Previous Day
United do as Romans are done
SOCCER/AS Roma 0 Manchester Utd 2: ONE SUSPECTS
that old journalistic cliché, much loved in the Anglo-Saxon
world, namely "The Italian Job" will be doing the rounds of English
newspapers this morning. In beating AS Roma at the Olympic Stadium
here last night, the English Premier League leaders gave a mightily
impressive display of dominant self-belief, worthy of the best
Italian teams. p
Kidney faces tough calls with squad in rude health
RUGBY: DECLAN KIDNEY yesterday went through the
ritual of effectively naming every fit and plausible contender bar
the team's chef for Munster's latest Heineken European Cup epic in
waiting, away to Gloucester in Saturday's quarter-final. p
Soccer
Zico's belief in the beautiful game remains intact
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS, FIRST LEG/Fenerbahce v Chelsea: TO DEVOTEES of jogo bonito, the Brazil team of the early 1980s provided memories that will never fade. It remains one of football's great mysteries how the class of Zico, Socrates, Eder, Junior, Falcao et al failed to win the 1982 World Cup. When an ultra-functional Italy, fired by the goals of Paolo Rossi, knocked them out, it is said that a part of them died. Zico remains haunted by the loss. pBojan does enough to take home advantage
Schalke O4 0 Barcelona 1: BARCELONA TOOK a significant step towards the semi-finals of the Champions League with a hard-fought win over Schalke at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen last night. pConfident United strut their stuff
IT WAS a peacock-like spreading of Manchester United's feathers. Ever since the draw was made the club's unofficial websites have been filled with supporters swapping information of budget flights to Barcelona. pWenger admits this is 'moment of truth'
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS, FIRST LEG/Arsenal v Liverpool: ARSENE WENGER confronted the first of four games which could define Arsenal's season last night by admitting that the next 12 days represented the greatest challenge of his managerial career to date, his side's campaign having reached "the moment of truth". pQuinn planning to offer Keane a new deal
SUNDERLAND'S CHAIRMAN, Niall Quinn, has vowed to fend off any interest in his manager, Roy Keane, as he prepares to reward the Irishman for his achievements with a long-term contract. pDifferent strokes but managing to aim at same target
The managers in the respective dugouts tonight have diverse approaches but Europe is their only hope of success this season, writes Richard Williams pSoccer shorts
Today's other stories in brief p
Big fellow primed and locked on to the target
EUROPEAN CUP QUARTER-FINAL/PAUL O'CONNELL INTERVIEW: LAST SATURDAY week in Musgrave Park, with Munster 28-6 up against Ulster and a bonus point in the bag, James Coughlan burst through Niall O'Connor's tackle and triumphantly touched down for a rare try for the province. Paul O'Connell walked up to him and pointed to the posts, indicating to the backrower he could have narrowed the angle for the conversion. He's back, as ruthless and as hungry as ever, perhaps even hungrier. pVoices of experience
Some top rugby players give their views on Munster's visit to Gloucester on Saturday. pVolcanic talent seldom dormant for long
LESLEY VAINIKOLO PROFILE: John O'Sullivan runs the rule over the giant Tongan winger Munster will be aiming to keep scoreless at Kingsholm on Saturday pRugby digest
Today's other stories in brief p
Ugly abuse proves too much for Maughan
ROSCOMMON FOOTBALL: IT WAS the "extremely ugly" level of abuse from Roscommon supporters that effectively ended John Maughan's reign as county football manager. With both the Roscommon County Board and the football panel yesterday stating their regret at the circumstances that resulted in his resignation on Monday night, Maughan is possibly the first GAA manager to surrender his position solely on the basis of such abuse. pWhelan leaves big shoes to fill
pDublin and Armagh set for April 13th
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: THE GAA'S Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has refixed Dublin's Allianz National Football League round five match against Armagh for Sunday week, April 13th, with a 2.30pm throw-in at Crossmaglen. This follows last Sunday's controversial decision to postpone the Division Two tie just an hour before the scheduled throw-in due to a waterlogged pitch. pRoscommon scenario highlights disturbing trend
YESTERDAY MORNING John Maughan explained how, caught in a wearying pincer movement between the displeasure of the mob and official intrigue, he had decided resignedly to walk away from his position as Roscommon manager. p
Late hike in the handicap defended
THE SENIOR Turf Club handicapper has held his hands up to the error that resulted in the French horse Estrela Brage being raised 9lb in the handicap just 24 hours before last Sunday's Irish Lincolnshire, but insisted that such corrections have happened before and have occurred even closer to race time. pIrving in for Foxrock
BOOKMAKERS RATE Washington Irving as Aidan O'Brien's number one hope for Derby glory at Epsom in June, and the Montjeu colt could have his first start of 2008 at Leopardstown on Sunday. p
Sports digest
Today's other stories in brief p
Unhappy hooker finds his niche
SCHOOL DAYS: His youthful development was cramped by sickness and self-doubt but he is living proof that it is never too late to blossom, writes Sean Kenny pPatrick has the game to back up the name
GENERATION GAME: WILLIE MULLINS has been one of the leading National Hunt trainers in Ireland for the last two decades. pWarm-ups also help 'casual' sports enthusiasts
DOCTOR ON CALL/ASK THE EXPERT: MYSELF AND some friends like to shoot a few baskets for about half an hour after school. It's nothing serious, just a way of switching off before supervised study. Our PE teacher came up to us last week and said we should do some warm-ups before we start. We thought he was a bit over the top - it's not like we play competitively. What do you think? pAlarming start leads to steak in the project
DIARY OF A SWIMMING MOTHER: Despite accusations of seldom doing a stroke, your correspondent has plenty on her - and her son's - plate, writes Anthea McTeirnan pHurling institution blessed with legendary 'roll' models
SCHOOL REPORT/ST KIERAN'S COLLEGE, KILKENNY: In the most decorated hurling school of them all, the names and faces of the greats are a perennial inspiration, writes Sean Kenny pAbility to multi-task key to progress in multi-activity sport
Liam Hennessy and Jim Kilty on the specific physical fitness demands that rugby places on the modern-day player p
Faldo left basking as Shark founders
ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES/1996 US MASTERS: Dermot Gilleece on a day when a gut-wrenching drama was played out with impressive dignity pFamous five solve mystery of the modern pentathlon
AGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny and his pals have their sporting knowledge tested to the full in a pub quiz pOriginal red-leather day for Thurles
HURLING 120th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ALL-IRELAND FINAL: It set the template from day one: a players' strike, a Tipperary 'wild man' on the loose, a dubious sending-off and a court sequel, writes Paul Rouse pGetting seriously revved up about the big occasions
SPORTING PASSIONS: Eddie Jordan reveals the fun to be had from things with the same initial - Coventry, Celtic, Cheltenham, caddying, writes Mark Rodden pDefinitely not cricket as Melbourne rivals clash
DERBY DAYS/AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL/Carlton Blues v Collingwood Magpies: IMAGINE IF, on one weekend each year, the GAA fixed it so that in championship football, Cork played Kerry, Dublin met Meath, Galway met Mayo and Tyrone played Derry, and in hurling Kilkenny and Wexford did battle while Cork faced Tipperary. pBluffer's Guide The Grand National
What is it? A unique race which compels tens of thousands of people who have absolutely no interest in racing to enter betting offices and ask the same question: "So I just write one euro and the name of the horse on this slip of paper, right?" p
