ECHOES resound of one of the biggest ever public health scandals following confirmation by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) that it is unable to discover how a woman developed hepatitis C last year after receiving three blood transfusions.

STICKING a microphone in John McIntyre’s face after the final whistle yesterday didn’t feel so much like kicking a man when he was down, more like robbing him of his wallet as he lay bruised in the gutter.

IT has been a weekend of mixed emotion for Newcastle Utd boss Bobby Robson.

FIGHTING talk was thick on the ground in O’Moore Park after this roller-coaster of a midland derby, as Offaly’s Ciaran McManus and manager Paul O’Kelly eschewed the cliches usually associated with post-game press gatherings.

ALL-IRELAND club champions Birr bid for their fifth consecutive Offaly SHC title against first-time finalists Ballyskenach at St Brendan’s Park tomorrow.

Portlaw 0-18 Shamrocks 1-2

TOWNS and villages came alive yesterday to the sounds of the age-old Wren Boys tradition.

HAPPY the man whose hobby is his career, Liam Mackey told yesterday’s Irish Examiner Sportswriting.

BRIAN Cody is a personable guy but when it comes to matters hurling, especially when it comes to matters relating to his native county, the Kilkenny manager is a serious individual.

THE first crisis for the FAI as a result of the Government’s abandonment of the new stadium project will present itself in two years time when the opening round of fixtures in the qualification tournament for the World Cup of 2006 in Germany will be played.

CROKE PARK have defended the decision to delay the Derry-Dublin All Ireland football qualifier for a week, despite angry objections from Derry GAA chiefs.

BETWEEN the November internationals and the opening weekend of the Six Nations, Gordon D’Arcy has scored a try every two games for Leinster in Celtic League and Heineken Cup action, but the well ran dry against the Italians at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

JOHN ALLEN knew Donal O’Grady was going to be a very hard act to follow when he took over from his club colleague as coach to the Cork senior hurlers.

ASPIRING inter-county referees need to use more ‘common sense,’ even if they are being told by officialdom to apply the rules rigidly.

Ireland A 28

WARREN GATLAND had absolutely no sympathy for Munster as they tumbled to yet another defeat in the closing stages of the Heineken Cup. Nor would he entertain any suggestion that his side carried a cynical attitude into yesterday’s game.

YOU could read in Micheal Donnellan’s eyes how much Galway wanted to win this match. As he stormed into the dressing-room, disappointment was etched into every contour of the inspirational centre-forward’s face.

TO say the Taoiseach revealed little that was substantially new about the Ray Burke affair when he addressed the Dáil yesterday would be an understatement.

ANDRE AGASSI has vowed that he will be back to play at Wimbledon next year, once again looking for a second title at the age of 34.

MANCHESTER CITY hero Jon Macken has urged his team-mates – and the club’s fans - not to get carried away by dreaming of the FA Cup fifth-round clash at Manchester United.