1. #EURO EXIT The Munster bandwagon at last rattled to a halt yesterday after a dozen years on the road.
After a humbling defeat to Toulon in France 32-16, Munster faced up to life outside the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
A ‘shattered’ Tony McGahan put the defeat down to an uncharacteristic lack of composure and discipline.
Is it the end of an era for the Reds?
Of course, it was a better weekend for Leinster and Ulster, thankfully.
2. #LEAGUE It was a busy weekend of GAA action too. Pat Gilroy’s Dublin side showed they’re starting to feel the benefit of their early starts as they kicked into action against Wexford.
All-Ireland champions Cork fielded a much-weakened side but still ran out winners over neighbours Limerick. We’ll have a full round-up later this morning.
3. #EASTERN PROMISE An estimated worldwide audience of over 100 million viewers watched on as Marco Fu and Ding Junhui went head-to-head in the first all-Asian major tournament final at the Masters in Wembley last night.
Ding came out on top as he racked up breaks of 120, 94 and 83 on the way to a 10-4 victory which earned him a winner’s cheque of £150,000.
4. #TITLE HUNT Manchester United incedibly kept their unbeaten run going with a scoreless draw at White Hart Lane yesterday. Spurs had plenty of chances to win it and the visitors finished with 10 men after Rafael was dismissed for two yellow cards.
5. #DOWN UNDER Roger Federer made swift progress into the second round of the Australian Open today with a routine win over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.
The world number two and defending champion at Melbourne Park barely broke sweat as he cruised to a 6-1 6-1 6-3 victory.
Read Stephen Kelly’s preview of the tournament here.
6. #MANAGER MERRY-GO-ROUND West Ham were last night trying to keep alive their hopes of landing Martin O’Neill as their new manager after it emerged the Irishman is said to be unimpressed with reports claiming he would be named as Avram Grant’s successor later that evening.
7. #LEGEND One of the country’s best footballers has called time on his intercounty career.
Wexford’s Matty Forde said he will no longer line out with the Model County as he ‘isn’t enjoying it anymore’.
8. #SHINING STAR Kauto Star will go for Gold Cup glory despite a flop in the King George VI Chase, according to Paul Nicholls.
9. #NFL Here come the Jets, baby!
Rex Ryan’s side shocked the New England Patriots in Foxborough yesterday in a thrilling play-offs win. They’ll face the Pittsburgh Steelers next week while the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers clash in a mouth-watering divisional final of their own.
Check back for Steven O’Rourke’s column later.
Bart Scott then gave a WWE-style interview.
