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I suppose the pain is now over, gone but never forgotten RIP Seve.

Some goal by David McGoldrick

[3 Irishmen]

Good to see both Gibson and O'Shea play and play well in such an important game.

It was strange to hear Ferguson in the post match interview admit vulnerability. He said he spent a sleepless night juggling his doubts, wondering what team to play. He sounded very relaxed as if this year's plan was all falling into place, after a small blip last week.

yes i wonder when last time 3 Irishmen played in a European Semi final

Good spot.

The following lined out in a European Final:

Pat Jennings
Pat Rice
Sammy Nelson
Dave O'Leary
Liam Brady
Frank Stapleton

a european final was it Cup winners cup? some going more than half a team

Yes would be the Cup Winners cup in 1980, i liked that tournament i wish they brought it back.

If Arsenal finish 3rd does it mean they have to play a qualifying round to get into next years Champions league?

http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0428/jedward.html can i ask why?

Tony Fearon

That allowed me my first look at the great man. Not as big as I expected.

Most people look smaller from your high throne.

If you're going to try and snipe about what you perceive as smugness ross (don't worry, big bad Gold will be along any month now to stick up for you and shout at me again), at least get your f**king metaphors right.

Oh my did i anger Sir Galls?

I think you did Ross 

How long has Christy Cooney left? & hopefully the next guy doesn't try to kill every tradition we have.

The GAA will look to extend the ban on post-match pitch invasions to provincial finals over the next two years.

The provincial councils have been asked to examine how they would go about replicating the ban that has successfully worked in Croke Park.

GAA president Christy Cooney believes that the current ban in Croke Park, aided by a screen at the Hill 16 end, is helping to educate supporters that there is a better way for post- match presentations to happen.

And he has also predicted that the success of the current programme will result in the barrier being taken down in the next couple of years.

"I think the education programme worked and in fairness to our patrons they have responded very positively," said Cooney. "I think if you look at last Sunday and see the reception of the Dublin team when they went around the pitch with the cup.

"It was tremendous and that's what we want to see. I think the days of pitch invasions being a concern in Croke Park is nearly gone.

"I would hope that in the next year or two -- and I think Liam O'Neill (next president) would be positive about this -- that we would be in a position to take down the barrier that exists on Hill 16.

"And I would hope that would happen and I would hope that what has happened in Croke Park would spread to our provincial games as well because it's about spectators enjoying the game, but also enjoying the success of their teams afterwards and being able to thank them.

"I also feel it's very important for the players. What an occasion it was for the Dublin hurlers to be able to go around with the cup last Sunday and to do it in a healthy, safe environment and they all go off the field comfortable, knowing they had won a great league final and that they were thrilled with the occasion and able to bring the cup to their fans."

The strategy will be attempted at provincial grounds this summer, according to Cooney.

"We've asked provincial councils to examine it. We've asked them to work their way through it over the next two or three years and try and develop that.

"There's the same danger for players and spectators as there is at an All-Ireland final.

"We want it to be a safe and welcoming environment for everybody and we'd hope there will be no pitch invasions at any of our county grounds.

"The various councils have been asked to work on a development strategy over the next number of years to create a similar type of situation to Croke Park."

Meanwhile, Cooney has no desire to see a change in the league hurling formats next year.

The president believes the cut and thrust of promotion and relegation should remain and that keeping Division 2 as competitive as possible is also paramount for the development of hurling.

- Colm Keys

Irish Independent

BBC Northern Ireland has revealed its live television schedule for the forthcoming Ulster SFC.

Sunday week's preliminary round clash between Donegal and Antrim will kick-off their live match coverage for the summer. The Ulster SFC quarter-final between Armagh and Down on Saturday, May 28, which will go head-to-head with the Champions League final, will also be shown live, as will the two Ulster semi-finals on June 19 and June 29, and the Ulster final on July 17.

Deferred coverage will be shown of the other three quarter-finals - Derry v Fermanagh on May 22, Tyrone v Monaghan on June 5 and Cavan v Donegal/Antrim on June 12.

All matches involving Ulster counties in the All-Ireland quarter-finals and beyond will also be broadcast live.

Chloe Everton (Sky sports presenter) was good craic until she was taken down for been too racy.

Looks like Michael Meehan won't make the semi final big boost for Mayo.

Surely Ronnie Whelan, Mark Lawrenson and the original "white Pele" Jim Beglin played in a semi in the mid eighties? Its a stretch including Lawrenson so Ziggy90 is probably right.

They played in the 1985 (Heysel) final.

I was outside Heysel a few months ago & you still get that eerie feeling of that awful tragedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfnQLbvSD6E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If only some of the players got to their feet so quickly !

Some of the Barca players could learn a thing or two from her.

The Platini role? Sitting up in the Royal box looking constipated?

Obviously the player