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Reds on their way to Moscow
Manchester Utd 1 Barcelona 0 (Manchester Utd win 1-0 on agg): EUROPE MAY not be overly enthused about the prospect of the first all-English Champions League final and its Russian hosts are sure to view it with particular unease but the mood was utterly euphoric last night at Old Trafford, where an early goal from Paul Scholes proved enough to earn his side a clash with either Chelsea or Liverpool on May 21st in Moscow. p

Lifebelt will slip from one manager's grasp
Chelsea (1) v Liverpool (1): THE CHAMPIONS League is as much a lifebelt as a gleaming crown. It has kept Rafael Benitez afloat at Liverpool and triumph in that tournament still seems the most feasible way for Avram Grant to ensure he stays buoyant at Chelsea. p

Soccer

Scholes finds his remedy
PAUL SCHOLES never looks at home in a club suit and tie, but that was what he wore the last time Manchester United appeared in a European Cup final, nine years ago in Barcelona. Having been forced to sit out that historic occasion through suspension, it was fitting that he should be the one whose marvellous goal allowed his team to take their first step towards another final last night. p
Revolution is key for canny Ferguson
The Scot recognised long ago that constant renewal was the key to European success, writes Louise Taylor . p
Bridge rubber the ideal game for this pair of high rollers
Emmet Malone looks at the two men most likely to produce the strike that settles tonight's big game. p
Benitez sees belief in his players' eyes
PARANOIA COLOURED Rafael Benitez's view on several issues yesterday, with the notable exception of the task awaiting Liverpool at Stamford Bridge tonight. An Italian referee who has handled five home wins in six European games this season, including one for Liverpool, and the vagaries of the Football Association's disciplinary process had the Spaniard indulging in conspiracy theories, but this was not a man wilting under the pressure of a turbulent season's defining moment. p
Thaksin sees Scolari as way forward
MANCHESTER CITY have identified Luiz Felipe Scolari as the best candidate to be their new manager after Thaksin Shinawatra's ruthless decision to pay off Sven-Goran Eriksson. A network of some of the more powerful agents in the business have already begun the process of luring Scolari to England after he has coached the Portuguese national team in this summer's European Championship. p
Soccer shorts
More soccer news in brief. p
Experts get everything right but the result
Mary Hannigan on the TV pundits' views on Manchester United v Barcelona. p

Rugby

Survival the name of the game on big weekend
EUROPEAN CUP DIARY: A series of heavy engagements proved seriously stressful but mighty fun, writes Trevor Brennan . p
Second-string Munster unlikely to roll over
MAGNERS LEAGUE - Ulster V Munster: WHEN ANTHONY FOLEY leads Munster out onto the Ravenhill pitch tonight he will be donning the red jersey for the 200th time, a phenomenal achievement and a testament to the longevity and quality of his footballing ability. p
Horgan returns as Cullen faces months on sideline
SHANE HORGAN returns to the Leinster squad for Saturday's Magners League clash with the Dragons at the RDS but coach Michael Cheika confirmed Leo Cullen had elected to undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him sidelined until the end of the summer. p

Gaelic Games

Dooher feels he is finally turning the corner
NEWS ROUND-UP: FOR ALL the repetition and banality that marks the launch of another football championship, something was amiss in Croke Park yesterday. Tyrone weren't once mentioned as title contenders, and although the bookies make them third favourites after Kerry and Dublin, there is a strong sense that after five years at the top, this is a team in decline. p
Canty and Cork refocused on silverware
GRAHAM CANTY puts out fires. If a manager needs to contain a guy like Barry Hall or Kieran Donaghy, he goes to the Cork captain. p
Match bans to be explored by GAA
GAA PRESIDENT Nickey Brennan has said match bans as distinct from periods of suspension will be explored under the ongoing review of disciplinary procedures, although there was no way they would be in place for this year's championship. p
League success could be stepping stone for Derry
THE TROUBLE with the National Football League is that you just don't know. Everyone's aware that 'it's only the league' and that 'in a few weeks no-one will remember who won it' and all the other phrases that trip off the tongue at this time of the year. p
Unbeaten Kerry out to stop Cork three-in-a-row
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINAL: WHILE CORK remain the undisputed queens of women's football, they face a daunting challenge this summer due to the second coming of Kerry, who bring an unbeaten record into Sunday's league final at Cusack Park, Ennis. p
GAA FIXTURES
Times and dates for upcoming games. p

Sport Other

Godolphin rule Fast Company out of 2,000 Guineas
RACING: GODOLPHIN'S 2,000 Guineas options were whittled down to two last night after Fast Company was ruled out of the stanjamesuk.com-sponsored Classic, a race dominated by the Jim Bolger-trained New Approach. p
Symmons sinks dogged Uruguayans
WOMEN'S HOCKEY Olympic Qualifier - Ireland 1 Uruguay 0: A NIKKI Symmons strike was all Ireland had to show against Uruguay at the Olympic hockey qualifier in Vancouver yesterday. p
Sports digest
More sports news in brief. p

Sports Extra

Travelling far to make the calls
HOME AND AWAY - TENNIS UMPIRE FERGUS MURPHY: As an ATP umpire Dubliner Fergus Murphy rubs shoulders with the tennis greats. He tells Johnny Watterson about his glamorous occupation. p
Expansive game proves instant hit
SPORTING PASSIONS - RUBY WALSH: Ireland's champion jockey is used to finishing ahead of the pack but, as a scrumhalf at Naas, he played behind it. He talks to Mark Rodden . p
Something to savour at the Chocolate Box
DERBY DAYS BOCA JUNIORS v RIVER PLATE: Argentina will come to a standstill on Sunday when Boca Juniors and River Plate meet in the latest edition of the Superclásico, writes Damian Cullen . p
Senna's tragic farewell
FROM THE ARCHIVES Monday, May 2nd, 1994: Ayrton Senna is killed following a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix. Martin McCarthy covered the story. p
Vinny enjoys the thrills and spills of Punchestown
AGAINST THE ODDS: Vinny and the his mates enjoy a day out at Punchestown courtesy of Boru betting, writes Roddy L'Estrange . p
Bluffers' guide to..
The Badminton horse trials. p

School of Sport

Underdog days were seldom like this
CASTLETROY COLLEGE, LIMERICK: With their eye-catching turquoise strip and equally eye-catching bravura in play, they swept all before them. Seán Kenny on the Munster cup champions. p
Fraternal ties a big factor in Kilkenny's rise to prominence
GENERATION GAME: Gavin Cummiskey charts the unique part played by three sets of identical twins in Kilkenny College's recent Leinster Schools Cup campaign. p
Terrific two have class on all fronts
GOLF - THE MAGUIRE TWINS: Finding a balance between work, rest, play and book study is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Cavan's brilliant young siblings, writes Johnny Watterson . p
Why there need be no bar to early strength training
COACHES' CORNER: Systematic strength training has many benefits for young as well as mature and need not entail massive weights or building unwieldy muscle, insist Dr Liam Hennessy and Jim Kilty . p
Passion anchored in the great days of Ring, Carter and Arlott
SCHOOL DAYS - Bill O'Herlihy: The nation's favourite television sports anchorman was never by his own admission cut out for onfield greatness but those formative years in a golden era down south helped make him the ideal studio foil for Giles, Brady, Dunphy et al, writes Seán Kenny . p
What's on ...
compiled by Carol Kirwan . p
Prompt action can help save tooth
DOCTOR ON CALL: Dr Muiris Houston. p

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