James O'Donoghue has provided an insight into his great year, "shouldering the burden" of becoming Kerry's talisman in the absence of Colm Cooper, but all year struggling with another burden, the mental and physical effects of a season-long shoulder injury.
Missing out on this year's International Rules series after going under the knife was a disappointment he says, telling Sean Moran during the All Star tour of Boston all about a year of playing every game as if it would be his last.
Rugby: Finding his stride
Connacht manager Pat Lam has had a great start to the season, something he explains to Gavin Cummiskey is the result of the province's team ethic. Lam talks Connacht's young guns, their strength-in-depth, new signings and the team's playing stye; "I don't want to be known as a team that mauls; I want to be known as a skilful, clever team who can do enough to win games."
The province yesterday handed new contracts to Academy-raised Darragh Leader and Dennis Buckley.
Ahead of tonight's Guinness Pro12 clash between Munster and Ulster, John O'Sullivan tracks the progress of two of the country's most talented players, both considered too good to be left out by their respective provinces , Ulster's Stuart Olding and Munster's JJ Hanrahan will both feature in their perhaps unnatural position of fullback.
Following the early careers of the duo, comparisons have been drawn with two of the most talented Irish number 10s ever to play age-grade rugby and then find themselves accommodated elsewhere in the senior ranks.
Ronan O'Gara feels Keith Earls will definitely be going to the World Cup with Ireland because of his versatility, he says Simon Zebo "thinks he's LeBron James and how Tommy Bowe at 30 is still as good as ever.
O’Gara tells The Irish Examiner that nothing would have been worse for Bowe, as a winger, than getting caught for his intercept try against Australia, and how his grimacing jaw almost held him back.
Soccer: McCarthy injured again
All three British clubs have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League, with wins for Everton and Tottenham, while a Celtic loss still didn't prevent their progress from the group.
Everton's 2-0 away win to German side Wolfsburg was marred by yet another injury to Irish midfielder James McCarthy who limped of during the victory, he of course missed out on Ireland's last European championship qualifier earlier this month due to a hamstring complaint.
While in White Hart Lane last night Tottenham's 1-0 win of Partizan Belgrade was twice interrupted by pitch invasions which are being linked to a PR stunt, the club are now facing Ueafa sanctions as a result.
Fifa are in this morning's headlines once more with three of their current executive committee members facing formal disciplinary action, along with German World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer, following Michael Garcia's 18-month inquiry into the controversial World Cup bidding process.
Back in Ireland and the brilliant Ken Early is questioning whether FAI chief executive John Delaney lied in "an effort to cover up a story he feared would cause him embarrassment?...What if he'd had the courage to stand up for the nationalist beliefs he has so often professed, instead of apologetically distancing himself from them?... Whatever happened to an Irishman's right to free expression?
That misses the crucial point, which is that the only ones trying to suppress free expression of anything was Delaney or the FAI, with the risible threats of legal action against media outlets who tried to report the truth.”
Meanwhile and Paul Scholes has said that while he likes "Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool are going backwards this season." The former Manchester United and England midfielder explained to the Irish Independent that the last step is always the hardest.
Cricket: Tragic loss
Following the tragic death of Australia batsman Phillip Hughes who was last Tuesday fatally hit on the head with the ball during a match, The Guardian have this morning led with a fantastic tribute to the 25-year-old. "Short in stature but Hughes was a giant amongst his team-mates... This has hurt us as, we are a close club and this is a big blow."
While Kevin Pieterson told The Telegraph of "the quiet, humble fearless Phillip Hughes" that he knew.
Local newspaper the West Australian has questioned whether the nation's next test match should go ahead as scheduled; "It's one thing to say Phillip Hughes would have wanted the first Test to proceed as planned. It's another for 11 men to take the field at the Gabba a week after their close friend died."
To boat racing and a gap in the formation of racing boat crews may soon be resolved following an announcement at the recent Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) annual conference in Galway.
Crew training in various roles on board relies almost exclusively on individual boat owners and skippers. Formal instruction, if any, typically concentrates on the theory of sailing and basic safety measures - meaning in the heat of competition massive gains, and losses are at stake.
Elsewhere Ronnie O'Sullivan started th UK snooker championship against Daniel Wells on one leg but will withdraw from the tournament if he feels no let-up from his broken ankle by the weekend.
