JOHN O’MAHONY could be forgiven for gloating, except that it would be totally alien to his nature!

FINN HARPS will look to their dynamic young striker Kevin McHugh to help take them into the semi-final of the FAI Carlsberg Cup when they play Cork City at Turner’s Cross today (7.45pm).

HARD questions must be asked - and answered - in the aftermath of the scathing report on the misguided butchery of women under the guise of responsible medicine at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

ARSENE WENGER will warn his Arsenal players not to take the Premiership crown for granted before they step out at White Hart Lane tomorrow in a bid to recreate their title-winning achievement of 1971.

JAMES SHEEHAN cuts straight to it. The recent Kerry SFC semi-final involving Mid Kerry and Laune Rangers was one of those experiences that he’d gladly like to avoid for the rest of his football days.

JOSTLING and shuffling like excited schoolboys ahead of a debs night, 31 nervous Rose of Tralee escorts formed a guard-of-honour of sorts to welcome their Roses to the Fels Point Hotel — and many to Tralee for the first time.

THE foreign press swirled around the wounded prey — they scented Brian Cowen’s political blood.

THE Thomond Park cocktail of the raucous and the polite gripped Limerick’s O’Connell Street during Saturday’s epic European Cup final.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez cannot understand why Jamie Carragher is not one of England’s first-choice central defenders.

CORK HARLEQUINS begin their fourth European adventure in Prague today when they represent Ireland in this year’s European Club Championships.

NOW, I appreciate that, despite a couple of wins in five days at Croke Park, many of you retain reservations about the ability of Steve Staunton to lead the Republic.

NEW Argentina boss Diego Maradona held “helpful and positive” talks yesterday with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his captain-elect Javier Mascherano.

AS Gordon D’Arcy makes a long awaited return to competitive rugby action, Ulster’s Bryn Cunningham will give his side another reason to beat Magners League champions Leinster at Ravenhill tonight (7.35pm).

ABSENCE is supposed to make the heart grow fonder, but clearly not in the case of Swansea and Cardiff.

IN THE aftermath of another heart-stopping victory, Cork boss Gerald McCarthy was sipping a cold drink, putting the swirl of events into some kind of order.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN didn’t appear like someone whose job was on the line after another sub-standard display against a better, more cohesive France at the Stade de France last night.

ARSENAL captain William Gallas believes the Gunners’ new-found team spirit can see them challenge for honours again.

VINCENT CLERC was hailed as Moses by team-mate Cedric Heymans following his three-try haul against Ireland.

LAWRIE SANCHEZ lamented the “usual drama at the Cottage” after claiming Fulham had been denied two precious points by poor refereeing.