Rooney boxes clever
Manchester United produced their best performance of the season yesterday as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at Old Trafford thanks to first half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.
Rooney's goal celebration was a nod to the video which leaked earlier in the day appearing to show him being knocked out by Phil Bardsley in a kitchen boxing match, an incident the United captain and his manager have shrugged off.
Chelsea's players were on their best behaviour as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Stamford Bridge, a result which saw them move six points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Everton eased their relegation worries with a convincing 3-0 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park, while in Scotland Ronny Deila picked up his first silverware as Celtic manager after they beat Dundee United 2-0 in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.
England favourites in three-horse race
With the dust settling on Ireland's brutal defeat to Wales on Saturday all eyes turn to next weekend and the three horse race for the Six Nations championship, and it is England who are most likely to pick up the trophy, writes Gerry Thornley.
Ireland were left to rue their inability to break down a ferocious Welsh defence and were ultimately short of ideas in an error strewn performance, writes Liam Toland.
That impenetrable defence, which made a staggering 289 tackles on Saturday, had the fingerprints of Shaun Edwards all over it, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
But while the men couldn't win in Wales, Ireland women could, running out 20-0 winners in Swansea and putting themselves firmly in Six Nations title contention.
Allianz League football
Kerry held off a battling Donegal at Stack Park yesterday, winning 2-13 2-11 in a thrilling repeat of last year's All Ireland final.
Elsewhere in division one Cork moved to withing touching distance of the semi-finals as they crept past Tyrone 0-17 2-10 at Healy Park, while a resilient Monaghan were comfortable in their 0-15 0-10 win over Derry.
Tipp finally beat rivals
Tipperary moved into the hurling quarter finals after their 2-22 1-13 win over Kilkenny at Semple Stadium, their first win over their fierce rivals in two years and a result which means Kilkenny will be contesting the Division 1A relegation play-off.
Elsewhere, Cork retained their position at the top of the table with a 2-17 0-20 win over Cork at Pearse Stadium.
Ireland out but not down
Ireland's Cricket World Cup dream is over after they were beaten by seven wickets by Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.
Despite skipper William Porterfield’s brilliant century Ireland could only post 237 all out batting first and Sarfraz Ahmed’s unbeaten ton helped Pakistan get over the line with ease.
The overriding feeling is Ireland are incredibly unlucky to be going home having won three games, including two over test playing nations, but the boys in green will head home with heads high, writes spinner George Dockrell.
Hamilton begins defence with win
Lewis Hamilton began his Formula One World Championship defence with a win in Melbourne yesterday in a farcical Australian Grand Prix which saw only 11 cars finish the race.
Fly set for France
Following his record breaking week at the Cheltenham festival, Willie Mullins is eyeing up the French Champion Hurdle in June for the legendary Hurricane Fly.
What to watch out for:
Football:
Premier League, Swansea City v Liverpool, Sky Sports 1from 7pm
FA Cup, Reading v Bradford City, BBC 1 from 7.30pm
Serie A, AS Roma v Sampdoria, Setanta and BT Sport from 7.45pm
Rugby:
Against the Head, RTE 2, 7-8.05pm
