Within minutes of Jérôme Garcès’s final whistle on Sunday, Munster fans began furiously scouring the internet searching for low-cost deals to Montpellier for the April 27 Heineken Cup semi-final showdown with Clermont Auvergne.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill faces a late change of plan ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Russia, with Kyle Lafferty missing out with an Achilles injury.

THOMAS BEWICK, the celebrated engraver, carved in hard woods.

For those who believe that Lar Corbett isn’t committed to his club, Thurles Sars, a read of his superb autobiography All In My Head should shatter any such misconceptions.

On Thursday night, as Ger Loughnane left Cusack Park following Clare’s easy win over Cork in the Munster minor championship, one would presume the result would be a source of satisfaction.

THE first steps have been taken in establishing an unofficial referees’ body, the Gaelic Match Officials Association.

As she languished under house arrest for almost 15 of the last 21 years, Burmese political leader, Aung San Suu Kyi could scarcely have dreamed of days and foreign lands where her cause would be championed.

Mallow 3-20 Newcestown 3-19 (AET)

Gearoid Finn proved the hero for Kinsale on Saturday when he kicked the winning point deep into injury time.

PARIS? Forget that.

EAMON DUNPHY hadn’t a dream: he just had a hunch.

David Luiz has responded to Chelsea’s dramatic Champions League victory by claiming that Andre Villas-Boas should not have been sacked before the London side’s 4-1 win over Napoli on Wednesday night.

Robbie Power was over 15 lengths behind Finian’s Rainbow and Sizing Europe by the time they breasted the line in yesterda’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.

I DO not wish to belabour my readers on the theme of fruit bats, but when one sees them in sixes and sevens against the night sky, as big as egrets and flying with the same, slow wing-beats as herons, they warrant a few lines.

Despite dominating proceedings from the outset, defending champions Nemo Rangers were left clinging onto a two-point lead at the end of this City U21 football final in Ballinlough yesterday.

WHEN, as children, my pals and I roamed the bogs, river banks and lake shores of Tipperary, Mayo and Donegal, we regularly came upon curlews’ nests and I’m afraid we may have sometimes filched an egg or two for our collections.

ON Saturday morning, according to French magazine L’Equipe at least, the Arsene Wenger era was fast approaching its end.

ARSENE WENGER has always disliked the accusation that Arsenal are a one-man team, whether it be from the days of Thierry Henry or Cesc Fabregas, or now with Robin Van Persie.

MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!

ALLY McCOIST insists tomorrow’s Old Firm derby is all about the players and not about himself and Neil Lennon.