MANY Irish people — especially those in the second half of life — hold their health insurance premiums as dear to them as their family home or their family life assurance policy.

WATERFORD bounced back from their opening day defeat to Wexford to claim a historic first Division Three victory at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

JUST for the record, the last train out of Dublin’s Heuston Station to Cork tonight is at nine o’clock.

I WAS left disappointed by the glamour games in the top two visions on the opening weekend of the Allianz Hurling League.

THE old adage that you never win anything with kids, demolished so spectacularly by Manchester United in the past, was decimated again during Arsenal’s victory over Barcelona.

BOLTON booked a trip to Fulham in the last 16 of the FA Cup after Ivan Klasnic’s strike secured victory in their fourth-round replay at Wigan.

EXTRAORDINARY scenes at the San Siro, as Tottenham maintained their fairytale first season in the Champions League by beating AC Milan, currently top of Serie A, on their own turf.

HEAVEN or hell, and nothing in between. Or so you would think. Those who insisted on getting carried away at the Bridge were probably the same people howling “Wigan? WIGAN?!?” on Saturday night.

WASPS director of rugby Tony Hanks was delighted with the pay-off for the hard work which ensured yesterday’s Heineken Cup clash with Newport Gwent Dragons went ahead.

He has served his county well, but next Saturday Liam Sheedy will savour his special Christmas Day treat more than usual. John Fogarty explains.

WHEN I was 15-years-old or so I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go on a school trip to Barcelona.

TRALEE IT were crowned Higher Education SFL Division Two champions after overcoming a robust and spirited challenge from Waterford IT at Mallow last night.

A SWISS court yesterday found former banker Rudolf Elmer, who handed over secret data to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, guilty of breaching bank secrecy laws and handed down a suspended fine.

THREE GOALS in the opening half paved the way for Coachford Community School in a hopelessly one-sided Munster Senior A Vocational Schools football semi-final at Kilmichael yesterday.

STEVEN DAVIS grabbed the only goal of the game as Rangers scraped past Inverness at Ibrox to edge closer to Celtic at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange was on the sharp end of some unwelcome exposures himself yesterday as a former ally spilled the beans on the controversial Australian and his whistle-blowing organisation.

NICKY Henderson moved within two of the magical 2,000 career winners mark as Kells Belle obliged in the Bromfield “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle at Ludlow yesterday.

I COULDN’T help but feel sorry for Italy at the final whistle on Saturday at the Stadio Flaminio, watching as their outstanding captain Sergio Parisse sank to his knees, shattered, heartbroken and drained after yet another heroic performance in defeat.

LIMERICK IT were deserving victors in this entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup tie at Belfield yesterday, but UCD will look on it as a mission accomplished too.