Keith Earls would have had a spring in his step anyway as he celebrated becoming a father for the first time.

If getting a few quid backing Quel Esprit in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last Sunday then how good a race it actually was will not, understandably, have been of the slightest importance to you.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has chosen what can only be construed as a team hell-bent on winning the first of four important RaboDirect Pro12 games away to Treviso today.

We know that sensitive types often complain that newspapers are only interested in bad news.

Crossmaglen Rangers manager Tony McEntee believes Sigerson Cup football should be off-limits to senior inter-county players and the colleges competition should be used to develop promising club players.

I’m writing this as my old friend Bill O’Herlihy reads a laundry list of names to Eamon, John and, yes even, Ronnie Whelan.

Reigning champion Kenny McKinstry heads the entry for tomorrow’s Magic Bullet Rally at the Kirkistown Race Circuit for the beginning of the DGM/Carryduff Forklift Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Tomas Brolin, the man widely regarded as the worst signing ever made by a Premier League club, has lifted the lid on his disastrous spell at Leeds United in the mid-1990s.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has joined former New Zealand assistant Wayne Smith in ruling himself out of contention to be the next permanent England head coach.

ARE MEN more body conscious now than they were 10 years ago?

Patrice Evra has been left out of Manchester United’s Europa League trip to Amsterdam as a result of his “emotional week”.

Please do not ask Declan Kidney what difference a day makes.

The greyhound world is on standby for the return to action of Milldean Panther.

AS weekends go, this one must have been especially tough for Connacht.

The 2010 World Cup did nothing to highlight the plight of South Africa’s poorest, writes Sarah Stack

PAUL Nicholls has expressed his delight with the condition of Kauto Star after his record-breaking fifth victory in the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day.

THE GAA’s showpiece games were the most-watched sports programmes on television last year.

CONNACHT touched down in France yesterday with news that opponents Toulouse are taking no chances in their team selection for today’s Heineken Cup fifth round clash.

DAVE KEARNEY, come on down.

ENJOYING the craic at the local may be top of the wish list of overseas visitors to Ireland.