Dripsey 1-14 Glen Rovers 1-12

ST FLANNAN’S caused one of the first shocks in this year’s Corn Uí Mhuirí at Newcastlewest yesterday where they saw off the challenge of Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in a keenly contested first-round tie.

THE Liverpool derby can be daunting prospect for any player let alone a newcomer, but Andrea Dossena is no stranger to needle matches.

MANCHESTER UNITED last night accused referee Mike Riley of “unfair” treatment of their players after another spiteful and acrimonious visit to Chelsea.

IRELAND must target goals if they are to win tomorrow’s second and decisive International Rules clash with Australia according to series veteran, Sean Marty Lockhart.

EVERYONE was on their best behaviour in Madrid thank goodness. UEFA were unavailable for comment.

SIMON FINNIGAN insists Ireland will overcome the “devastation” of their two-point defeat by Tonga to make another important contribution to the 2008 World Cup.

NEWCASTLE boss Joe Kinnear will not allow the furore surrounding Joey Barton to cloud his judgment ahead of tonight’s must-win clash with West Brom.

Ireland 20 Tonga 22

MIKE REIDY provided the inspiration as Dromcollogher/Broadford won their fourth Limerick County SFC title in eight years in emphatic style at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

DROM and Inch created history by winning the Munster senior camogie title for the first time at Mahon on Saturday.

NEWCASTLE interim manager Joe Kinnear insisted Sunderland fans’ treatment of Joey Barton, who was pelted with missiles during Saturday’s derby at the Stadium of Light, was “not acceptable’’.

NORMALLY so fractious when denied what he believes to be his rightful place at the head of the Premier League, Alex Ferguson has managed to maintain his good humour so far this season because of his conviction that, having turned the corner into the new year, his side now face a downhill charge towards the May finishing line.

NEW Argentina boss Diego Maradona held “helpful and positive” talks yesterday with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his captain-elect Javier Mascherano.

Nearly a decade ago, before controversies and strikes blighted the hurling landscape in Cork, the bond between the county’s hurlers and their loyal fans was forged by the emotional All-Ireland success of 1999 — with the legendary Jimmy Barry-Murphy at the helm. In a new book, the Irish Examiner’s Michael Moynihan reflects on an emotional journey.

NOT a bad week — 100 League goals for Lampard, 1,000 Premier League goals surpassed for the club, 100 clean sheets for Cech, five goals against Sunderland, a hat-trick for Anelka, and back to the top of the table.

THE first weekend of November doesn’t mean an easing of the demands placed on Cork’s Michael Cussen.

THE Garda who built the case against a Roscommon mother convicted of abusing her six children has said the full truth of the scandal may never come out.

MORE than five months on from their All-Ireland quarter-final hammering by champions Tyrone, Dublin midfielder Ciarán Whelan still can’t figure out what happened to the four times Leinster champions. At this stage, the game has been consigned to history, yet he has a vivid recollection about what it felt like after their challenge collapsed 20 minutes from the end.

SO another obstacle overcome with only a modicum of discomfort: yet another goal conceded from a set-piece. Scolari must be very grateful indeed to Lampard as his amazing strike may have distracted the supporters enough to realise that the game itself was yet another insipid display against inferior opposition.