In the second part of our Top 50 list of the most influential figures in Irish music, Joe McNamee considers some of the surprising results.

Rathluirc CBS 3-8 Doon CBS 2-6

Brendan Larkin

HALMAHERA attempts to make history at Doncaster today by becoming the first horse to win the totesport Portland three times.

DERMOT WELD was in double form at Cologne in Germany, yesterday taking Listed races with Burren Rose and Society Hostess.

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly yesterday leapt to the defence of under-fire referees and insisted the association will do everything in its power to ease the mounting pressure on them.

HOLLAND striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been banned for two World Cup qualifiers by UEFA after insulting referee Anders Frisk after their Euro 2004 semi-final against Portugal.

UCD 0-15 Oulart-the-Ballagh 1-9

TIGER WOODS, Phil Mickelson and all the other long but wayward hitting golfers have been warned.

TWENTY years a-growing, Dublin 4’s very own Wren Boys’ Festival lived up to its reputation for fun and divilment at Sandymount Green yesterday.

WHEN asked by a journalist why the set-up at his superb complex at Whistling Straits has such an Irish flavour, Herb Kohler’s face lights up: “Ireland”, he exclaims with undisguised relish, “I love the place.”

DUBLIN manager Tommy Lyons promised plenty of fun and games at the upcoming training sessions as players will now have to battle for places following the fine displays of the substitutes introduced against Louth in yesterday’s Leinster championship tie.

THE Cowboys and the Jaguars worked overtime for NFL victories on Sunday.

SHATTERED bodies and rubble were once more strewn across the streets of Turkey's commercial capital Istanbul yesterday, in a strike against Britain that US and British leaders called a challenge to their war on terror.

Derry City 2 Longford Town 1

A GRINNING Gerhard Schroeder leapt onto a giant stage to thumping music and applause from several thousand Social Democratic (SPD) supporters.

CORK and Meath renew their intense football rivalry when their junior teams meet in the All-Ireland final in Portlaoise today (1pm).

BALLYDUFF face a stiff penalty tonight for their part in the disgraceful scenes which marred the recent Kerry SHC semi final with Kilmoyley.