It’s just over two years since Liam Connerton scored the goal that secured a surprise O’Byrne Cup semi-final win for Longford over Dublin.

Manchester United stars past and present yesterday stood in silent solidarity at Old Trafford to mark the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

There is no other team sport that is more reliant on one position consistently throughout a contest as a gridiron team is on its quarterback writes Kieran Shannon.

The morning of February 6 60 years ago was much like any other winter’s day in Manchester. By the evening the city was plunged into grief.

Simon Zebo looked his customary cheerful, ebullient self at the University of Limerick yesterday as Munster prepared for Saturday night’s Guinness Pro14 clash with Zebre at Thomond Park.

Of all the drop goals in all the world, Johnny Sexton’s is destined to keep flying ever higher on its steep climb towards the heavens.

After a worrying Six Nations losing streak on the road, with only one championship success in the last five away fixtures — and that against Italy in Rome last season — Joe Schmidt cut a mightily relieved man to have got this opening win in Paris under his belt.

Pep Guardiola disagrees with rival manager Jose Mourinho that the Premier League title race is as good as over.

Romain Ntamack, son of former French star Emile, led the way as France opened their Six Nations campaign with a win but only after they held off a spirited Irish recovery.

New Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs believes a daunting test in France tonight will be the making of his team.

For all the unpredictably that comes with a Six Nations trip to Paris, there will be certain lessons learned over the past two championships that should put Ireland in control of their destiny when they face a France side under new management.

Arsene Wenger has called on Mesut Ozil to be the leader of his new Arsenal generation.

Fiona Carton is on the Irish roller derby team competing at the World Cup this weekend. Known as ‘Malibruise Stacy’ on track, Carton took up the sport seven years ago after seeing it in a movie, writes Stephen Barry.

Ireland carry three key advantages into today’s opening round of the Six Nations at Stade de France, writes Donal Lenihan

Tomorrow evening, Joe Molloy will take the next step in a lauded but relatively low-key career when he debuts as anchor of TV3’s Six Nations coverage. Even his dad has told him this one is huge so he is nervous, anxious not to ‘make a balls of it’, but also determined to trust the instincts that have made him a three-time radio sports broadcaster of the year.

Devastation is a strong word to use in a mere sporting context, but it is one Cian Healy opted for yesterday as he contemplated the three-week ban handed to him in December for an ugly incident in Leinster’s Dublin defeat of Exeter Chiefs.

The psychology of sport is based on preparing better, believing you are better, and being better than the opposition. And at the elite level, possessing a ruthless, clinical instinct to drive home that superiority.