IF ever a team captured the spirit of a nation, it was Ireland’s 22 proud heroes in Croke Park on Saturday.

WHEN the joint Garda and Army No 1 Bands played God Save the Queen on Saturday, several thousand supporters joined in, without a boo, a catcall, or a derisory whistle from a crowd of more than 80,000 people.

Know-it-all broadcaster Jeff Stelling says he suffers memory lapses. Really? He also discusses the sacking of Rodney Marsh, the death of George Best, why he hates the transfer window and why he’d love to add Roy Keane to his Soccer Saturday team, writes Liam Mackey.

IT WAS a tough few days afterwards, guys trying to get over it — you’re playing things over and over in your head. More than anything though, a lot of us felt that we left people down, the manner in which we lost.

Derby 0 Stoke 2

BIRMINGHAM substitute DJ Campbell rescued a precious point for Steve Bruce’s side with a last-gasp equaliser in the Coca-Cola Championship clash at St Andrews.

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!

THE general emotion from both managers at the end of yesterday’s thrilling All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final in Limerick was one of relief.

THE sleepy, Boreenmanna Road in Cork is no more — fizzing with new developments and completed apartment schemes this former backwater is in high demand.

WIGAN manager Paul Jewell has claimed any Football Association charge for foul and abusive language following Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal would “smack of double standards”.

PAOLO BERTINI is a nice guy.

LEEDS legend Eddie Gray fears the club could struggle to get back among the game’s elite after a humiliating relegation to League One — English football’s third tier — was all but sealed.

RAFAEL BENITEZ shrugged off his Liverpool shadow squad’s defeat at Portsmouth and vowed to confine the embarrassment of Fratton Park to a mere footnote by punching another big hole in Chelsea’s season at Anfield tomorrow night.

WHAT promises to be the closest general election contest in years gets under way in earnest today following yesterday’s dissolution of the 29th Dáil by President Mary McAleese.

OUR BELOVED old dog disappeared the other day: I believe she was dog-napped.

THEY’RE taking deep breaths in Milan, London, Manchester and Liverpool right now.

SOCCER, hurling and music were Adrian Dunne’s three major passions growing up in Co Wexford.

THE SEASON may not be officially over, but, from the moment the final whistle blew on Munster and Leinster’s Heineken Cup ambitions, both provinces were in post-mortem mode and plotting next season’s campaigns.

CELTIC clinched the Bank of Scotland Premier League title in the most dramatic of fashions with a late win over Kilmarnock.

BRIAN CARNEY gave another glimpse of his rugby union promise with a second try-scoring appearance though it was too late to save Munster’s season from freefall.