JOE KERNAN had confided to his 1977 playing colleague Jimmy Smyth last week what he intended to do at half-time in yesterday's All-Ireland final to boost his players.

TARA WHELAN’S school jumper, a family photo and her work shirt from the local Sweep Bar will be among the symbols of her short but eventful life which will be brought to the altar today for the 17-year-old’s funeral Mass.

ATHLETES who test positive for the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) could get reduced bans if they provide information on anybody involved in a doping conspiracy, the sport’s governing body has said.

TRAFFICKING in women and children for sexual exploitation is one of the most serious human rights violations in today’s world. This commerce in people is on the increase across Europe as organised crime expands and becomes more profitable.

THE GAA will pocket over 30m euro from this year's football and hurling championships in another bumper season for the organisation.

COMPANIES doing business in the developing world spend nearly €800 billion a year bribing officials and politicians — 20 times more than the current spend on international aid.

A NURSE who blew the whistle on a colleague she believed was stealing morphine from seriously ill patients claims the wrongdoer was protected by “higher-ups” and is still practising.

WEST HAM boss Alan Pardew was faced with a mounting FA Cup final headache after injuries to two star men tarnished his side’s win at doomed West Brom.

Right from Steve Cooney’s first didgeridoo note on the opening track of their third album, Dublin-based seven-piece the Bonny Men command their audience’s absolute attention.

“Are there any lovebirds in the house? And if there aren’t, what the hell are you doing at a Gavin James gig?”

Ireland’s Under-21 women and men’s team salvaged upbeat wins to their European campaigns though the ultimate feeling will be of missed opportunities for both.

Frank Lampard got his first Premier League home win as Chelsea boss as second-half goals from Jorginho and Willian sank Brighton 2-0.

An umpire at the heart of the call not to award Limerick a last-gasp 65 in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final has been given a pair of glasses as a Christmas gift by a Limerick fan.

Cher if you agree.