ireland.com - The Irish Times

Cup dashed, time to eat humble pie
RUGBY: Rays of light? At least Irish rugby is in good company, after French interest in the Heineken European Cup also ended yesterday, albeit after one-point defeats for Biarritz and Stade Français against Leicester and Northampton. So Llanelli have three English Premiership clubs for company in the semi-finals three weekends hence. What's that you were saying, Rog? The gloating has already started. Ye gods! It's going to be a long finale to the season. p

Loughnane recognises gulf in class
GAELIC GAMES: On the busiest day of the GAA calendar there were enough big winners and even bigger losers to send shockwaves throughout the Allianz National Leagues. And despite the day that was in it, few will be fooled into thinking none of this will count for anything come the summer. p

Crossmaglen claim fourth club crown
GAELIC GAMES: Crossmaglen Rangers (captain Oisín McConville raising the trophy, right) claimed a fourth All-Ireland club football title by overwhelming Dr Crokes 0-13 to 1-5 in an incident-packed replay at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, yesterday, writes Gavin Cummiskey p

Soccer

Starting to look too little too late
Watford 0 Chelsea 1: It did not take long for Jose Mourinho to patch up his differences with Aidy Boothroyd, but the same cannot be said for the Chelsea manager's relationship with Roman Abramovich. Unlike other members of the Stamford Bridge board, the owner did not enter the visiting dressingroom afterwards. That might not be a new development, but the snub was all the more glaring given the unusual public meeting that took place in the empty main stand afterwards. p
'Superb' Crouch torments Arsenal
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 1: In the dressingroom Rafael Benitez had stuck up the scores of Liverpool's hidings at home to Arsenal this season. It was the visitors who failed to read the signs. Arsene Wenger's team were languorous and, unpardonably, the vengeful sharpness of the Anfield side took them by surprise. p
United refuse to buckle
Manchester Utd 4 Blackburn 1: Manchester United's ninth championship in 15 seasons is now so close that Chelsea's habit of scoring late winners has become no more irritating than a bothersome fly. Alex Ferguson's players are so exuberant, their football so thrilling, it seems inconceivable that the Premiership trophy will not be prised, finger by finger, from Jose Mourinho's grasp. p
Keane spot on as Reading pay penalty
Tottenham 1 Reading 0: Tottenham have developed a reputation for high entertainment in recent weeks, and they will be delighted to have moved into the Premiership's top six with a scoreline once disparagingly associated with their fiercest rivals. p
Roma show little ambition or drive
AS Roma v Manchester Utd: On the eve of tough Champions League quarter-final clashes this week, Italy's survivors, AS Roma and AC Milan, played out a predictable 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Saturday night. In a game in which both sides held back, thoughts of their coming Champions League battles against Manchester United and Bayern Munich respectively were all too obviously uppermost in their minds. p
Even British pundits take note of gaffer's media gaffes
TV View: A mixed bag of a week, that one. Mind you, a perfect week for Jackie Fullerton and Norn Iron. "HEEEEEEEEEALY," he's taken to bawling into his microphone, even when David is just tying up his bootlaces. But you can hardly blame Jackie for his enthusiasm; when Healy's in shot a goal is usually imminent, and it's a commentator's job to anticipate these things. p
Special One must resist Real's fatal allure
On The Premiership: A little over a year ago, Jose Mourinho was sat at a table at Chelsea's plush Cobham training complex, answering questions from journalists in, for want of a better term, Mourinhese: that blend of smouldering indifference and withering put-downs which has become his verbal tic. p
Planet Football
Today's other stories in brief p

Gaelic Games

Wexford cruise
Wexford 3-30 Down 0-6: This Division One B victory at Wexford Park yesterday ensures Wexford a place in the quarter-finals while Down end the campaign pointless. The match was sealed as early as the 18th minute as Darren Stamp goals on 10 and 17 minutes saw Wexford race into a 2-6 to 0-1 lead as they went about winning by 30 points or more to seal a quarter-final spot. p
Galway fail to answer old questions
National Hurling League Divisions One A and B/Kilkenny 1-19 Galway 0-18: None of the 10,000 spectators at Nowlan Park yesterday were fooled into thinking this was a routine league match - which effectively it was, given Kilkenny and Galway were already through to the play-offs. Both teams badly wanted the win. p
Devaney goal seals the win
Roscommon 1-14 Sligo 0-10: Conor Devaney and man-of-the-match Enda Kenny were the chief playmakers as Roscommon cruised to victory over Sligo at Markievicz Park on Saturday. p
Laois need late point to draw with Carlow
National Hurling League Division Two round-up: It took a point from centre forward Matthew Whelan three minutes into injury-time to rescue Laois against Carlow in their Division Two A encounter at Dr Cullen Park yesterday, as it finished 1-9 to 0-12. p
O'Connor hits goal trail
Limerick 4-17 Antrim 0-12: Limerick turned on the style to romp to victory over Antrim at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday as full forward Seán O'Connor blasted three goals past late replacement goalkeeper DD Quin. p
Wexford strikeearly to claim title
Camogie Leinster Senior Final: Wexford were crowned Leinster senior champions yesterday thanks to a 0-10 to 1-2 win over Dublin at St Martin's, Piercestown. p
Another coup against sky-blues
NFL Division One/Mayo 0-10 Dublin 0-9: Mayo can never be accused of lacking a flair for the dramatic. There were scenes of minor bedlam in the passion bowl of McHale Park as the home faithful celebrated another coup against Dublin. p
Down descend to Division Three
Derry 0-12 Down 0-9: Down slumped into Division Three following this defeat to rivals Derry at St Patrick's Park, Newcastle, yesterday. p
Spoils shared viewed as point lost by both sides
Kerry 0-9 Tyrone 0-9: Kerry and Tyrone served up a close encounter before a vociferous home crowd at Austin Stack Park on Saturday evening - as they strove to avoid the lower divisions next season. p
Masters shows class for Cork
Cork 1-15 Fermanagh 0-6: James Masters put on a virtuoso display of point scoring as Cork cruised to a comfortable win over a very disappointing Fermanagh in this Division One A clash in Clones yesterday. p
Hayden helps Carlow claim first points
Carlow 1-15 Longford 1-11: Derek Hayden's injury-time goal helped Carlow to a surprise win over Longford at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. p
Wicklow hold their ground in second half
Wicklow 0-13 Tipperary 0-11: Wicklow are through to the knock-out stages after they held off a strong second-half home challenge at Ardfinnan. p
Cork do more than enough
Cork 1-13 Clare 0-14: Cork travelled to Ennis yesterday knowing a draw would be enough to see them through to the last eight. Clare, for their part, had to win to be in with a chance of remaining in the competition. p
Kildare blow hot and cold in the wind
NFL Division One/Kildare 0-9 Westmeath 0-8: If Kildare were serious about maintaining their challenge in the National League and keeping their record of never having been beaten by Westmeath in a league match they went a strange way about it in Mullingar yesterday. p
Offaly tough it out and take points
Offaly 3-15 Waterford 1-19: Despite losing this entertaining fixture at Walsh Park, Waterford progress to a quarter-final meeting with Tipperary, while Offaly will relish their championship preparation after a diligent, skilled display. p
Rangers reach pinnacle again
All-Ireland Club SFC Final (replay)/Crossmanglen Rangers 0-13 Dr Crokes 1-5: Planning a course of action to counter the Crossmaglen style is all well and good but implementing tactics to actually overturn their physical supremacy and footballing excellence is rarely achieved. They simply don't lose finals. p
Leitrim battle for points
Leitrim 2-8 Roscommon 0-11: Leitrim turned Division Two A on its head yesterday when they took the points from their Connacht neighbours in Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon. p
Reilly secures draw for Cavan
Cavan 0-11 Wexford 0-11: The stakes were high at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday with both sides battling for promotion next season. And the second half developed into a dog fight with referee Gregory Walsh issuing three red cards, two to Wexford, as well as 10 yellow cards. p
Sligo consign Antrim to fourth division
Sligo 2-13 Antrim 0-13: Mark Breheny shattered Antrim's hopes of salvaging something from this game with an injury-time goal in an action-packed tie at Markievicz Park yesterday. p
Clare's early goals provide platform
Clare 3-15 London 2-5: As expected, Clare easily dismissed London at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday. Páidí Ó Sé's side wrapped it up as early as the 10th minute when they hit two goals inside a minute. The teams were level at a point apiece when Michael O'Shea netted the first goal. Enda Coughlan scored the second 40 seconds later and by the break Clare had amassed a 2-9 to 0-2 lead. p
Monaghan leave it late
Monaghan 0-13 Offaly 0-12: A point by substitute Paul Meegan three minutes into injury time saw Monaghan snatch a late dramatic victory in this thrill-a- minute game at Clones yesterday. p
Late, late Lavin goal rescues Limerick
Limerick 2-12 Donegal 4-6: An injury-time goal from Stephen Lavin yesterday gave Limerick a deserved draw against tabletoppers Donegal at the Gaelic Grounds. p
Whirlwind start sets up Laois
Laois 1-13 Armagh 0-8: Laois booked their place in the knock-out stages of the league with a convincing victory over Armagh at Portlaoise on Saturday. p
Meath go through the motions
Meath 4-12 Wateford 1-6: Meath had 15 points to spare over a weak Waterford at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening, Brian Farrell taking the scoring honours with 3-3. p
Impressive Galway maintain momentum
Galway 1-12 Louth 0-11: Galway's revival continued apace as Peter Ford's men brushed aside Louth's challenge to record their fourth win on the trot in Dundalk yesterday. p
Overcooked Dublin put through blender
National Hurling League Division One B/Tipperary 4-15 Dublin 1-9: For the hurlers of Dublin the past week must have felt like getting sucked into a vortex of despair. Having been asked to play three important league games away from home in the space of seven days, Dublin began by beating Limerick and went to Belfast on Wednesday and got shaded out. And finally in Nenagh yesterday a jaded side got comprehensively run through the blender by a remorseless Tipperary. p
Bergin on fire for Kilkenny
All-Ireland Colleges SH A Semi-final/Kilkenny CBS 0-19 Gort CS 1-11: A powerful performance from their backs, plus a high-scoring show from Mark Bergin, helped Kilkenny CBS clinch a final date with Waterford De la Salle. p
Tralee prove too powerful
All-Ireland Colleges SF A Semi-finals/Tralee CBS 1-13 St Patrick's Navan 1-7: Tralee CBS upset the odds with a power-packed second-half effort, despite being reduced to 14 men, when they eliminated the favourites, St Patrick's, Navan, at Templemore on Saturday. p
Omagh really turn it on after the interval
Omagh CBS 2-16 St Jarlath's 3-11: Omagh CBS booked their spot in the All-Ireland Colleges senior A football final when they snatched victory over a gutsy St Jarlath's, Tuam on Saturday afternoon at Pearse Park, Longford. p
Mayo ready to defend titles
Connacht Under-21 FC Semi-finals/Mayo 1-13 Galway 0-9: Close friends and former Mayo playing colleagues John Maughan and Pat Holmes will go head-to -head in next Saturday's Cadbury's Connacht under-21 football championship final at McHale Park, Castlebar. p

Rugby

Grim as Leinster lose scrap and plot
European Cup Quarter-finals/London Wasps 35 Leinster 13: This takes some explaining, because it took some believing. Watching it again, you still think Leinster were well into this match right up until half-time. But when they needed to up their intensity, they dropped it, once more being outmuscled by a team showing more hunger, before gradually imploding. The last quarter was simply horrendous to watch. p
Leicester survive in epic contest
Leicester 21 Stade Francais 20: The Heineken European Cup reaches some distant parts of Europe each year but the only relevant road to European glory is suddenly the M69 between Leicester and Coventry. After two gripping quarter-finals yesterday which frayed the nerves of players and supporters alike, there are an unprecedented three English survivors in the last four and the odds against a home win at Twickenham next month have been utterly transformed. p
Biarritz shocked
Northampton 7 Biarritz 6: An intercept try in the second half by centre Robbie Kydd gave Northampton a shock 7-6 win over favourites Biarritz in San Sebastian yesterday and took them to the semi-finals. p
Planet Rugby
Today's other stories in brief p

Cricket World Cup

Maturing minnows even more hungry
Minnows, mercenaries and party poopers. This pretty much sums up the media's coverage of Ireland's World Cup journey so far. And as the team begin the most intense and challenging week of their cricketing lives, it is beginning to grate. p
West Indies slide to third defeat
West Indies' hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals all but disappeared when they lost to Sri Lanka in Guyana yesterday, their third successive Super Eight defeat. p

Golf

Scott close to Houston victory
US Tour: Australian Adam Scott was closing on victory in the Shell Houston Open at Redstone GC Tournament Course Humble, Texas yesterday. p
Martin first amateur to claim win
European Tour Portuguese Open: Spaniard Pablo Martin created history yesterday when he became the first amateur to win on the European Tour since its inception in 1972 - and in the circuit's 1,145th event. p

Other

Loreto hold nerve to take title
HOCKEY/Leinster Senior League: Loreto led the Leinster first division table for most of the season but a couple of wobbles in their title-run, when they drew with Corinthian and Railway Union last month, opened the door for Hermes and Old Alexandra. On Saturday, though, they held their nerve when they most needed to, beating Alexandra 2-0 at Beaufort to regain the Leinster title they lost to Hermes last season. p
Butler seals victory with golden goal
HOCKEY/Irish Senior Cup Final/Glennane 4 Annadale 3: Glenanne earned their second Irish Senior Cup the hard way at Belfield yesterday as Annadale were again left to wonder if they will ever get their hands on the only trophy they have yet to win. The Belfast side did have an unsteady grip on it as a match that Glenanne were cruising 2-0 with less than 10 minutes to go turned into a roller-coaster goal -fest, finally finishing 3-3. p
Three crews set for World Cup regattas
ROWING: Ireland coach Harald Jahrling has named three of the crews to represent the country at the World Cup regattas in June in Linz in Austria (1st-3rd) and Amsterdam (22nd-24th). Richard Coakley replaces Gearóid Towey in last year's lightweight men's four, while the men's heavyweight four and single sculler Seán Jacob have been given votes of confidence to continue where they left off last season. p
Fabulous odysseys of the ultimate fan
Locker Room: For a few weeks a clever Madison Avenue-style tease campaign of emails has been alerting us to the imminent publication of "Ryano's new book". There was a pre-launch announcement concerning the pending actual announcement of the launch. Then what seemed like a launch countdown. p
Thorpe confirms dope test result
SWIMMING: Ian Thorpe, the five-time Olympic champion, confirmed yesterday that he showed an irregularity in a doping test last May, writes Peter Nichols . Thorpe was not competing at the time of the test - he was recovering from a broken hand - but he had not formally retired and so was still liable to be tested. p

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