Now let the serious business commence

THE quarter-final draw for the Champions’ League; the straight for home in the Premiership; a Merseyside derby with significant European implications; and the renewal of World Cup qualifying – spring is sprung and all of a sudden it seems we’ve arrived at the business end of the football season.

You couldn't quite say the same about the domestic game, of course, but the start of the new eircom League campaign and the launch of the Setanta Cup add to the overall mood of rising footie fever in this part of the world.

With the Premiership title already en route to Stamford Bridge, barring a Devon Loch-style collapse, Chelsea's bid for European glory holds the most fascination.