JIMMY Barry-Murphy’s late father, John Barry, or John B as he was affectionately known in his club St Finbarr’s, had a saying when describing heavy defeats suffered by his club: “They were too numerous for us.”

IT’S BEEN a tough few months for wasteful spenders, and the backlash against squandermania continued in Croke Park yesterday.

IN AS tough a game as either side have experienced all season, Cork Constitution held out for a victory at Temple Hill yesterday to enhance their position at the top of the AIB League.

A LEFTIST television journalist made history by bringing a party of former guerrillas to power for the first time since the end of a bloody civil war and promised yesterday to unite the country after a bitter presidential campaign.

TRY telling Darren O’Dea that the Scottish League Cup is worthless. The Dubliner set aside months of frustration at Celtic to inspire the Bhoys to deserved extra-time triumph at Hampden yesterday and dash Rangers’ hopes of a clean sweep of domestic trophies.

WALES centre Jamie Roberts is determined to prevent an “absolutely gutting” scenario unfolding at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

ARSENE WENGER feels his Arsenal side must free their minds to get back on the goal trail and kick-start the season.

POLITICAL decisions and policy in Ireland is believed to be heavily influenced by personal relationships, favours and donations, a damning corruption report has found.

WHISTLE blowers in the health service will be legally protected under new measures which came into force yesterday.

IT WAS at the end of a pretty long chat when yours truly finally took a deep breath and asked the question that had hung over the conversation like a persistent storm cloud.

STEWART DOWNING turned in an inspired display as Middlesbrough shook off their relegation fears to book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the fourth successive year.

THIERRY Henry earned Barcelona a draw on his return to France with a second-half equaliser against Lyon in a thrilling Champions League last-16 first leg at the Stade Gerland last night.

SO Goose has passed his first test and will be facing the next this evening; win tonight and the feelgood factor will be well and truly back for the blue faithful, although I wasn’t one of those singing “Chelsea are back” at the final whistle up at Villa Park. Premature crowing often leaves egg on one’s face — doesn’t it Rafa?

ALEX FERGUSON is paying no attention to his poor head-to-head record against Jose Mourinho as he prepares Manchester United for their showdown with Inter Milan tonight.

A SATISFYING return for the Cork footballers with a second victory in the Allianz League yesterday, but achieved with no greater consistency than in their drawn encounter in Newbridge three weeks ago.

A POWERFUL and consummate display propelled UL past the challenge of Cork IT in yesterday’s Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final in the Clan na nGael Fontenoy club in Ringsend.

IN THE end, even the French supporters stood and applauded. It was that kind of match, honour in defeat, glorious satisfaction in victory. The Irish performance and result against France on Saturday offers sufficient evidence to indicate Declan Kidney and his management team have addressed many of the issues that contributed to those disappointing displays back to and including the 2007 World Cup.

JOHN TERRY could hardly have been more emphatic. “We need a result, we need a performance, we need a clean sheet,” the Chelsea captain wrote in his programme notes ahead of this visit from the top flight’s least in-form side.

TIME, I think, for something upbeat to combat the brutal weather and even more brutal headlines. Time to look on the bright side.

SHORTLY before he died, according to his son Seán, Charlie Haughey said: “I never broke my word in politics.”