Isaac Boss has doffed his hat to Ulster and warned that Leinster will need to improve on Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final display against Clermont Auvergne if they are to deny his former teammates a first title in 13 years.

It’s hard to know what was more impressive – the ruthless exhibition dished out by Galway to the students on the pitch or the marker put down by new Tribe boss Anthony Cunningham afterwards.

BANDON withstood a late Dripsey comeback before eventually prevailing at Brinny on Saturday evening.

THIS opening round of the Garveys Kerry senior football championship at Caherciveen yesterday proved to be much closer than generally anticipated, despite the underdogs being limited by the loss of eight players.

JOHN CORKERY inspired Aghabullogue to victory over wasteful Fermoy at a Mourneabbey yesterday in their Cork IFC fourth round clash.

ULSTER secretary Danny Murphy believes the new GAA playing rules committee must consider abolishing the square ball rule in open play for the betterment of Gaelic games and the benefit of referees following Sunday’s controversy.

ONE hurdle negotiated, another to tackle.

EMPLOYERS rushing to boost cyber defences after a rash of US online break-ins won’t block spies and thieves by simply throwing technology at the problem, since their core weakness is often badly-trained and badly-managed workers.

AT LEAST Kenny Dalglish will not have any pangs of guilt shooting through him this time. Prior to Saturday, the last time Dalglish managed a Liverpool team against Wigan Athletic he sent a defender on in attack, watched Steve Staunton score a hat-trick — and still did not pick him for the next game.

YOU can always rely on Liverpool supporters to find the right words and the handful of hastily made banners unfurled among the visiting fans at the Shed End captured the mood perfectly.

KILKENNY booked their place in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Intercounty Hurling final after they easily dismissed a spirited Cork challenge at a wet and windy Mourneabbey on Saturday afternoon.

GIVEN the desert wasteland nature of this week’s Bahrain course, the European Tour issued a special rules notice to all Volvo Champions event competitors declaring – “There is no bunkers on this course”.

JUST for the record, the last train out of Dublin’s Heuston Station to Cork tonight is at nine o’clock.

CLARE had no problem at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday in dismissing the challenge of Down in the Allianz HL Division 2.

THREE ROCK ROVERS sprung a South African surprise on Cork Church of Ireland on Saturday, as Jody Hosking’s double helped them to a noteworthy 2-1 Irish Junior Cup round one win at Garryduff.

MANCHESTER UNITED will avoid the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Valencia and finish top of Group C; but, as so often this season, it is hard not to feel a little underwhelmed.

ALAIN ROLLAND will help kick-off the 2011 RBS Six NationsChampionship when he referees the opening day clash between Wales and England at the Millennium Stadium on February 4.