IT was 8pm when Judge Teresa Casoria finally delivered the verdict to a Naples courtroom crammed with reporters, TV crews, lawyers and policemen.

STEVE STAUNTON was obviously disappointed.

ALAIN ROLLAND would send off Sam Warburton again if the Welsh captain, or any other player, committed another spear tackle during a game he was officiating.

ROBBIE KEANE has turned down a request from LA Galaxy to withdraw from tonight’s’ game and return early to his club in preparation for Sunday’s MLS Cup final against Houston Dynamo in Los Angeles.

IT’S the kind of line up that will have racing fans salivating at the bit: Big Zeb, Fame And Glory, Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Sizing Europe and So You Think all taking each other on for one title - Horse Racing Ireland’s Horse of the Year.

THE visit of Glasgow Warriors to the RDS hasn’t usually been a cue to circle the wagons but Joe Schmidt is playing up the challenge of the Scots following their last-gasp win over Bath in the opening round of the Heineken Cup.

A LITTLE over 10 years ago, Ronan O’Gara found himself in the toilets of a bar in Cork when he spotted someone smirking at him. “How do I know you?” asked the stranger.

THE popularity of The X Factor, Doc Martin and rugby’s World Cup tournament helped boost broadcaster ITV’s third-quarter revenues, the company said yesterday.

WITH tonight’s second leg all but a dead rubber, thoughts are already turning to next summer and the possible composition of the squad Giovanni Trapattoni might take with him to eastern Europe.

WITH everyone already thinking about the wonderful things which an east European summer might have in store, it’s the question that almost dares not speak its name.

CO DOWN show jumpers Conor Swail and Dermott Lennon continued to impact at the Toronto World Cup show in Canada, placing third and fourth, respectively, in Saturday’s Ricoh Big Ben Challenge.

WITH THAT sensational scoreline in Tallinn havingrendered tomorrow night’s second leg more of a testimonial than a test, Giovanni Trapattoni can already afford to look forward to the European Championship finals — and beyond.

KEITH ANDREWS, man of the match and scorer of that all important first goal in Tallinn on Friday, has revealed that the mood in the Irish camp afterwards bordered on the surreal.

STEPHEN HUNT is adamant Ireland can make a major impact on next summer’s European Championships and the Wolves midfielder is just as certain he can too.

GRAEME McDOWELL left Singapore last night bound for the Land of the Rising Sun buoyed by a third and final round 66 for share of 13th place in the rain-affected Barlcays Singapore Open.

THE Welsh Rugby Union have expressed delight after keeping Shaun Edwards out of the clutches of England for a second time.

GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath was delighted with the performance of under-fire centre Mike Tindall as he ended a difficult week with a resolute performance in a tense 21-17 defeat at Toulouse .

THERE are those who would agree with Jim Mallinder’s view that the better side lost a titanic battle of Heineken Cup heavyweights at Thomond Park on Saturday.

COACH Tony McGahan and captain Paul O’Connell sang from identical hymn sheets as they hailed Ronan O’Gara’s last-gasp match-winning drop goal without so much as an eyebrow raised.

WHAT didn’t kill Johnny Sexton’s resolve has clearly strengthened it.