I retired two weeks ago from Semple Stadium. Even though you’re officially the groundsman, there’s a lot to do that doesn’t involve marking out the 65s or looking after the playing surface.

A member of punk band Pussy Riot was freed on appeal yesterday, but a court upheld sentences for two others imposed over a cathedral protest against Vladimir Putin.

Chelsea last night lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association over “inappropriate language” they claim Mark Clattenburg used against John Obi Mikel in their acrimonious defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

Simon Zebo’s career has been honed on try scoring, not at all unusual for a left winger.

Regular Rose of Tralee viewers are used to unusual sights, with banana songs, breakfast rolls, and a contestant who decapitated Sesame Street’s Bert of Bert and Ernie fame (seriously) all taking the spotlight in recent years.

The official in charge of replays on Croke Park’s big screens has admitted he only re-showed Eoghan O’Gara’s point for Dublin on Sunday because he believed it was a wide.

Newcastle 1 Atromitos 0

Cobh Ramblers 5 Wexford Youths 0

A system to appoint the next Cork senior football manager is yet be put in place after the issue was not discussed at last night’s county board meeting in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Ezequiel Schelotto’s second-half equaliser salvaged a point for Inter last night in the Milan derby as AC had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

George North admits Wales have much soul-searching to do as they try to keep their flagging autumn internationals campaign on the rails.

A number of top inter-county referees have been told they are surplus to requirements in 2013, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Stoke 2 Newcastle 1

Southampton 2 Newcastle 0

Waterford hurling selector Nicky Cashin has stepped down for “personal reasons”, with Déise legend Ken McGrath widely tipped to join manager Michael Ryan’s backroom team as a replacement.

Striker Nikica Jelavic helped to book Everton an FA Cup semi-final date at Wembley with arch-rivals Liverpool as Sunderland’s dreams turned to dust last night.

It was a case of job done for Jack O’Connor yesterday in Thurles with victory over Tipperary and a spot in the Munster semi-final in Cork secured.

An extra-time tally of five points proved just enough for Charleville to claim a 0-20 to 0-19 victory over Éire Óg in this enthralling Cork IHC at Mallow.

As the rain began to soak the grounds of the University of Limerick yesterday afternoon, an 82-year-old professor was running around the college grounds on his 43rd marathon.

Pat Smullen will ride Born To Sea in Saturday’s Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, with the colt sporting a first-time hood.