Joe Cole’s magnificent strike on the stroke of half-time gave West Ham a surprise 1-0 interval lead against Arsenal at Upton Park today.

Aodhan MacSuibhne has been drafted in to replace Dickie Murphy as referee of Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.

Dublin 1-14, Donegal 1-07 - match report

Blackburn 0 Sunderland 0

Celtic 5 Dundee United 0

West Ham 2 Newcastle 2

Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 1

Thomas Sorensen returned from injury to help Sunderland snatch a precious Premiership point by holding Blackburn in a gritty battle.

Police were continuing their hunt today for loyalist thugs posing as Glasgow Celtic supporters believed to have been involved in a series of attacks in north Belfast.

Claudio Reyna paid off a large chunk of his transfer fee when he smashed home a precious double to bank three Premiership points for Sunderland.

A bitterly contested Loyalist march in flash point north Belfast today passed peacefully.

Two-goal Paul Dickov earned Leicester their first league win in four months and piled on relegation misery for fellow strugglers Blackburn.

World and European champions France were sensationally beaten by African minnows Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul this afternoon.

World and European champions France were sensationally beaten by African minnows Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul this afternoon.

World and European champions France were sensationally beaten by African minnows Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul this afternoon.

The 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan burst into life with a stunning opening extravaganza encompassing the old and the new, as befits a traditional nation which has helped inspire a technological revolution across the globe.

England captain David Beckham today vowed he was raring to go as he closes on a return to competitive action against Sweden on Sunday.

Decisions by police to fire plastic baton rounds in a bid to quell a number of riots in Northern Ireland were backed today by police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan.

They were the biggest off-pitch World Cup story, and officially recognized as such by FIFA. Caroline O’Doherty spent a month with the colourful and charismatic boys (and gals) in green, aka the best fans in the world.

The worst of times…the best of times. Liam Mackey reflects on an extraordinary 31 days in the Far East, from the depressing pall of greyness that hung over the Irish camp in Izumo through the drama of Ibaraki and onto the swansong in Suwon.