WHAT a wonderful time of the year, I know the weather hasn’t been great but the garden is bursting with produce.

When we won Munster with Clare in 1995, the county went bananas. 

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine clasped the Aga Khan Trophy yesterday at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show and declared that a medal at the European Championships in a fortnight is not an unrealistic hope.

Paddy Jackson

Ireland step back into the lion’s den today as they revisit a sold-out Millennium Stadium for the second time in five months, with a closed roof not the only difference between then and now.

First it was Rory McIlroy injured playing football and now fellow PGA Championship winner Pádraig Harrington fears injuring his knee playing tennis could see him miss next week’s championship at Whistling Straits.

Tributes poured in for Neville Neville, father of former Manchester United footballers Gary and Phil, who has died after suffering a heart attack.

A former Manchester United captain credited with saving FC Barcelona from extinction has been honoured in a mural painted as part of a campaign for a memorial at his unmarked grave.

It’s been a while since the Gunners have approached the start of a new campaign seemingly in such a buoyant mood. 

John Hartson has news for all those who reckon Ireland copped a lucky break when Wales emerged as top seed in our World Cup 2018 qualifying group.

So the scramble for Ireland survival begins.

The Irish team will take to the stage in today’s Furusiyya Series nations cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show aiming to continue some stellar performances by the home contingent.

Wales want to put down an immediate marker in terms of their discipline when they face opening World Cup warm-up opponents Ireland tomorrow.

You could forgive Donnacha Ryan for imagining he might never play for Ireland again. What with senior citizens enquiring as to the progress of his retirement and farmers suggesting remedies for lame cows, the Munster forward has had plenty of opportunity to think long and hard about his future in the sport.

A judge has ruled that Seán FitzPatrick can get a fair trial despite eight years’ publicity leaving him with a “negative” reputation.

TOP Irish athlete Mark English has few illusions about his sport of choice.

Irish golfers have won The Open five times, the US Open twice and the US PGA three times, not to mention nine British Amateur Championships.

Ireland 28 Scotland 22: Though a myriad of questions remain to be answered, Saturday’s run against the Scots seemed to confirm that, for some, it all but marked the beginning of the end of their World Cup ambitions.

This time 12 months ago Jack Conan’s focus hardly strayed further than earning a second provincial cap.

All summer we’ve been waiting for this championship to fire. It had been damp. Lifeless even. Nobody could manage to generate the faintest spark.