Nearly 5,000 pounds of explosives were used to blast the Georgia Dome to smithereens at 7.30am local time.

The Court of Appeal has overturned awards of between €23,000 and €48,000 to three bookmakers arising out of a row over the loss of their betting ring pitch positions at Dundalk racecourse, writes Ann O'Loughlin.

On a rainy night in Dublin that provided happiness for both sides, it was also understandable there was frustration in both camps as they lapped the Aviva Stadium in near darkness.

Stoke have completed the permanent signing of Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant for £1.3million following his impressive loan spell at the Premier League club.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Cork City will be hoping for more joy against Longford Town at senior level tonight after it was confirmed the club’s U19s are to become the first Irish side to compete in the UEFA Youth League.

West Ham 3 Manchester United 2: A night that began with the Manchester United players sheltering on the floor of the team bus as the vehicle was attacked by bottles and other missiles on its way to the Boleyn Ground ended with Louis Van Gaal’s side crestfallen at having lost control of the race to finish fourth.

Wales are playing an anxious waiting game before knowing the full extent of injuries suffered by Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny during their final World Cup warm-up game against Millennium Stadium visitors Italy.

With their closest rivals Cork City not playing Sligo Rovers until tomorrow, Dundalk will be looking to strike the psychological blow of extending their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League to nine points – at least for 24 hours – when they host Longford Town at Oriel Park this evening.

Four of the top five go head to head in the SSE Airtricity League tonight with leaders Dundalk away to fifth-placed St Patrick’s Athletic and second taking on third as Cork City host Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross.

League of Ireland: With leaders Dundalk not in action until tomorrow, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers will both be hoping to make at least temporary inroads into the champions’ lead in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division tonight.

Croke Park has experienced many historic moments in its lifetime but none so futuristic as being able to view game highlights from your stadium seat.

Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones believes New Zealand are "probably 20 minutes ahead of everybody else" after signing off in Europe before next year’s world title defence by serving emphatic notice that they remain a class apart.

Wales 17 Fiji 13

Tottenham continued their march towards the Europa League knock-out stages with victory in Greece, yet their shocking second-half display against Asteras Tripolis will be of major concern to Mauricio Pochettino.

A former League of Ireland football ground is in line to become an office and commercial development, if a recent application to Cork County Council succeeds.

For a second competitive round in succession, Rory McIlroy was looking and sounding despondent in not being able squeeze more out of his golf on the opening day of the Players Championship.

A County Cork website designer splashed out mere loose change to underline shortcomings in Irish Water’s expensive consultancy policy.

Please find a small selection of images which capture the life and times of America's youngest ever president, a man who in living changed the world and whose death left an indelible mark on all those who lived through it.

Noel Gallagher has beaten his brother Liam to the title of Most Stylish Rock Star.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce rues the day he was denied the chance to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski.

A collapsed gentleman’s agreement stands to cost the Irish Greyhound Board another €1m because it decided to compensate a development firm for an adverse planning decision.

Last year’s 'X Factor' winners Little Mix have flown straight to the top of the charts in the UK with their new single Wings.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games opened tonight in a dramatic and moving ceremony that had starring roles for the Queen and Professor Stephen Hawking.

MK Dons have signed former Wigan and Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard on a short-term contract.

London Olympics organisers promised an unforgettable party to close the 2012 Games and they pulled out all the stops to make it a night to remember, with Britain stamped all over it.

The Aquatic Centre affair was marked by incompetence, writes Michael Clifford

Before her fight this morning she would have read the same Bible verses and listened to the same Christian songs on her iPod

EOGHAN O’GARA’S season hangs in the balance after he sustained a suspected fractured wrist in Sunday’s Leinster SFC defeat of Wexford.

CLARE boss Ger O’Loughlin will have a “very serious think” about his managerial future following the county exit from the All-Ireland senior hurling championship last Saturday.

Johnny Gorman made his first competitive start for Northern Ireland as Nigel Worthington’s side attempted to extend their unbeaten run in Group C to four matches in a deserted Crvena Zvezda Stadium.

GREYHOUND followers received a shock yesterday with the news that Newbridge greyhound stadium will close to racing on Saturday week. However, it is hoped that the track could reopen in the near future if a backer can be found.

JAMES HOOK may have been man of the match in Saturday’s victory over Ireland, but for some Welsh fans the true hero was a youngster on the sidelines.

JAMES HOOK has regained the famous Welsh Number 10 jersey as Wales look to clinch just their second Championship home win over Ireland in 28 years.

CON SHEEHAN (Clonmel BC),the defending champion, andthe new pretender to the throne, Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett, Belfast), served up the best performance of an action packed weekend when they met in the quarter finals of the heavyweight division at the Elite national boxing championships at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium has confirmed that they will not run this evening.

Wales suffered a double injury blow ahead of today’s Millennium Stadium clash against world champions South Africa.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

THE next two Heineken Cup finals will take place in Wales and England after the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was confirmed as the venue for the 2010-11 tournament showpiece match and Twickenham was awarded the right to stage the final in 2012.

France hooker William Servat has warned his team-mates against the danger of underestimating Wales ahead of tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations clash at the Millennium Stadium.

FRANCE will bid to enhance their place at the top of the RBS 6 Nations Championship table when they play Wales on Friday night.