Lacklustre Leinster
The provinces enjoyed decidedly mixed fortunes as they returned to European competition this weekend.
On Sunday Matt O'Connor's Leinster side travelled to play Harlequins with enough of the big guns back from injury and international duty for them to really kick-start their European Champions Cup campaign, but could only come away with a bonus point as they were outplayed at The Stoop, losing 24-18.
The boot of Ian Madigan kept Leinster in touch throughout but the visitors were bullied in the scrum and were shorn of ideas going forward, their lack of creativity highlighted as Rob Kearney's pass was picked off by Asaeli Tikoirotuma who strolled 80 metres to score late on and put the game beyond Leinster.
Gerry Thornley has dissected a result which leaves the three-time champions of Europe facing a must-win return fixture at the Aviva Stadium next week if they are going to guarantee qualification from pool three, let alone top spot and a home quarter-final.
Munster lose physical battle
On Saturday cracks appeared in the foundations of the great fortress Thomond Park as Clermont Auvergne became the first French side to leave Limerick with a victory.
In a bruising, brutal encounter Clermont did what many teams have failed to do - they out-Munstered Munster. For once Anthony Foley's side, and the old war horse Paul O'Connell, lost the physical battle, and it was the white wall of Clermont rather than the red wall of Munster which proved impenetrable.
They have a week now to patch themselves together before returning to the trenches, and Gavin Cummiskey has reflected on Saturday's 9-16 defeat.
Ulster’s walking-wounded win
Ulster were the sole province to enjoy victory in the Champions Cup with a convincing 24-9 bonus-point victory over Scarlets at Ravenhill, but it came at a price as five players limped off injured.
Stuart Olding, Stuart McCloskey, Franco van der Merwe, Wiehahn Herbst and Nick Williams were all forced off with a variety of ailments as Ruan Pienaar scored a try on his return from injury.
John O'Sullivan was at Ravenhill to watch Neil Doak's men get their European campaign back on track.
Connacht march on
Meanwhile out west Connacht are continuing on their merry way and remain unbeaten at the Sportsground this season after a 42-19 win over Bayonne in the Challenge Cup.
Keith Duggan was in Galway as Pat Lam's men produced another patient, incisive performance.
Ballyhail
A fine year for Kilkenny hurling came to a perfect close yesterday as Ballyhale Shamrocks saw off Offaly’s Kilcormac/Kiloughey 0-21 1-14 in the Leinster club senior hurling final.
Ballyhale went into the game as clear favourites but didn’t get things all their own way, needing extra time to secure their eighth title.
Seán Moran was at O'Moore Park.
Harrington breaks four-year duck
After a four-year wait, Pádraig Harrington is back in the winner's enclosure after he claimed the Indonesian open by two shots yesterday.
The three-time Major winner went into the final round with a four-shot lead but was scrappy on the last day, making it to the turn in 37, and his lead was scythed down by Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha, leaving the two of them all square heading into the final hole.
But the 24-year-old blinked first and carded a double bogey on the last, giving Dubliner Harrington his first win in a full field since 2010.
“Winning is a good habit to have,” said Harrington.
“It gives you a lot of confidence and I need that confidence. I didn’t start too well but I came through and I got the win. This win brings a lot of confidence to my game and hopefully it will show up next year.”
Not a stroll through the Meadow
Stephanie Meadow's pursuit of a 2015 LPGA Tour card will continue on Monday after play was suspended due to darkness during her four-player play-off for the final card at Daytona Beach.
Bogeys on the 16th and 17th left the 22-year-old tied for 19th and in a seven-way play-off for the last three cards, and a missed birdie putt forced her into a sudden death battle which will be resumed today.
Danny Willett landed the Nedbank Challenge after sinking six birdies in a faultless final round at Sun City yesterday. Shane Lowry carded a final round 71 leaving him two under par for the tournament and consolidating his position in the world's top 50.
Jordan Spieth followed up his Australian Open win with another runaway victory in the Hero World Challenge at Isleworth, but Tiger Woods continued to struggle on his return to competitive golf, finishing joint last with Hunter Mahan after another terrible chipping display.
Not so invincible
So, a team has gone 14 games unbeaten in the league, probably about time you start hailing them as one of the best ever and seeing where they rank in the pantheon of greats?
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side are clearly very, very good, but widespread talk of them already being one of the greatest Premier League teams proved premature this weekend, as Newcastle showed they are beatable.
A Pappiss Cisse double helped Alan Pardew's men to a 2-1 victory at St James Park on Saturday, leaving Mourinho to blame Chelsea's first defeat of the season on the Geordie ball boys.
Wenger out?
Elsewhere pressure on Arsene Wenger resurfaced after Arsenal's terrible record at the Britannia Stadium continued. Arsenal mounted a spirited second-half comeback after Stoke City ran into a 3-0 half time lead, but they didn't have enough in the tank and lost 3-2, with Callum Chambers sent off late on.
Aguer-no
Manchester City's purple patch continued and they are now only three points behind Chelsea at the top of the table after a 1-0 over Everton at the Etihad, but victory came at a price as Sergio Aguero limped off injured early on, leaving Manuel pellegrini with a striking crisis ahead of City's must win Champions League game against Roma on Wednesday.
Liverpool, Spurs and Hull all drew 0-0 at home on Saturday, while QPR picked up a vital three points at Loftus Road in a relegation battle against Burnley.
Bubbles keep blowing West Ham are up to third after an Andy Carroll double and a goal from the returning Diafra Sakho helped them recover from an early Wilfried Bony goal to beat 10-men Swansea at Upton Park.
Elsewhere, Leicester City remain rooted firmly to the bottom of the table after they were beaten 2-1 at Villa Park, Ciaran Clark getting Villa's first goal as they came from behind to win.
A dutch affair
Tonight Manchester United have the chance to go third as they travel to the South coast to play Southampton at St Marys.
Captain Wayne Rooney is expected to return after recovering from a knee injury, although Angel Di Maria is set to miss out and there are doubts over the match fitness of Radamel Falcao.
The game gives Louis Van Gaal and Ronald Koeman chance to renew their rivalry which stems from a feud which began after the pair fell out bitterly at Ajax a decade ago.
[ MLS magic for KeaneOpens in new window ]
Robbie Keane has cemented his place as the star of the MLS, after his injury time goal and man of the match performance gave the LA Galaxy victory in the MLS cup final.
Doping cannot be ignored
After the allegations of serious doping in Russian athletics which emerged last week, Brian O'Connor looks at how doping allegation in sport are becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
One-legged genius holds on
Ronnie O'Sullivan secured his fifth UK Championship last night after a tense finish at the Barbican, York.
Things had been going swimmingly for O’Sullivan, who was leading 9-4 and looked to be cruising towards the title until Judd Trump staged a stunning late comeback.
Trump won five frames on the bounce, including two centuries, to set up a deciding frame, but a poor safety shot let O’Sullivan back in, and the man who’s been playing all week on a broken ankle cleared up to round off 2014 with a ranking win.
