ireland.com - The Irish Times

Langer chasing one that got away
YOU THINK you've seen everything there is to see in golf; then, an old master reminds you that genius is ageless, writes PHILIP REID reports from Sawgrass. p

Fergie in no mood to party just yet
ALEX FERGUSON expressed strong misgivings about the closing stages of the Premier League title race last night by publicly questioning whether Bolton Wanderers were treating tomorrow's game at Chelsea as seriously as Wigan Athletic were approaching theirs against Manchester United. p

Golf

Real life changes Els' focus
LIFE HAS been put into perspective for Ernie Els these days. What happens on the course doesn't seem as important as it once did; although the desire to win, innate in his personality, burns as it ever did, writes Philip Reid . p
SAWGRASS DIARY
... By PHILIP REID p
Reserve Arthurs takes a cut at the field
EOIN ARTHURS enjoyed a very productive day, first shooting a four-under-par 68 to lead the AIB-sponsored Irish Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Royal Dublin and then returning to his place of employment, the Kinsealy Grange Driving Range, to cut the grass and collect balls, writes John O'Sullivan . p
Decision to stay closer to home pays dividends for Karlsson
Golf Digest : For a few magical moments yesterday Robert Karlsson thought he could be just minutes away from becoming the first player to shoot 59 on the European Tour. p

Soccer

Kelly relying on home advantage
MIND GAMES are not confined to the title race. At the other end of the table two from three will be relegated, the pressure of that situation prompting managers, players and chairmen to turn tomorrow's fixtures into a psychological minefield. p
True Survivors: Five Of The Greatest Escapes
On April 5th Fulham were six points from safety but three wins in four games have given them a chance to join the late-revival survivors club which includes: p
Euro invite cannot save Eriksson
IN TYPICALLY bittersweet circumstances Manchester City discovered last night that they will almost certainly be invited to take part in next season's Uefa Cup barring a rash of red and yellow cards in Sven-Goran Eriksson's final match as manager, at Middlesbrough, tomorrow. p
Keegan survives crisis talks
A LENGTHY meeting in London involving Newcastle's manager Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise concluded with civil handshakes rather than final farewells. p
Grant's remarkable work may require some extra overtime
Kevin McCarra says it would be folly to jettison estblablished Chelsea players, but Avram Grant faces steeper challenges in the seasons ahead. p
Chelsea make a fair point
AVRAM GRANT said last night Chelsea had been playing "the best football" over the Premier League run-in, though he conceded also that his side could end up losing the title on goal difference, the Israeli, albeit optimistically, suggesting the trophy should be decided in a play-off match if the top two finish level on points. p
Irish contingent take a big hit as McCarthy wields the axe
MORE THAN half the sizeable Irish contingent at Wolves were on their way out of Monlineux yesterday as Mick McCarthy swung the axe in the wake of his side's failure to make the Championship promotion play-offs. p
Keane aiming to build upon 'satisfactory' campaign
A YEAR ON THE WEAR : AND NOW the end is near. A season that began with a north London giant arriving on Wearside, Tottenham Hotspur, ends with their neighbours Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. p
Sammon leaps to Derry's rescue
A CONTROVERSIAL Conor Sammon header 14 minutes from time secured Derry City a well-earned point after a 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park. p
Students frustrate leaders
St Patrick's Athletic 0 UCD 0 : ST PATRICK'S increased their lead at the top of the Premier Division table, but not by the three points they had hoped for as UCD held them to a draw in a game the home side dominated. p
Drogheda's superiority counts for nothing as resolute Bray hold out
Bray Wanderers 1 Drogheda United 0 : AFTER A miserable start to the season, Bray's form of late has been quite something, with the Seasiders winning four and drawing one of five league outings before last night's visit by the champions. p
Parkhouse earns point for Harps
Galway United 2 Finn Harps 2 : STEPHEN PARKHOUSE struck from 25 yards to give Finn Harps their first point in seven Premier Division games as they shared the spoils with fellow strugglers Galway United at Terryland Park last night. p
Mooney shoots down luckless Sligo
Cork City1 Sligo Rovers 0 : CORK CITY were well worth their win at Turner's Cross last night, but will have to work on their final product if they are to continue to lift themselves up the table. p

Gaelic Games

Defensive cohesion gives Westmeath the edge
Longford v Westmeath : LAST YEAR'S setback in this fixture may well have had a seismic effect on Westmeath. By the time the sides re-engaged in the qualifiers Longford noticed that their neighbours had become both more physical and more cautious in the number of players they played behind the ball. p
Old rivals craving a great leap forward
Westmeath v Longford : Tom Humphries hopes whoever emerges from tomorrow's meeting of Westmeath and Longford can go on to cause a national stir this summer. p
Hooked by a passion for the underdog
Keith Duggan profiles manager Dessie Dolan snr, whose Leitrim team begin their championship campaign in New York tomorrow. p
Leitrim have enough quality to pass tricky test
New York v Leitrim : LEITRIM HAVE have more reason than most to be wary of this fixture, as on their previous visit five years ago they were taken to extra-time before winning by a short head, 0-14 to 0-12. p
GAA Digest
Croke Park sets ambitious environmental goals : THE GAA yesterday announced a major environmental initiative - Cul Green - aimed at making Croke Park a carbon-free stadium. p
It's official - summer is about to throw in
SIDELINE CUT : THE GAELIC fields are trim and freshly marked in white. The changing-rooms are spanking clean. In New York and Longford the kettle is already on the boil. The football championship is upon us and with it comes the sounds of summer. p

Rugby

Ulster hero given warm send-off
Ulster17 Cardiff Blues26 p
Fitting farewell for Foley
MAGNERS LEAGUE PREVIEW p
Connacht end on a high
Connacht24 Ospreys20 p
Berne double not enough to save Leinster's blushes
Dragons 31 Leinster 26 : IT WAS A real case of after the Lord Mayor's show for the champions Leinster as they slumped to a thrilling 31-26 defeat to Newport Gwent Dragons. p
Casey comes in from the cold after eight years in the wilderness
COME IN, Bob, your time has arrived. It may only be an exhibition game, but after eight years in the wilderness Bob Casey has been invited to come in from the cold following the London Irish captain's inclusion in the Ireland squad to play the Barbarians on May 27th and the subsequent Churchill Cup with the Ireland A squad. p
Con looking for revenge
ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE FINAL p
Changing of guard will need careful oversight
The age profile of the Ireland squad reflects the challenge facing Declan Kidney between now and
the 2011 World Cup, writes Gerry Thornley . p

Racing

Washington's talent on Trial
LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW : IF PACE makes a race then the Aidan O'Brien team believe a good gallop could turn Washington Irving into a genuine Epsom candidate at Leopardstown tomorrow. p
O'Brien on Classic trail again
FRENCH 2,000 GUINEAS : JUST A WEEK after producing a 2,000 Guineas masterclass on Henrythenavigator at Newmarket, Johnny Murtagh is hoping the power of Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard can provide him with a first Classic victory in France tomorrow. p

Sport Other

Massa on course for hat-trick
Motor Sport : FELIPE MASSA is hoping to continue his love affair with Turkey and rub further salt into McLaren's wounds. p
Ireland four in upbeat mood
ROWING : IRELAND'S LIGHTWEIGHT four will face two of their main rivals for the remaining Olympic qualification places in today's semi-final at the World Cup regatta in Munich (4.22pm Irish time).
Hard to look past Leinster side lifting Irish Senior Cup
Cricket : IN SYNC with the recent weather, the domestic season heats up this weekend with the first round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup. p
O'Dwyer still has time to recapture days of glory
ATHLETICS : What doesn't kill us can make us stronger. Ireland's most extravagantly talented high jumper has the chance to provide dramatic proof of the adage p
SPORTS DIGEST
EQUESTRIAN : Ireland's return to Samsung Super League competition resulted in a good second placing at the five-star show in La Baule yesterday afternoon. p

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