The majority of appointments to state boards in the past year were made by ministers without being advertised, despite Government promises to the contrary.

Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin was delighted to collect two points from his side’s “hectic” game with Dublin on Sunday, but admitted that he and his teammates “couldn’t be happy” with the scoreline they conceded.

Brian Cody and the Kilkenny County Board have apologised to Anthony Daly and the Dublin County Board for the unprovoked attack by a patron on the Clare native at Nowlan Park on Sunday.

A British teacher has been convicted of harassing his German neighbours by playing wartime classics and giving Nazi salutes.

The last time a competition ended like this, it must have been the OK Corral in 1881.

AS the dying embers were reached in this Division 1A hurling league encounter in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday, the theme of draws in Anthony Cunningham’s weekend looked like continuing.

The opposing managers were at odds after the final whistle of this dramatic game which ended with Laois securing a victory that helps them in their battle to avoid relegation, and maintains their hopes of grasping a semi-final berth.

Derry eased their relegation fears with a significant, if hardly stylish, victory over out-of-sorts Meath in Navan.

UL Eagles double dream remains on track following their emphatic 85-57 win over UCC Demons in the Nivea Men’s SuperLeague semi-final at the Mardyke Arena yesterday.

The referee who reported Arsene Wenger to UEFA for improper conduct after Arsenal’s Champions League exit to AC Milan on Tuesday night has hit back at the Gunners boss and backed his performance, despite the Frenchman’s stinging criticism.

Rory Best has captained his country before but three years and a whole other universe separate the Ulster hooker’s previous experiences from what he is about to go through this Saturday.

Andre Carter is quickest to his feet. He walks away from Peyton Manning’s carcass, his shoulders hunched, his fists clenched, his angry eyes darting side-to-side. Job done.

St Michael’s secured a Leinster Schools Senior Cup final shot with holders Clongowes Wood after a titanic tussle with Kilkenny at Donnybrook yesterday.

Barry John Keane insists Kerry are showing more respect to referees.

Tipperary boss John Evans believes rookie referee Brian O’Shea was out of his depth in Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 3 clash against Wexford.

St Declan’s made it a memorable year for Waterford schools hurling with victory in the Munster SCHC decider in Tipperary on Saturday.

The importance of Michael Murphy to Donegal’s cause was displayed in devastating fashion within 12 seconds of the first whistle in Ballybofey yesterday.

The Football Association last night confirmed they will be speaking to both Bradford and Crawley after the brawl which marred their npower League Two clash at Valley Parade on Tuesday night.

Striker Nikica Jelavic helped to book Everton an FA Cup semi-final date at Wembley with arch-rivals Liverpool as Sunderland’s dreams turned to dust last night.

A rights commissioner has ruled that a Vodafone employee who blew the whistle on a multimillion-euro fraud at the company and was later dismissed, should be reinstated.