WHEN Barcelona’s delegation of sharp-suited scouts deliver their findings to Pep Guardiola this morning, their report could consist of a single phrase: “Stop Frank Lampard.”

SARSFIELDS winning the county SHC title in 2008 has certainly had a knock on effect at local schools level where the boys of Riverstown produced a fine display to win the Allianz Sciath na Scol DH1 final at Páirc Ui Rinn yesterday.

A MAJOR rift has emerged in the Catholic Church over the handling of the child abuse scandal after 18 religious orders rejected urgings from the country’s two most senior clerics to reconsider their stance on the indemnity deal.

A season that started with idealistic talk of the Respect campaign ended, predictably, with a manager rounding on a hapless referee.

AS celebrations go it was hardly a case of popping the champagne corks, but then that just isn’t Ricky Sbragia’s style.

ANYTHING up to 35,000 Irish spectators breathed a collective sigh of relief when Jonathan Sexton hoofed the ball into the crowd and Nigel Owens blew the final whistle at Murrayfield on Saturday.

GUTS, character, commitment.

THE deceptiveness of league form was painted vividly yesterday afternoon in Semple Stadium.

NO SURPRISES in the sunshine of Fraher Field yesterday, with Cork running out comfortable winners over Waterford in this Munster SFC clash to set up their expected clash with Kerry in the Munster semi-final.

DERRY manager Damien Cassidy last night made no apologies for the physicality of their Ulster SFC victory over Monaghan claiming “we are not in the business of entertaining people”.

SINGING the blues never sounded so good.

THEY go back a long way together, the Cork and Waterford football managers.

SOMETIMES in this journalistic game you look back upon things you wrote years earlier and wonder how you could possibly have got it so wrong.

He is a dyed-in-the-wool hurling man who’s made rapid strides through the tiers of rugby refereeing. Ahead of tonight’s European Challenge Cup final, George Clancy spoke to COLM O’CONNOR

GO UP to Cork Airport, or roll out the road to Shannon today, or tomorrow morning, and you’ll clock them immediately in the queues.

GEORGIOS SAMARAS claims Celtic are a better team than Rangers – and insists the Ibrox side will be undeserving champions if they clinch the title against Dundee United on Sunday.

AIB’s outgoing chief executive Eugene Sheehy has denied accusations that the bank had acted illegally in allowing its subsidiary, Goodbody Stockbrokers, to trade in its shares overseas before legislation was changed to formally allow it to do so.

JUST when you thought our sleaze-splattered banking sector could hardly get much murkier, up pops a money mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot.

HULL manager Phil Brown intends to continue “getting up people’s noses” despite the acrimonious events of midweek.

IT was the rising crescendo of the children’s choir that did it.