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.

I’VE become a creature of routine; a routine that’s been shaped and formed by living in the same house, with the same people, for a long, long time.

LONG before the final whistle signalled Kilkenny’s victory in last Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final, Wexford camogie captain Ursula Jacob could see that Brian Cody’s team had one huge advantage over Tipperary.

HARRY REDKNAPP admitted before the latest north London derby he was surprised he hadn’t faced more competition from Arsene Wenger for the signature of Scott Parker.

CAPTAIN Elaine Finn kicked the winning point as Westmeath staged a remarkable fightback to win the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies IFC final replay against Cavan at Croke Park yesterday.