If the GAA is a rich tapestry of culture and community, of hope and heroes, there’s very little of it that former Cork GAA secretary Frank Murphy hasn’t seen.

Damien Duff and Ronnie Whelan may have found fault with the tennis balls served up in protest against John Delaney at the Aviva Stadium, but Mick McCarthy could see the funny side after a performance and result that sets Ireland up nicely in Group D.

The FAI’s newly-minted executive vice-president is no stranger to terrace taunts but John Delaney must have been braced for a particularly long and uncomplimentary spot of serenading from the South Stand last night after the spill of events in and around the group opener against Gibraltar.

The Board have raised concerns over player safety and made the decision to move Cork's next home Hurling League game to Páirc Uí Rinn.

Former Waterford All-Star Ken McGrath called it "dangerous" and "not suitable for any sport", while Cork's previous goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack called for no more games to be played there until the pitch is in a "playable" condition.

Not since Blackrock overcame Imokilly back in 2001 has a team struck four goals on the concluding afternoon of the Cork hurling championship.

A few of the older patrons in the South Stand in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night may remember the old Buddy Starcher classic ‘History Repeats Itself’. And, had they also been in Thurles last Sunday, the song must surely have resonated with them as this Munster U21 hurling semi-final unfolded.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium director Bob Ryan has cast doubt about the venue being able to host Allianz League double bills in January and February in the future.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium director Bob Ryan has cast doubt about the venue being able to host Allianz League double bills in January and February in the future.

All the big issues that the weekend threw up. 

As the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh half opened last July for the All-Ireland quarter-finals, many would have seen it as an incredible chance to lay down a marker for the future of the GAA in Cork.

The Barr’s reconvened on Tuesday evening last. Of the starting team from two days earlier, six didn’t tog. They couldn’t.

There weren’t too many in Cloyne clapping Paudie O’Sullivan on the back for his equalising point at the end of Imokilly’s county semi-final.

There was an air of unreality about the whole day. Maybe it was the lack of complaint. There’s nothing normal or natural about it, hearing thousands of people amble about admiring things, especially in Cork.

Hundreds of people spent thousands of hours developing and constructing the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Here, four of them recount the journey.

Manchester City 3 Chelsea 0:

Manchester United 2 Fulham 2

Celtic have made moves to disband the Green Brigade section at Parkhead after labelling events during Friday night’s match at Fir Park “indefensible”.

Alan Kelly has one sincere wish for Ireland’s game against England at Wembley tomorrow night.

Sunderland have taped up the seats of fans who refuse to sit down during games.

PAT FENLON was denied a debut win as Hibernian manager after his team’s match against Motherwell was abandoned at half-time due to an electrical fire.

Stoke 0 Wigan 1

THE crowd in the South Stand at the Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road last Saturday evening, with their cheering and singing, provided a noisy and lively atmosphere that made up for many of the empty seats at the European Championship qualifier with Macedonia.

WAYNE ROONEY clearly forgot about Javier Hernandez when he claimed the future wasn’t bright at Manchester United.

Sunderland 3 Barrow 0

Four men are due in court in Belfast today in connection with violent clashes between football fans in the city that left 11 police officers injured.

FOUR men have been charged with disorderly behaviour following trouble before Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Poland in Belfast on Saturday.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is set to use Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Villarreal as an opportunity to reintroduce players struggling for form and fitness.

Motherwell are “taking the lead” to help cut prices in Scottish football by reducing entrance for Old Firm fixtures to £15 (€19.21) for all adults at Fir Park.

TWICKENHAM supremo Francis Baron has rejected calls from Clive Woodward to step aside as Rugby Football Union chief executive.

England 20 New Zealand 41

England head coach Andy Robinson has named seven uncapped players in a 30-man squad for the Twickenham clash against World Cup favourites New Zealand on November 5.

EUROPEAN champions Munster will do well just to qualify from their group, says coach Declan Kidney.

NEW ULSTER centre Mike Maguire has been forced to retire at the age of 24 after club medics discovered he was suffering from a degenerative hip disorder.

FROM the terraces to the boardroom at Carrow Road, the desire is the same - to keep Norwich among the elite of English football, but not at any cost.

Manchester United have announced massive season ticket price hikes of up to 24% as they bid to claw back a £14m (€20.4m) loss in media revenues and stave off the threat of a Malcolm Glazer takeover.

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has urged supporters to allow Henrik Larsson’s successor to settle at the club.

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has vowed to enhance training facilities at the club to impress visiting dignitaries.

NO matter how badly you feel, there’s always someone worse off than you.