There was plenty going on this weekend on the sporting front, but sports pages in Ireland were of course dominated by Brian O'Driscoll's last game in Dublin. It was emotional, of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYx_C6GYvfU#t=16
Really emotional.
BOD played a blinder too, playing a vital role in three of Ireland's six tries in the 46-7 victory over Italy.
But not everybody seemed crestfallen by the whole farewell procession. Rob Kearney was as happy as could be in his little fort of Italians...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEf9ItvMOrY
... while Fergus McFadden was full of gratitude for his welcome onto the field.
That standing ovation I got coming off the bench yesterday was amazing #Thanks
— Fergus McFadden (@fergmcfadden) March 9, 2014
Cian Healy either moved on very quickly from the events of Saturday, despite his injury, or was self-medicating in classic "dumped girlfriend" fashion.
Across the water, Cork's David Meyler scored for Hull City against Sunderland in the FA Cup, and couldn't resist poking fun at the previous week's tête-à-tête with Alan Pardew
...
While another Corkman suggested that Steve Bruce was on something stronger than lucozade for suggesting that Curtis Davies should be on Roy Hodgson's World Cup radar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4do5jZ-R3z0
Back in Ireland, GAA League action continued apace. Kerry's Peter Crowley absolutely hopped off Tyrone's Conor Cavanagh...
...while the Dubs were shaken up even worse by the news that Ciarán Kilkenny will be out for the season with a ruptured ACL.
The FA Cup semi-finalists were confirmed over the weekend. Hull's 3-0 destruction of Sunderland will see them pitted against League 1 battlers Sheffield United, who earned a day in Wembley after a 2-0 win over Charlton. Arsenal beat Everton 4-1 and will face Wigan, who shocked Manchester City yesterday. They were always going to need a bit of luck, and bucketloads of commitment, as typified by this crucial intervention by Emmerson Boyce.
Other things of note from a busy weekend are the Welsh RU letter to BOD, James O'Donoghue's excellent goal and the Shelbourne v Wexford Youths tea fiasco.
