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”.

JOSE MOURINHO has promised Manchester United a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday – but pledged the new Premiership champions can expect a major battle to retain their crown next season.

AH, the great wheel of life.

A HAT-TRICK of goals by Ryan Clifford powered Cork to an emphatic victory over Waterford in a disappointing ESB Munster MHC first round tie at sun-drenched Pairc Ui Chaoimh last night.

Cork City 2 Dungannon Swifts 1

WICKLOW’S victory over Kildare in the Division 2 NHL semi-final affords them the opportunity to play the final against Laois as a curtain-raiser to the Kilkenny/Waterford decider in Thurles on April 29.

THE crisis in the health service is set to deepen this week with nurses cranking up their fight for more pay and shorter working hours and Health Minister Mary Harney moving to recruit hundreds of specialists in a bid to break the grip of consultants over the system.

CREWS fired artillery shells yesterday to safely trigger avalanches before they could pose a threat to traffic on a Colorado mountain highway, a day after a huge snow slide knocked two cars off the road in a high pass and buried them.

REAL MADRID failed to take advantage of slip-ups from La Liga’s frontrunners with a woeful display at the Riazor as they went down to Deportivo last night.

IT’S seldom Shannon players are left with the feeling of having been “mugged” at fortress Thomond Park, but this was one such rare occasion.

SHAUN WRIGHT PHILLIPS couldn’t have looked more dumbstruck if Jose Mourinho had just told him he was going to start a match for Chelsea.

Charlton 0 Wycombe 1