THE fallout from France’s qualification for the World Cup has continued with in the country after national team coach Raymond Domenech blasting fans for their criticism of Henry, saying conceded that Thierry Henry he has always had a tense relationship with the team’s fans — and he rubbished his captain’s claim that he was left out to dry by members of the French football federation.

A STATE bailout for flood victims will be considered only in cases of extreme hardship, according to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

NINE goals and Robbie Keane sat and watched it all. If ever there was a day not to admit to post-international weekend fatigue, this, perhaps, was it.

BARCELONA are sweating on the fitness of playmaker Lionel Messi ahead of their two huge matches this week.

TIPPERARY outfit Brian Boru’s held on for victory in a thrilling Tesco All-Ireland Ladies IFC club final yesterday.

THE majority of the Munster team that under-performed so disappointingly against Leinster last week have an opportunity to redeem themselves in this evening’s Heineken Cup opener against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

THE Green Party is coming under increased pressure to secure a wide range of concessions from Fianna Fáil as negotiations on the revised Programme for Government (PfG) enter the final two days.

SOMETHING for both protagonists in yesterday’s Dr Harty Cup clash in Dromcollogher as Midleton CBS and Ard Scoil Rís refused to be separated at the final whistle.

THE final whistle has been blown on one of the country’s best known travel agencies, Ray Treacy Travel, following the decision of its owner to retire from business.

IT might have been a little too close for comfort at the finish, but nothing could detract from Na Piarsaigh’s achievement in winning through to their first Live95fm Limerick Senior Hurling Championship final at the fourth attempt in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

IF this really was Carlo Ancelotti’s first serious test as manager of Chelsea, the Italian passed it, and comfortably so.

NATIONAL Referees Chairman, Mick Curley, has declared himself pleased with the opening round of National Football League fixtures, revealing “no adverse reaction” from the game’s top whistlers.

KILDARE manager Kieran McGeeney has termed the disciplinary measures which followed his side’s ill-tempered battle with Laois in the O’Byrne Cup as “a joke”.

IT has been over four months since that crushing All-Ireland final defeat but the Cork footballers returned to competitive action for the first time yesterday with the sort of performance that oozed character and determination.

DIDIER DROGBA finally found a way to eclipse John Terry in the headline stakes last night as he produced a powerful two-goal performance against Arsenal that not only sent Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League but re-focused attention away from off-field sexual intrigue and back to the more straightforward business of football.

SHIRTLESS, thigh-bandaged, John Terry made his way towards the Stamford Bridge dressing rooms and embraced Carlo Ancelotti as he left the pitch.

AFTER being written off by Arsene Wenger last November as a player who, “doesn’t do much”, Didier Drogba looked rather surprised to find himself accepting a congratulatory handshake from the Frenchman on the final whistle.

THE Irish women’s bobsleigh team could be sensationally stripped of their place at next week’s Winter Olympics following a legal challenge by Australian officials.

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell insists “the morale of the team is the same as it ever was” despite back-to-back defeats against Leinster and Northampton.

TOURISTS looked bewildered and day trippers stopped to stare as Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse trooped through Kinsale yesterday, followed by up to 200 revellers eating and drinking their way though the town.