Kildare, Carlow, Kerry and Down were victorious in the opening round of the 2009 GAA Christy Ring Cup as the competition got underway this afternoon.

The Formula One Teams’ Association is ready to go public and lift the lid on their grievances against the FIA as the battle of wills and words between the two organisations intensifies.

Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty is facing a race to be fit for the key World Cup qualifier against Slovakia and will have a scan on his knee tomorrow.

Iranian authorities have slowed internet connections to a crawl or choked them off completely before expected student protests tomorrow to deny the opposition a vital means of communication.

Scotland 13 Argentina 19

British television presenters Ant and Dec are to donate profits from the next series of their show Saturday Night Takeaway as a “gesture of goodwill” after the ITV phone-in investigation, they announced today.

Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric has warned manager Gary Megson in no uncertain terms his future lies at the Walkers Stadium ahead of today’s Coca-Cola Championship clash at Scunthorpe.

Cambodian police blocked American actress Mia Farrow from holding a rally at a former Khmer Rouge prison today, pushing her group away from a barricade as they tried to lay flowers to commemorate victims of genocide.

John Wells insists England’s rookie pack “know what is coming” when they stand toe to toe with a juggernaut South Africa eight in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Leinster 23

David Beckham’s ankle injury is threatening to cast a shadow over what should be a fairytale ending to the former England captain’s Real Madrid career.

Manchester City bounced back from their mauling against Chelsea to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has today insisted that England striker Michael Owen is happy on Tyneside.

Celtic will face a nervous few days before they find out if they have a case to answer following the controversial ending to their Champions League win over AC Milan at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

Geordan Murphy will start Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up trying to put a four-year-old heartbreak to the back of his mind.

Stunned goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar admits Manchester United have let Chelsea back into the race for the Barclays Premiership title.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has been filled with “so much confidence” in his team by their reaction to Saturday’s Twickenham humbling.

Southend continued their remarkable Coca-Cola Championship revival as QPR crashed to an eighth straight away defeat at Roots Hall.

Under-pressure Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has pleaded with the club’s long-suffering fans to get behind his team.

Michael Owen will not be rushed back from injury to resurrect England’s faltering Euro 2008 qualification campaign.