THEY travel to Parnell Park in two weeks still bearing thoughts of survival in NHL Division 1, but after another emphatic defeat in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, Limerick remain on course to drop to second tier hurling next spring.

I WAS in Páirc Uí Chaoim hearly for this match yester-day, and as the music played, a rich selection of Cork songs, the thought struck me – is this the only county in Ireland where the people are homesick even when they’re at home?

AS modes of recovery go, theirs was plucked straight from leftfield.

NOW that I am a grandmother with seven precious grandchildren, I am more aware of the importance of passing on some life skills to the next generation. They all live within 15 minutes of us so we are fortunate to see them almost every day.

MARIO BALOTELLI is to be given one more chance by Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho after he left a blemish on an otherwise successful evening at the San Siro.

AT a time when Limerick hurling is in turmoil, the young hurlers of Ardscoil Rís wrote a glorious chapter in their school’s history yesterday by winning the Dr Harty Cup for the first time at the third attempt at McDonagh Park, Nenagh.

DAVID BECKHAM is not a manused to being overshadowed but his Old Trafford homecoming was hijacked by Wayne Rooney last night as the striker produced a mesmerising performance to help Manchester United beat AC Milan and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

THE third episode of this year’s Dr Harty Cup final saga takes place at McDonagh Park, Nenagh today between Thurles CBS and Ardscoil Rís and, if it’s half as good as the two previous games, then hurling fans are in for another treat.

SATURDAY’S 100th international cap represents the latest milestone in the magnificent rugby career of Brian O’Driscoll but the man himself seems immune to the hype and headlines surrounding his entry into the century club.

BIRMINGHAM gained revenge for their weekend FA Cup exit against Portsmouth after sending the Premier League’s bottom club closer to relegation with a 2-1 triumph at Fratton Park.

DAVID SULLIVAN, the West Ham co-owner, was in pleading mood before kick-off.

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte was left fuming yesterday by the timing of referee Martin Higgins’ full-time whistle after a nip-and-tuck relegation dogfight that finally swung Monaghan’s way.

IRISH fans of a bitter disposition may be pleased to learn Thierry Henry’s relationship with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola looks to be disintegrating.

AN ARGENTINIAN whose surname begins with M settled last night’s Champions League first leg semi-final encounter at the San Siro. And it wasn’t Lionel Messi.

JAMES COUGHLAN has travelled a long and frustrating road before finally realising the early potential he displayed with CBC and Dolphin.

ONE down, four to go. Aston Villa left it late, but they did what manager Martin O’Neill wanted – to win.

THE attacking genius of Michael Murphy has caused suffering for plenty teams in recent seasons and Tipperary’s U21s became the latest victims of the Glenswilly man’s prowess in Saturday night’s All-Ireland U21FC semi-final in Parnell Park.

FORMER intercounty referee Willie Barrett abandoned a club hurling match in Tipperary on Saturday after he was struck twice by a ‘supporter’ wielding a hurley.

Shelbourne 1 Cork City Foras Co-Op 1

AN AIB whistle-blower was sacked shortly after he had highlighted irregularities in the bank’s internal accounting system, an Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday.