JOE KERNAN had confided to his 1977 playing colleague Jimmy Smyth last week what he intended to do at half-time in yesterday's All-Ireland final to boost his players.

SHE faces a similar challenge tomorrow to the one faced by her twin brothers last Sunday - tackling the defending All-Ireland champions.

ALTHOUGH Colin Corkery led Nemo Rangers to victory for the second successive year when they beat Bishopstown in the Cork SFC final on Sunday, he will not captain Cork next season.

JOE KERNAN stands in yet another successful Croke Park dressing-room. This one means more than any other.

DAMIEN DUFF doesn’t do many interviews. It’s not that he’s overly shy or that he dislikes journalists.

DAVID PLEAT yesterday assessed the crumbling wreckage of Tottenham’s season and backed talented youngster Johnnie Jackson to provide the inspiration for Spurs’ survival battle.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan is looking forward to a few days’ rest and recreation at home in Galway towards the end of the week. However, he’d better keep the tablets handy.

DONAL O’GRADY gave a hint of his daytime occupation when describing his first experience as a manager in the new Croke Park.

PREMIERSHIP champions Chelsea are back in the dock after the FA yesterday charged the Blues with failing to control their players.

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

Sunderland 0 Manchester City 3

GALWAY’S hopes of a clean sweep of All-Ireland hurling titles died at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Saturday where Wexford won the intermediate title for the first time in 41 years in thrilling fashion.

A PRESSURE that I enjoy. hat’s the excited reaction of Paul McGinley to the coming three tournaments that will decide whether he again lines out for Europe against the US in the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills next month.

ANYONE engaging Justin McCarthy in conversation about Sunday’s Guinness Munster hurling final will find he takes little notice of talk about Cork not being as formidable as they were perceived last season.

AMERICAN Shawn Crawford won the men’s 200 metres gold medal amid astonishingly hostile scenes in the Olympic Stadium as the Greek public vented their spleen against the Games organisers.

CORK manager John Allen yesterday admitted to having had major doubts about his coaching abilities when he accepted the role last year.

ANYONE looking for a mission statement from Waterford’s hurlers had it moments after the Munster final on Sunday in Thurles from captain Ken McGrath.

IN sport, the opportunity for redemption rarely comes so quickly. In the aftermath of Munster’s defeat in Kingsholm, the team, and the forward unit in particular, were seething.