“The magician” Brian O’Driscoll is the “final bastion” of creative centre play, according to Ireland boss Joe Schmidt.

Brian O’Driscoll’s vintage sleight of hand conjured Ireland’s seven-try, 46-7 RBS 6 Nations victory over Italy on the stalwart centre’s final international appearance in Dublin.

Italy are out to rain on Brian O’Driscoll’s great leaving parade in Dublin on Saturday, according to captain Marco Bortolami.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has requested a personal hearing after accepting Football Association misconduct charge.

Republic of Ireland U19s 2 Romania U19s 2

Martin O’Neill was left to reflect upon what might have been after seeing the Republic of Ireland slip to the first defeat of his reign.

RTÉ release lovely clip of Billo's final day. Not a dry eye in the house…

Andre Villas-Boas insists he is the right man to lead Tottenham up the table despite yesterday’s humiliating defeat to Liverpool.

Mesut Ozil has apologised for failing to acknowledge fans after Arsenal’s 6-3 hammering at Manchester City.

Kris Commons believes Celtic paid the price in the Champions League this season for the club’s unwillingness to pay the going rate for a quality striker to replace Gary Hooper.

Celtic dramatically crashed out of the Champions League for the second time this season with a 1-0 play-off defeat by Maribor at Parkhead taking the visitors through 2-1 on aggregate.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admits the European champions still have plenty of room for improvement after seeing them open their Primera Division campaign with an uninspiring 2-0 win over minnows Cordoba.

Antrim 1-10 Clare 4-28

Stoke 1 Everton 1

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1

Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1

Jack Colback struck in injury time to earn Sunderland a point and stun managerless Cardiff.

Aston Villa 1 Swansea 1

Stoke boss Mark Hughes hit out at referee Martin Atkinson after being sent to the stands as his nine men succumbed to a 5-1 drubbing at Newcastle.

Malky Mackay insists he still does not know when he will hold critical talks with owner Vincent Tan which could decide whether he remains as manager of Cardiff.