ALLY McCOIST insists tomorrow’s Old Firm derby is all about the players and not about himself and Neil Lennon.

JUST in case we thought that things couldn’t get any worse, along comes Arsene Wenger to assure us that, no, really, they could.

MUNSTER skipper Peter O’Mahony hopes to celebrate his 22nd birthday in style by leading Munster to a third successive RaboDirect Pro12 victory at Musgrave Park tonight (7.45pm).

THE ODDS are stacked against them and history suggests they haven’t a hope but there is something tangible about Ireland’s demeanour heading into the World Cup Pool C showdown with Australia that suggests something special is on the cards at Eden Park tomorrow morning.

SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

DAVID LUIZ, the forgotten man of Chelsea’s January transfer spree, ensured it wasn’t all about Fernando Torres as Chelsea scraped past Bayer Leverkusen in their opening fixture of the Champions League; but the Spaniard did at least set up both goals to provide a glimmer of hope that his own luck is about to change.

THERE are so many talking points since the commencement of the World Cup that it is difficult to know where to begin.

WEXFORD have upped their campaign to introduce the clock/hooter motion to the GAA.

FOR Pat Gilroy’s Dubs it was Corduff.

FOR the first time since 2003, Castlehaven will contest a Cork SFC final, bridging that eight year gap in dazzling fashion at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

THEIR progress this season has taken many by surprise, including some in their own camp, but UCC have gained confidence throughout the SFC and that was reflected in their controlled display to overcome Avondhu in Saturday night’s semi-final tie in Páirc Uí Rinn.

ST MARTIN’S (Muckalee) and James Stephens eased into the Kilkenny SHC semi-finals yesterday, but league kings and championship favourites Ballyhale Shamrocks and neighbours and fierce rivals Carrickshock must meet again after a thrilling draw.

NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew hailed the men asked to plug the gap left by Andy Carroll after seeing Demba Ba plunder a hat-trick against Blackburn on Saturday.

DEFYING US and Israeli opposition, Palestinians asked the United Nations yesterday to accept them as a member state, sidestepping nearly two decades of failed negotiations in the hope this dramatic move on the world stage would re-energise their quest for an independent homeland.

FOR some it’s a match to get out of the way, for others it could be the entirety of their World Cup campaign.

THE nights are drawing in on us, you’ll notice, ahead of another winter, like the cinema lights dimming before a movie.

THE All-Ireland football final. 82,300 spectators. The final whistle.

JOY for Na Piarsaigh yesterday as they booked their place in the Limerick SHC final with a rousing win over Patrickswell at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, shrugging off the loss of David Breen to a red card and ending the game five points ahead.

AUSTRALIA captain James Horwill says his side can improve after opening their World Cup campaign with a 32-6 win over Italy at North Harbour Stadium.

COURTNEY LAWES’ World Cup could be curtailed if Argentina cite the second row following England’s victory yesterday.