur Stake, the All-Aged event, at a well run Fermoy & Grange coursing meeting yesterday.

A pensioner has died following a two-car collision at Rathangan, Co Kildare.