Darren Clarke was in dazzling form at the start of the United States PGA championship today, taking the early lead at Whistling Straits.

Manchester United drew on a blend of youth and experience to survive a searching test of their strength and ultimately put themselves on course to qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Another game, another historic record set at Highbury. But, just as pertinently, another forward masterclass by Thierry Henry.

Liverpool 0 Graz AK 1 (agg 2-1)

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered today for a march against a controversial animal research centre which is being built by Oxford University.

Spain’s Juan Miguel Mercado may have claimed his maiden stage victory in the Tour de France on Friday, but once again it was overall race leader Lance Armstrong who held the limelight.

Lance Armstrong was fiercely criticised by Domina Vacanze team manager Vincenzo Santoni after the American rider renewed his personal feud with Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni during the 18th stage of the Tour de France.

The Turkish government was under fire today for ignoring warnings about a new express train that derailed in northwestern Turkey killing 36 people and injuring 81 in one of the country’s worst train disasters.

Tánaiste Mary Harney today called on former Fianna Fáil TD Beverley Flynn to resign her seat in the wake of the National Irish Bank scandal.

Liverpool 2 Roma 1

The 62 seconds of madness which forced last Saturday’s All-Ireland MFC quarter-final between Cork and Laois to be abandoned will be formally investigated in Croke Park on Saturday.

Laois and Cork could face the ultimate punishment - ejection from the All-Ireland minor football championship - as punishment for the brawl that broke out in the Gaelic Grounds after their quarter-final draw on Sunday.

Newcastle 4 Rangers 2

Railways investigators today began a massive inquiry into Turkey’s worst rail disaster.

Argentina 3 Colombia 0

President George Bush arrives in New York later today ahead of his crucial speech to the Republican national convention.

One of English football’s most famous referees said today he is “permanently scarred” from the abuse and hatred he suffered from fans.

West Bromwich Albion 0 Norwich 0

Blackburn 0 Middlesbrough 4

Dublin official John Feighery has been handed the whistle for next weekend’s FAI Carlsberg Cup Final, it was announced today.