Previous Day
Tired Pumas do just enough
RUGBY/Argentina 19 Scotland 13: As was right and
fitting, Argentina duly reached their first ever semi-final of a
World Cup and next Sunday they will meet the Springboks. On the
balance of this quarter-final, the world's fourth-ranked side
deserved that much, but in keeping with the nature of this
extraordinary weekend they were hard-pushed. p
'Boofhead' rugby gets Henry sacked
RUGBY: Graham Henry's reign as All Blacks coach is over after the New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed he would be replaced by the end of the year. p
Jol and Benitez can draw little comfort in result
SOCCER/Liverpool 2 Tottenham 2: Wretchedness can arrive in the deepest of disguises. A draw at Anfield? Beforehand that would have seemed like a mercy to Martin Jol but it proved an act of cruelty instead. An equaliser for Liverpool in stoppage-time not only snatched away a first Tottenham Hotspur league victory at Anfield since 1993 but suggested once more there is a flimsiness to Jol's side. p
Rugby 
French and English do their talking on the pitch
If you were to view the events at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday from a New Zealand perspective, a couple of refereeing decisions would prey on the mind. The first concerned the sin- binning of All Black centre Luke McAlister for a block on Yannick Jauzion. pEngland come up roses as Aussies wilt
England 12 Australia 10: For the second World Cup in succession England will be facing France in the semi-finals while Australia limp away to stick pins in their Jonny Wilkinson voodoo dolls. After a month of southern comfort the Northern Hemisphere has struck back with a vengeance. pBattle won and lost at the breakdown
Australia knew England would test their scrum and lineout but the area where they expected to establish ascendancy, the breakdown, was turned into their greatest weakness as the holders, in defiance of their performances since winning the World Cup four years ago, dominated the tackle area. pFrench find answers as only they can
France 20 New Zealand 18: It's rare that you see elation on this scale and rarer still that you are as moved by the sheer bravery, impudence, concentration and daring of another country's success. Among the 71,000 in a rapt Cardiff on Saturday were a goodly chunk of Irish fans, many of whom were happy to indulge in the merited celebratory lap of honour by their, eh, fellow Europeans. p'Courage and team spirit can make the difference'
The fitting, final, abiding image of an epic, full-on contest between sporting heavyweights in a World Cup quarter-final was of an elated Jean-Baptiste Elissalde running away from opponents and team-mates alike to hoof the ball into a section of the crowd heavily populated by delirious compatriots. pFiji earn respect and affection
South Africa 37 Fiji 20: As if Saturday's shocks were not enough, Fiji came within an inch of threatening the greatest upset in the history of international rugby. pFiery Dragons put Ulster to the sword
Rugby Celtic League/Dragons 31 Ulster 11: Mark McCall's side were second best to the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday. pThe World is Oval
Today's other rugby stories p
O'Brien called into Ireland squad
Euro 2008 Qualifying News: Andy O'Brien was last night called into the Ireland squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Germany and Cyprus at Croke Park. The Bolton defender, who continued his run of first-team football by playing 90 minutes in the narrow defeat to Chelsea, comes in as cover for John O'Shea, who is considered a doubt for both games after aggravating a thigh strain on Saturday. pKalou brings Grant some light
Bolton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 1: Avram Grant has his first league win and even if Chelsea's fans still refuse to sing his name it was noticeable yesterday the visiting fans were not as vocal in their continued support of Jose Mourinho. Winning always tends to placate unhappy supporters and, after a workmanlike 1-0 victory Grant is entitled to claim an air of normality is returning - if, that is, life is ever normal at Chelsea. pEriksson salutes Elano
Manchester City 3 Middlesbrough 1: The exhilarating Brazilian samba beat at the heart of Sven-Goran Eriksson's revivified Manchester City thumped out again at Eastlands yesterday as Elano, first with a wonderfully struck right-foot shot, and then with a mischievously chipped free-kick, kept City in the top three and sent the home fans skipping out of the exits with thoughts of Europe and - whoever would have thought it - the title. "We are the champions", some sang. pArsenal show signs of their immaturity
Arsenal 3 Sunderland 2: Roy Keane, a man who knows a thing or two about title races, said yesterday he believes "Manchester United have the edge" over Arsenal in what he sees as a two-team affair. The Sunderland manager declined to expand on his reasons - "I just think they do" - but anybody who thinks his coyness was down to old allegiances clearly did not see this game. pOwen returns to provide late sting
Newcastle Utd 3 Everton 2: It would be intriguing to overhear the "private conversation" Sam Allardyce says he intends to hold with Steve McClaren regarding Michael Owen's degree of fitness for England duty. Eight days after undergoing the second of two groin operations, Owen stepped off the bench in the 74th minute here and not only headed a vital goal but created another for his fellow substitute, Emre. pShocking decline of a rare talent
On The Premiership: A star never shines more brilliantly than the moment before it dies. A supernova explosion is one of the wonders of the celestial world but, for earth-bound galacticos, there is no big bang to mark the end of days: just a long, excruciating fade into nothingness. pChampions look the part
Manchester Utd 4 Wigan Athletic 0: Nine league games gone and Manchester United are starting to click. Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are finding the net, Cristiano Ronaldo is reaching his destructive best and the new midfielders Anderson and Nani are playing as to the manor born. pMcDonald the late late hero again for Celtic
Scottish Premier League/Gretna 1 Celtic 2: Amid their feelings of disbelief shortly before 5pm yesterday, Gretna's players should perhaps have realised they had finally been fully inaugurated into the Scottish Premier League. A goal ahead with four minutes to play, David Irons's side discovered, like so many before them, that the Old Firm can - and do - win matches even when well short of their best. pItalian Serie A
An 89th-minute Adrian Mutu penalty gave Fiorentina a 1-1 home draw with Juventus yesterday pSpanish La Liga
Lionel Messi scored for the sixth consecutive game to help Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou in the Primera Liga yesterday. pPlanet Football
Today's other stories in brief p
Limerick claim crown
Limerick 2-9 Cork 0-6: Limerick claimed their first senior All-Ireland camogie championship title yesterday in the All-Ireland Senior B final replay at Páirc Uí Rinn. pKiltegan's 3-14 still not enough
Wicklow SHC Final/Glenealy 4-16 Kiltegan 3-14: Corner forward Enan Glynn was the three-goal hero for Glenealy as their lifted their ninth Wicklow senior hurling title with a five-point win over Kiltegan in a cracking final at Aughrim yesterday. pCavan Gaels back on top
Cavan SFC Final/Cavan Gaels 0-15 Gowna 0-11: Cavan Gaels - appearing in no less than their ninth senior football championship final in 10 years - yesterday were too strong for Gowna at Kingspan Breffni Park. pKilcormac reach their final goal
Offaly SHC/Kilcormac 2-23 Kinnitty 1-11: Having suffered the disappointment of seven semi-final defeats since 1990, Kilcormac-Killoughey finally made the breakthrough to contest their first Offaly hurling final when they overcame Kinnitty in Saturday's replayed semi-final in Tullamore. pElliott goal is decisive
Antrim SHC Final/Dunloy 1-16 Loughgiel 0-16: Loughgiel's hopes were crushed again, this time by Dunloy who won yesterday's thrilling county final, at Casement Park. This was Shamrocks' fifth consecutive loss in the decider. Despite a few scoring sprees by Dunloy, they couldn't shake off Loughgiel and it was a goal in the 45th minute that decided matters. Paddy Richmond beat his marker and found Ally Elliott who blasted to the net to make it 1-14 to 0-11. pHolders stay in power
Derry SHC Final/Kevin Lynch's 2-17 Banagher 1-11: Kevin Lynch's retained their Derry SH title at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon with an emphatic performance. Liam Hinphey dominant at centrefield and Geoffrey McGonigle's goal from a 21-metre free saw the holders lead 1-8 to 0-2 at the break, and by the 42nd minute they led 1-14 to 0-3. Banagher's goal came from PJ McCloskey but substitute Feidhlim Kelly pounced for the second goal for Kevin Lynch's. pKenny change decisive
Offaly SFC Final/Tullamore 1-12 Shamrocks 0-12: Tullamore stretched their lead at the head of the Offaly senior football roll of honour when they came from behind to capture their 26th title by defeating Shamrocks by 1-12 to 0-12 yesterday at O'Connor Park. pPortumna to meet Kinvara
Galway SHC Semi-finals: Portumna reached their fifth Galway final in a row when they defeated Athenry 2-16 to 0-14 in a disappointing semi-final in front of almost 10,000 at Kenny Park, Athenry, yesterday. pMurphy goal seals victory
Carlow SHC Final/M Leinster Rangers 1-10 St Mullins 1-8: Mount Leinster Rangers captain Seán Michael Murphy scored a controversial and ultimately winning 55th-minute goal as they retained their title at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. From Edward Coady's delivery Murphy handballed the sliotar to the net. pMoorefield ease up over final hurdle
Kildare SFC Final/Moorefield 2-9 Sarsfields 0-11: On an afternoon of little enough tension the only mildly puzzling aspect of yesterday's Kildare county football final was how Sarsfields came to be within four points of local Newbridge rivals Moorefield. pTourlestrane keep steady course
Sligo SFC Final/Tourlestrane 1-9 Eastern Harps 0-10: Tourlestrane won their fourth championship in 10 years yesterday and the experience they accumulated over that decade guided them home in the end. As expected, they had to survive without the inspiration of Eamon O'Hara, but they played sensible, steady football throughout this unspectacular Sligo showpiece. pDoran keeps Longstone afloat
Down SFC Final/Mayobridge 0-16 Longstone 1-13: A point from a free with the last kick of this final from Barry Doran - his 10th of the game - gave outsiders Longstone a deserved draw with holders Mayobridge in an exciting a game in Páirc Esler, Newry, yesterday. pSt Gall's regain crown
Antrim SFC Final/St Gall's 0-10 Portglenone 0-4: A win is a win and St Gall's were thankful to have regained the Antrim title at Casement Park yesterday but the Milltown men know they need to do better if they are to progress further. pLoughmore and Drom set final date
Tipperary SHC Semi-finals: Two points in injury-time gave Loughmore-Castleiney a 0-15 to 0-13 win over Éire Óg, Nenagh, at Semple Stadium, yesterday. pTulla defy odds to reach final
Clare SHC Semi-finals: For the first time since 1933, Tulla will contest a Clare county hurling final. pOulart win with second-half show
Wexford SHC Semi-finals: An improved second-half showing from Oulart-the-Ballagh saw them eliminate holders Rathnure 0-15 to 0-13 from the Wexford SH championship at Wexford Park yesterday. pErin's Own come from behind
Cork SHC Semi-final/Erin's Own 1-15 St Finbarr's 0-14: Champions Erin's Own needed a late scoring spree to deny a Ronan Curran-inspired St Finbarr's and qualify for the county final, against Newtownshandrum, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. pCastleblaney to face Clontibret in final
Monaghan SFC Semi-finals: Champions Clontibret will meet Castleblayney in the Monaghan SF final following victories over Latton, 1-8 to 0-4, and Inniskeen, 2-12 to 1-10, respectively in Saturday's semi-finals in Clones pCurley sets the scene
Westmeath SFC/Mullingar 1-11 Coralstown 0-6: Mullingar Shamrocks qualified for the final after beating Coralstown/Kinnegad in a low-key semi-final in Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday. pKerry final deferred Kerry SFC
South Kerry 0-10 Mid Kerry 0-10 AET - 0-8 each after normal time: South and Mid Kerry were again inseparable in this second replay despite 20 minutes of extra-time being played in their semi-final at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday. pFenians progress
Kilkenny SHC/Fenians 1-12 Graigue-Ballycallan 0-10: Fenians of Johnstown moved a step closer to their first county title in 30 years when they saw off Graigue-Ballycallan in a quarter-final replay in Freshford on Saturday. A first-half goal from Diarmuid Broderick helped Fenians lead 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time. Poor shooting cost Graigue dearly and the winners now meet St Martin's in the semi-final. pLoughran does trick
Meath SFC: Navan O'Mahonys and Seneschalstown will meet in the Meath decider for the first time since 1972 following their semi-final wins over Dunboyne and Simonstown Gaels respectively at Páirc Tailteann yesterday. pLixnaw produce a big surprise
Kerry SHC Final/Lixnaw 1-12 Kilmoyley 2-6: Lixnaw, coached by Eamon Cregan, surprised hot favourites Kilmoyley to reclaim the Kerry title after an exiting clash at Austin Stack Park yesterday. p
Dougherty holds on, but McIlroy makes a little more history
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: If six-hour rounds and amateur hacking have often made the Dunhill Links Championship the golfing equivalent of water torture, then the 2007 edition of the European Tour's lucrative pro-am proved an unalloyed delight yesterday on an afternoon at St Andrews that brought victory for Nick Dougherty and confirmation that Rory McIlroy, the 18-year-old Irishman, is as brilliant as has been advertised. pRoberts cruises to victory in Players
CHAMPIONS TOUR : Loren Roberts cruised to victory in the Seniors Players Championship in Maryland yesterday. p
O'Brien captures his maiden Arc
Longchamp report: Dylan Thomas recorded just the sixth Irish success in Europe's greatest all-aged race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when he survived a ferocious challenge from the 80 to 1 outsider Youmzain and then a dramatic, half-hour stewards' inquiry that threatened to deny Aidan O'Brien a first Arc victory. p
Another fast woman leaves me in lurch
Locker Room: Me and Ms Jones. The final dagger driven into my splintered old heart hit home on Friday. Marion didn't have the decency to wait for a Saturday night to tell me, and the world, that she'd had a thang going on with the drugs. All the scribes with the swanky Saturday and Sunday columns got to stomp all over her bony ass in a Riverdance of high indignation while I lay down in a dark room. pHamilton opens door for Alonso
MOTOR SPORT/Chinese Grand Prix: Another week in Formula One, another trip into the maelstrom. After torrential rain and minor earthquakes at last week's Japanese Grand Prix, yesterday's race in China was run under the threat of Typhoon Krosa, a monster storm that hovered off the coast of eastern China threatening to wreck what was shaping up to be rookie Lewis Hamilton's crowning moment. But in the end the bigger disaster was that caused by Hamilton himself after the Englishman squandered his golden opportunity to claim the title and slid out of the race to allow McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso back into the title fight with a single round to go. pGallagher top rookie
MOTOR SPORT: Donegal's Shaun Gallagher clinched the rookie-of-the-year title in the World Rally Championship at this weekend's Rally Catalunya, won for the third year in a row by Sebastien Loeb. pHermes hold Loreto
HOCKEY: Goals proved to be scarce in the Leinster first division on Saturday, with three of the five ties ending in scoreless draws, including the clash of defending champions Loreto and Hermes, who finished runners-up in the league last season. pChampions hit five
MENS HOCKEY: All-Ireland club champions Pembroke Wanderers and Leinster champions Glenanne got their league campaigns off to winning starts on Saturday, both teams scoring five goals in wins over Kilkenny and UCD, respectively. pTwomey takes honours
EQUESTRIAN: Cork-born Billy Twomey followed up Cian O'Connor's win on the opening night at the Horse of the Year Show at the Birmingham NEC by landing Saturday's Woof Wear Stakes on Whinny Jackson, third place being claimed by his compatriot Neal Fearon and Beowulf. pBattling McBride pole axed despite his storming start
America At Large: The record book will reflect only that Kevin McBride was stopped for the second successive time, but the bravura performance of the Clones Colossus in his Saturday night slugfest with Andrew Golota was a stark contrast to his timid surrender to Mike Mollo in Chicago a year earlier. pHyde holds nerve to take title
SAILING/All-Ireland Championship: Following a sudden death conclusion to the All-Ireland Sailing Championships, Stefan Hyde of the Royal Cork Yacht Club yesterday became the 60th winner of the Irish Dinghy Racing Association Helmsman trophy on Dublin Bay yesterday. pHeskin named team manager
ROWING: Mike Heskin will be the new Ireland team manager. The Galway businessman was chosen at a meeting of the new International Rowing Committee (IRC) on Saturday. pBlundell eating words as Brundle rolls out jawbreakers
TV View: We'd set the alarm for 6am, but you know yourself: hammer that snooze button so many times and eventually it abandons all hope of you rising and buzzes no more. So, by the time we tuned in to the Chinese Grand Prix the race was half over and Martin Brundle was hollering: "I think he's got some delamination on his right-rear tyre!" p
