NOW that I am a grandmother with seven precious grandchildren, I am more aware of the importance of passing on some life skills to the next generation. They all live within 15 minutes of us so we are fortunate to see them almost every day.

THE third episode of this year’s Dr Harty Cup final saga takes place at McDonagh Park, Nenagh today between Thurles CBS and Ardscoil Rís and, if it’s half as good as the two previous games, then hurling fans are in for another treat.

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If Government promises were enough to resolve our problems, we would probably have no problems, because the current Government has never been short on promises.

Fallout from the All Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary continues.

KILKENNY may have been starved of senior camogie success of late, but midfielder Ann Dalton has never found herself short of accumulating honours.

GARY CAHILL might remain a largely unknown figure outside Bolton, but his manager Gary Megson has backed him to “be ready for the World Cup” if chosen for next summer’s finals by England manager Fabio Capello.

THE head of Norway’s refereeing union, Rune Pedersen, is confident Tom Henning Ovrebo, the referee blamed for Chelsea’s Champions League exit, will ride out the storm of criticism and not cave in to demands that he quit his job.

CORK manager Denis Walsh wasn’t long picking out the crucial period in yesterday’s Munster SHC quarter-final.

ROY KEANE remains bullish about his Ipswich side’s chances of making the Championship play-offs despite admitting disappointment at yet another draw.

KILDARE manager Kieran McGeeney has termed the disciplinary measures which followed his side’s ill-tempered battle with Laois in the O’Byrne Cup as “a joke”.

LIVERPOOL will play a waiting game with the fitness of a string of top stars, including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, as they prepare for Monday’s home clash with Birmingham.

A season that started with idealistic talk of the Respect campaign ended, predictably, with a manager rounding on a hapless referee.

JUST when you thought our sleaze-splattered banking sector could hardly get much murkier, up pops a money mystery worthy of Hercule Poirot.

ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has been charged with improper conduct by the FA following allegations he spat at Hull assistant boss Brian Horton after the FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium on March 17.

IT WAS the Czechs’ Kennedy moment as Barack Obama stood high above their city, extolling their brave fight for freedom.

TWO cracking Harty Cup games down for decision this afternoon with an all-Waterford tie taking place at Fraher Field, Dungarvan between DLS Waterford and Blackwater CS while at Mourneabbey, Coláiste Chríost Rí take on Charleville CBS in an all-Cork clash.

WHATEVER happens this weekend, Brendan McVeigh will not be short of fireside stories for the grandchildren in his winter years.

CORK hurler Ronan Curran says he and this teammates are looking forward to this year’s National Hurling League, having enjoyed a trouble-free preseason in comparison with previous years.

NO surprises for the leading question Graham Canty faced at the final whistle yesterday.