Children attending a school in Limerick were overjoyed yesterday when French soccer star Patrick Vieira arrived at the school for an impromptu PE lesson.

Sligo show jumper Darragh Kerins was delighted with his second place in Saturday night’s $125,000 World Cup contest in Florida, considering the mare Lisona returned to action just three weeks ago after a year-and-a-half layoff.

Despite the insistence of Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald that the result of this Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final yesterday will be an “utter irrelevancy’’ when the counties meet in the June Munster championship semi-final, the Banner boss must have been impressed at the way his charges performed.

Derval O’Rourke had a grin of satisfaction after reclaiming her 60m hurdles title at the Woodies DIY Irish indoor championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast yesterday in 8.21 secs — modest by her standards.

The 20-year-old landed four penalties and a tough conversion, following Charlie Hodgson’s second charge-down try in as many weeks, as England rallied from 15-6 down to claim their second win of the championship.

All Black legend Jonah Lomu’s transplanted kidney has failed, forcing the giant to search for another kidney to survive.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell is hoping the Six Nations opt for a three-week delay to the weather-hit clash with France, preferring some precious time at home to a quick return to Paris this weekend.

Both the Six Nations and the International Rugby Board moved yesterday to support under-fire match referee Dave Pearson, following his decision to postpone Saturday night’s France-Ireland game.

There have been four direct free-kicks scored in this Cup of Nations.

If Harry Redknapp does eventually succeed Fabio Capello as England manager — and thousands at White Hart Lane made it clear they hope he won’t — one of the first calls he will make will be to Paul Scholes.

Start spreading the news, Thierry Henry might not have taken his final bow in the Premier League.

Mark Schwarzer says he is living the dream with Fulham and wants to play for at least a further two seasons.

AS we pull up to the East Link toll booth, the woman in the window sees my passenger Henry McKean’s microphone and guesses something is afoot.

Cian O’Connor’s improving relationship with his new horse Blue Loyd has given him cause for optimism heading into today’s $125,000 World Cup class at Florida’s FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

THE defections of Synchronised and Quito De La Roque have greatly enhanced my prospects of winning the Hennessy Gold Cup on Quel Esprit at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Here’s a pet theory for which there is no objective evidence; the Irish sporting world was changed irrevocably by the discussion that took place in the aftermath of the infamous events in Saipan that saw Roy Keane sent home from the World Cup.

Time is a healer, they say, but have Ireland had enough hours, minutes and seconds to put right the wrongs of last Sunday’s effort and produce a performance against France tonight in Paris?

Declan Kidney is undoubtedly Ireland’s most successful coach of the modern era.

Wales captain Sam Warburton admits it is time his RBS 6 Nations title contenders avoided any further outbreaks of the yellow peril that threatened to lay them low in Dublin last weekend.

So farewell Fab. And hello again Trap.