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Gordan Darcy tries to stop Wales' Jonathan Davies scoring a try during Ireland's RBS 6 Nations defeat in Dublin. (Pic: Julien Behal/PA)

Ireland 21
Wales 23

Wales boss Warren Gatland admitted his team “got out of jail” after they claimed a dramatic RBS 6 Nations victory over shell-shocked Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

The visitors triumphed 23-21, courtesy of Leigh Halfpenny’s 80th-minute penalty, which was awarded by English referee Wayne Barnes when Irish flanker Stephen Ferris tip-tackled Ian Evans.

Ferris received a yellow card, as did Wales lock Bradley Davies earlier in the game, although Davies’ tackle on Donacha Ryan was far more serious and looks certain to see him cited and banned.

Wales outscored Ireland 3-2 on tries, and then Halfpenny came up trumps under colossal pressure to send his team on the march towards a possible Six Nations title and Grand Slam.

But Gatland said: “We were reasonably lucky. I thought we were only at about 70 per cent today.

“But to come here and be under pressure and to come back with 14 men shows great character.

“The displeasing thing was a bit of a lack of discipline with the yellow card. We got out of jail, but we’ve won our first game of the tournament away from home.

“We were down at half-time in the World Cup against Samoa, but we kept our patience and finished on top of them. That is what Test match rugby is all about – taking your opportunities.”

Gatland felt Davies was lucky to only get a yellow card, and admitted he fears the worst in terms of a citing.

Wales are already without the services of injured locks Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones, so any period of suspension for Davies could hit second-row resources hard.

“We’ve got to plan, potentially, for him being cited,” Gatland added.

“I’ve seen a replay, and I won’t deny it wasn’t fantastic. Potentially, we have got to prepare for the worst.

“When you go behind with 15 minutes to go and you have a yellow card, you don’t have a lot of time to get back into the game.

“But this win has given us massive confidence, and we are dangerous when we are playing with belief and confidence. We know there is a lot of improvement in our game.”

Gatland hailed a “world-class” performance by wing George North, who scored one of Wales’ three tries, while he had sympathy for fly-half Rhys Priestland, who missed two easy penalty kicks.

“We shouldn’t have put so much pressure on Rhys with the kicks. He has been out (injured) for a few weeks. It is such a confidence role, but I thought he was excellent in the second half.”

Halfpenny took over kicking duties from Priestland, and he admitted his last-gasp strike as “the hardest kick I’ve had to take in all my life”.

He said: “As soon as it went over the emotion came. Having to deal with the miss against France in the World Cup semi-final, putting that over makes it all worthwhile.”

As for the game itself, Halfpenny added on BBC1: “It was end to end stuff, an exciting game. It was a tough test and all credit to Ireland, they really gave us a tough game.

“The score was back and forth, and I’m just really pleased to get the result for the rest of the campaign.”

Wales captain Sam Warburton, meanwhile, could know in the next 24 hours whether or not he has a realistic chance of being fit for next Sunday’s home game against Scotland.

Warburton went off at half-time nursing a dead leg, and he said: “I will go back and have treatment tonight and tomorrow, and the physios will make the call.

“The game reminded me a bit of the World Cup semi-final (Warburton was sent off). It’s horrible being sat on the bench not being able to influence the game, but I am chuffed to bits.

“I think there is a lot more to come from this team.”

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell believes his team only had themselves to blame after seeing their Six Nations Grand Slam and Triple Crown hopes shredded on the tournament’s opening weekend.

The hosts led 21-15 when Tommy Bowe scored 12 minutes from time – a score that followed hooker Rory Best’s earlier touchdown – but North’s late effort after two Jonathan Davies tries gave Wales a dramatic victory.

“We gave Wales a lot of ball earlier in the game that we shouldn’t have done,” O’Connell said.

“We put ourselves in a position to win the game, and we conceded eight points in the last five minutes.

“We also conceded a lot of momentum in the first-half and gave them a lot of belief. We struggled to get into the game in the first half, and you can’t give a team that length of time with ball in hand.

“Defensively, we will have some work to do. We conceded a lot of ground and yardage at times, but when we attacked, we played with intensity.”

Asked about the late penalty award following Ferris’ tackle, O’Connell added: “Stephen hasn’t said a lot.

“I was right beside it, and I didn’t think there was a problem straightaway, but I haven’t seen it on video. I don’t think that was the winning and losing of the game.”

Ireland now have just a six-day turnaround before facing Six Nations title favourites France in Paris, and O’Connell said: “We have plenty of experience in the group, and we will recover to the best of our ability.

“We need to be patient and trust our defence.”

Ireland coach Declan Kidney said: “Three teams have had their Grand Slams ended this weekend, and three teams are still in. That is the nature of it, but there is a championship still to be won.

“We will take a good look at what we can solve ourselves. We gave Wales some easy field position, and they made inroads.

“We had to defend for 60 per cent-plus of the game, and if you do that then you are going to ask for trouble. There are different aspects of the game I know we can improve on.

“They managed to put the ball wide on us, and we need to scan a bit better than we have been doing. It is just a case now of getting ready for the next match in six days’ time.”

Jim Stynes was appointed Demons president in June 2008. (File pic)

Jim Stynes has stepped down as president of Melbourne Demons.

The Dubliner, 45, has said he will now focus on his health and family.

Stynes was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and has since had a series of tumours removed.

“As Melbourne enters what promises to be an exciting new season, and hopefully exciting new era, I see this an opportune time to step down as Melbourne president,” said Stynes, in a statement posted on the club’s website last night.

“It will give the football club the best chance to be 100 per cent prepared for round one and will give me the time to fully focus on my health and family.

“I am extremely proud of what the board has managed to achieve since I took on the presidency in June 2008, particularly in bringing a greater sense of unity and purpose to the club.

“I have full confidence that Don McLardy and the team will continue that work. Don has my full support to lead the club and the Demons can rely on me to help out in an advisory capacity at any time,” he added.

The announcement came after the Demons board met regarding the role prior to last night’s AGM. Don McLardy is the new president.

“I came into this with Jim, and had a dream that we’d win a premiership and Jim would be the President and I’d be lucky enough to be around him,” said McLardy.

“That’s changed obviously, but I still hope the fairytale comes true. I feel very honoured and humbled that somehow I’ve ended up where I have, because I certainly didn’t set out to get into this position.

“But I’m very conscious that there is a role to be played and a job to be done and we need to do it, as much for Jim as anyone, to make sure all of his efforts don’t come to nothing.”

There was a standing ovation for Stynes after his resignation was announced to the AGM.

He became president of the Melbourne Demons in June 2008, presiding over a period for the club which saw its financial health restored with lingering debts of $5 million eliminated

He did not attend last night’s meeting.

Sharon Corr is relishing her career as a solo artist. (Pic: Barry McCall)

After clocking up 15 years of international success, 40 million album sales and numerous No.1 hits, any artist would be forgiven (but not forgotten) for taking a well-deserved break from the music business.

Yet somehow Sharon Corr has also managed to squeeze in a successful solo career, raise a family and become the face of Oxfam Ireland as well as other charitable causes in the short time since legendary Irish group The Corrs took a hiatus in 2005.

So how does she do it?

“I’m not sure,” laughs Sharon. “I’m a big time working mom, and it’s tough at times but I am doing what I love and what makes me happy, and that makes the kids happy. But then it’s not a nine-to-five job, so when I have time off I can spend lots of time with them, but I try to never spend too much time away from them; I always want to do what’s best for them.”

A working mom Sharon may be, but ordinary singer, songwriter and violinist from Dundalk she certainly isn’t.

In the seven years since the siblings went their separate ways to focus on raising families, Sharon has been relishing her career as a solo artist, playing festivals such as Glastonbury, touring extensively and enjoying the success of her stunning solo album, Dream Of You.

But song-writing is something that comes natural to Sharon, who lists watching and listening to her parents sing and perform amongst her earliest memories.

“Dundalk is a very musical town,” she explains. “There were always great sessions there when we were growing up so it was natural that we would end up in a band, especially because mom was a great singer – she was very like Karen Carpenter – and dad played keyboard and piano. They both lived for the music, so it was part of our conditioning too because we were brought up listening to them.”

As violinist, songwriter and backing vocalist for The Corrs, Sharon was partially responsible for the band’s enormous success, their sold out tours and string of chart topping singles and albums.

Now as a solo artist, she has taken centre stage as lead vocalist – a nerve-racking move for any artist who has relied on the support of  band mates, not to mention brother and sisters, for most of their careers.

“I am not too nervous on stage now because I have been solo for such a long time, but at my first gig I was almost hyperventilating,” admits Sharon.

“But my family have always been very supportive of me, singing  and playing music is what I have always done, so it made no sense to stop. When The Corrs finished in 2005, I had my children, and it always felt very natural for me to continue to sing. Then before I knew it I had a lot of songs – almost an album’s worth – so I decided to make one.

“Now I have taken to being a solo artist like a duck takes to water, I believe it’s important to have different experiences in life and to cherish each one, and I really enjoy being in control of my own gigs,” she adds.

“I wanted to experiment, to make different music and to progress forward. But I was primarily known as the violinist in the band, and I have been playing that instrument since I was six so I have continued to weave that through my own music because I don’t want to deny my past – it really bothers me when artists become different people almost overnight after leaving a band, because that really is impossible.”

Much to the delight of Corrs’ fans worldwide, however, Sharon says the group haven’t ruled out a possible reunion sometime in the future. “I will work on my solo career forever, well for as long as I’m upright anyway,” laughs Sharon.

“But I don’t know exactly what will happen with The Corrs. When you decide to work with your family 24 hours a day, it’s not all roses in the garden – in fact it’s probably insane, but for us there were more positives than negatives so we worked well and made music. There are no real plans for a reunion yet, but somewhere down the line, perhaps.

“Right now I am trying to progress and move forward as a solo artist, I’m almost finished writing a new album and this time I’ve chosen to collaborate with others, because writing alone is a safe environment for me. I wanted to stretch myself and get out of my shell, it’s been really good.”

Now as the runaway success that was the European leg of the Dream Of You tour draws to an close, one of County Louth’s biggest superstars is preparing to set the stage alight all over again when she supports Ronan Keating during his Oz tour this summer.

“I can’t wait to tour with Ronan because I have known him a long time from being backstage in corridors all over the world together,” says Sharon.

“I really admire him as an artist because we both know how difficult it is to go solo after being in a successful band and to carve out our own identity, so we identify with each other.

“But I am also really looking forward to coming to Australia because I haven’t been there in a while. It used to be almost a ritual for The Corrs to go there in January and February. The Irish have a great affinity with Australia and it’s always lots of craic, so I’m looking forward to the good weather, the beaches – and the beer!”

Máiréad Kelly (centre) and her team at the Red Cross Emergency Operations centre in Emerald last year. "The days were very long. We were up at 6am every morning to start our work," recalls the Dubliner.

When devastating floods swept across Queensland last year, Red Cross volunteers were amongst those bringing whatever small relief they could to the people whose homes and livelihoods had been destroyed in an instant.

A year on the communities affected are doing their best to rebuild their lives and reach what Red Cross national operations coordinator and Dublin woman Máiréad Doyle describes as “a new normal”.

A native of Ballyfermot in Dublin, Máiréad was stationed in the flood-ravaged town of Emerald just after the Nogoa River began to recede last January.

“I was in Brisbane at the time doing some real-time evaluation of the work we were delivering to people who had been impacted,” recalls Máiréad, who is based in Carlton, Melbourne.

“Then just as I was about to get on a plane back I got a phone call telling me that I was to take over as the regional operations officer in Emerald because the original person couldn’t make it.”

An engineer by profession, Máiréad moved to Australia six years ago and within 18 months was working with the Red Cross as an operations manager.

“My job means that I am responsible for making sure that all emergency response work is consistent, and that we have systems in place to magic up resources to get ourselves running from nothing to having maybe 1,000 people in the field within 24-hours,” explains Máiréad.

“When I got to Emerald, I was briefed on the situation, then I took over the running of operations in that town. At that stage there were two evacuation centres and a recovery centre that was providing personal support to people who were literally just waiting to talk. Other staff members were preparing to knock on the door of every person who had been isolated, and to ensure that they were linked to services.

“I had a team in a little back office of a library, there was about 30 of us there, and the days were very long. We were up at 6am every morning to start our work straight after breakfast and I finished at 11pm once I had dropped off people for the nightshift.”

In Emerald alone, flood levels had exceeded all previous records, rising beyond the 2008 level of 15.36 metres when almost 3,000 people were forced from their homes.

Máiréad spent the first three months of 2011 in Queensland, and although it was challenging at times, she says the strength, resilience and determination of the community was admirable.

“It was hard work, but when you work with amazing people and see the people in the town just getting on with their jobs, and the mayor getting on with his job even though he had been inundated; it was very impressive to work with people who were so dedicated to their community,” she says.

“But we did have some great highlights – the Governor-General came and visited at one stage and hosted a barbeque for everyone in the town hall evacuation centre. People were also very warm to us, there is a degree of trust for the Red Cross and when they see us they know that they are going to be looked after so there was a warmth there and a welcome.”

:: Slow recovery

Now twelve months on from her initial stint in Emerald, Máiréad says that some of the areas have recovered better than others.

“The places where roads have been resealed and buildings have been rebuilt are beginning to recover, but what takes time is the recovery of the people themselves.

“People that were affected by the Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria in the early 1980s are still suffering 30 years on, and it going to take years for people right across Queensland to recover and get back to a new normal for themselves.

“These people suffered a lot of danger, trauma and lost loved ones, and just because a roof is back over their heads and things are cleaned up it doesn’t mean that recovery has ended by any means.”

A job that involves a great deal of emotion, selflessness and hardwork may not be suited to everyone, but Máiréad says that a great deal of Irish people are actively involved with the Australian Red Cross.

“There are quite a few of us here, nearly everything I walk into an office you can here the Irish accent,” laughs Máiréad.

“There are a few in the Victoria, one girl Linda Murphy works in our emergency services team and her uncle works in our warehouse. We have lots of other Irish people in our finance department, there are about 40 or 50 Irish people working in the Australian Red Cross altogether.

“I think Irish people have the attitude of  “it cant be that hard”, and they just tend to rolling up their sleeves and get on with it—that definitely helps when you work in the Red Cross,” she adds.

“The Irish have a proud tradition of looking beyond their own to see whom else is in need – take the missionaries for example. It’s in our blood.”

:: To find out how you can support Red Cross emergency services work, including donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery, visit www.redcross.org.au.

Dubliner Paul Cullen riding a quad bike at Casey Station, Wilkes Land, Antarctica.

Spending months on end in the coldest, most isolated place on earth with no electricity and little fresh food seems unlikely to appeal to anyone – least of all a professional chef.

But then not everyone is as determined as Dublin native Paul Cullen.

In 2001, the executive chef left his home and family in Hobart, Tasmania to spend 13 months working on a permanent base just outside the Antarctic Circle.

Today Paul lives in Hobart, Tasmania, and is kept busy organising events to celebrate the Antarctic Centennial Year 2011–12, which marks a century since an Australian geologist named Sir Douglas Mawson took command of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and departed Hobart for Antarctica.

But then Irish people are no strangers to the South Pole.

In the early 20th century, giant Kerryman Tom Crean and Kildare-born Ernest Shackleton were also heroic figures in the age of Antarctic exploration.

So what is it that attracts the Irish to Antarctica?

“I went out of curiosity,” he tells the Irish Echo. “I have been travelling since I was 15, and when I moved to Hobart, I met some people who had been to Antarctica. It just sounded fascinating to me.

“I knew I wanted to go there but it is an extremely difficult place to get to, and I didn’t want to go there as a chef because there are no food deliveries during winter.  So, I applied for a job as a station leader managing teams of technicians for Australia’s Antarctic programme instead.”

“Applied for” is putting it lightly. The programme, which is lead by the Australian Antarctic Division, was put in place to ensure that Australia’s Antarctic interests are being advanced, and Paul had to undergo a range of tests to determine whether he was suitable for life in a place where once the last ship leaves around April, no one can get in – or out – for the next seven months.

“I had to learn a lot before I could go; it was a remarkable recruitment programme,” he says.

“I did a crash course in glaciology and physics so that I could understand what was being done by the technicians there, and I had to undergo psychological tests, physical tests, energy management training and be trained to do things I thought I never would do, like abseiling or assisting in an operation.”

As station leader of Casey Station, Australia’s third station to occupy a site on the Windmill Islands near the Antarctic Circle, Paul’s job was to ensure that everything was working in harmony, despite the unpredictability of the location.

“When a marine biologist or a scientist goes to work there on a summer expedition to study polar currents for instance, there has to be a station there to support them,” he explains.

“But during the winter if an Antarctic station is allowed to shut down, it is very hard to start it up again, so winter crews are left there to fix the place up. These people are the most
isolated on earth; they must live with another 18 to 20 people for the next seven months.

“I have three daughters and a wife at home so it was a very difficult strain on my family, and shows why there is often a struggle to recruit people to do it. The Internet allowed us to stay connected but you can’t talk in person or touch each other.

“People have to be reasonably tolerant and easy going, and willing to take on more than one job because a plumber may also have to be a dental nurse. It is an interesting exercise in seeing whether people can get along, or they just grate on each others nerves,” laughs Paul.

But Paul isn’t the only Irish person in recent times who has swapped working in civilization for life in the icy plains of the Antarctic.

:: Bizarre but beautiful

Glaciologist Mark Curran, who is originally from Killiney, Co Dublin, first visited the Antarctic in 1991, and has since made 18 trips between the Antarctic and Greenland as part of his research into climate change history in ice cores.

“It is definitely one of the most bizarre, and beautiful places on earth,” says Mark.

“I also do some work in Greenland, but there are people there. In Antarctica, there is no society, no government and no regulations. No country has any strong claims of ownership, it is owned by all the people on the planet. You can stand next to a penguin and you can have as much claim to a rock there as he does.”

Mark says that although he was given the opportunity to spend the winter at Antarctica, he felt it was just too long.

“The first time I visited Antarctica I was on the last ship to leave,” recalls Mark. “It was strange knowing we would be the last people that those left behind would see for the whole winter. One minute we were all having lunch, then the next we were waving goodbye knowing that they would be facing six months of darkness.”

So why do the Irish seem to thrive so well in one of the most desolate places on earth?

“I think the Irish get on well because they can just get on with things,” says Paul. “Things don’t have to be absolutely perfect for us, and we are able to take the mickey a bit.”

“It’s good craic,” laughs Mark. “I think the Irish personality is suited to working in small groups, and personality goes a long way when you are there.

“Once I started working in the Antarctic and showed my sister the pictures, she decided she wanted to work there too, and eventually her partner did the same, so at dinner time half the people around the table are talking about Antarctica!”

A re-enactment of Roald Amundsen’s announcement of being the first person to reach the South Pole will take place on March 11 in Hobart.

For more information on events see www.antarcticcentennial.tas.gov.au.

The Costa Concordia ran aground off Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of 4,200 people. (Pic: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

An Irish couple who were on board the stricken cruise ship that ran aground off the Italian coast have recalled their escape.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the man and woman, who have now returned to Dublin, were the only Irish citizens it is aware of who were passengers on the Costa Concordia.

At least five people have been confirmed dead in the accident near the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio.

The vessel, which was carrying more than 4,000 passengers, ran aground and keeled over after apparently sailing off course.

Desperate passengers scrambled to evacuate the stricken liner as it began to take on water and list to the right, with some opting to jump into the sea, according to reports.

A massive coastguard rescue operation involving helicopters and rescue boats was immediately launched.

The ship remains almost completely on its side.

The liner has a massive gash in the hull more than 150ft long, with a huge rock embedded in the side of the ship towards the stern.

Those evacuated by helicopter were flown to Grosseto, while others, rescued by local ferries drafted in to help, were taken to the port of Porto Santo Stefano on the nearby mainland.

The rescue operation is said to have involved five helicopters, from the coastguard, navy and air force.

Survivors far outnumbered Giglio’s 1,500 residents, and island Mayor Sergio Ortelli asked for “anyone with a roof” to open their homes to shelter the evacuees.

Passengers were also taking refuge in schools, hotels, and a church on the tiny island.

:: “Eventually everybody got out”

The Irish couple – Séamus and Carol Moore from Clonmel, Co Tipperary – have described the terror that unfolded as the liner keeled over.

The husband and wife, who took the cruise to celebrate a birthday, spent two-and-a-half hours on deck before being rescued.

“The staff did their best to advise us in terms of going out one by one but of course there was total panic, so there was a melee and people clambering over other people rather than just taking their time,” said Mr Moore.

“Eventually everybody got out or was got out. I had to climb out and get on top of the lifeboat and from there had to climb onto what was the lifeboat deck and at that stage the ship was listing very badly so we were advised to move to the front of the ship, which we did, lights were going on and off.”

Retired Mr Moore said he thought he and his wife were going to die.

“Older people found it very difficult,” he told broadcaster RTÉ.

“They couldn’t keep their footing and slipped.”

Leinster's Sean O'Brien takes the ball at a line out against Glasgow. (Pic: Lynne Cameron/PA)

Leinster 23
Glasgow 16

Head coach Joe Schmidt insisted his Leinster side have a long way to go in the defence of their Heineken Cup title after qualifying for the knockout stages with a 23-16 win over Glasgow Warriors at Firhill.

The Dublin side are seeking to become just the second team after Leicester in 2001 and 2002 to successfully defend the European title and today reached the quarter-finals by clinching victory in Pool Three with one match to spare.

Schmidt said: “We were just one of 24 contenders. After next weekend there will be eight contenders.

“We’re delighted to be one of those eight. As far as defending, it’s not just defending the Heineken Cup. You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and go out and win it again.”

Since the opening draw with Montpellier, Leinster have now won four straight games and host the French side in Dublin next Saturday safe in the knowledge that they cannot be overhauled at the top of Pool Three.

Rob Kearney and Isaac Boss scored second-half tries as Leinster finally overcame the Warriors’ stern defence, while Jonathan Sexton kicked one penalty and Fergus McFadden two penalties and two conversions.

Flanker Sean O’Brien was sin-binned four minutes from time, but Leinster’s defence, which had been strong throughout, held firm to seal their progress.

Leinster have not lost in European competition since December 2010 and are seeking victory next weekend to claim a home tie in the last eight.

Schmidt added: “I’m delighted to get the result today. I know there were imperfections in the performance and I know my players have gone on record saying I’m always fussy.

“I don’t really care about the imperfections today. I just think you deserve to be proud of what you did.

“You deserved to get the four points and we’ll come away from this, glue ourselves back together in six days’ time and front up at the RDS in front of a full stadium and try to chase that home quarter-final that we really, really want.”

Ireland fly-half Sexton deferred kicking duties to McFadden due to an ankle knock, but was instrumental nonetheless, his cross-kick fielded by Kearney for a score early in the second half which turned the game in the visitors’ favour.

Schmidt added: “It was every bit as tough as I expected. “We knew the game would be a battle of attrition and that’s pretty much the way it proved.”

The Warriors, who earned a losing bonus point, were always within striking distance, but Leinster’s class told.

Duncan Weir kicked 11 points, while replacement Colin Gregor touched down for a try.

The Warriors play Bath at The Rec next weekend knowing victory is a must if they are to keep their European ambitions alive this season in the second tier Amlin Challenge Cup.

Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen said: “Leinster are not the Heineken Cup champions for nothing.

“I thought we stood toe-to-toe with them for long periods of the game.

“One bit of class from Kearney, try. We had two guys there, but he got the ball. That’s just class.”

On next week’s clash at The Rec, Lineen added: “We’ve got to make sure we go down there with the right mindset because Bath are a very good team.

“It’s out of our control now. There are a couple of things that have to happen in a couple of the other groups for us to be involved in the Amlin.”

:: Munster unconvincing

Munster were far from convincing as a two-try victory over Castres at Thomond Park confirmed them as the first qualifiers for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Johne Murphy’s eighth-minute try set the Pool One leaders on their way to a 16-7 half-time lead, with Yannick Caballero hitting back for the French outfit.

Although Castres had nothing but pride to play for, their understrength side ensured a frustrating second half for the home faithful until Wian du Preez touched down with 12 minutes to go.

Unforced errors and missed scoring chances made for a poor display from Munster, who will need to up their game at Northampton in round six as they chase a home draw in the last eight.

:: Praise for Connacht

Toulouse captain Thierry Dusautoir was not surprised by how well Connacht battled throughout the Heineken Cup clash between the two at the Stade Ernest Wallon.

The French side had to call on all their reserves to secure a 24-3 win that leaves them at the top of Pool 6.

“Apart from us, no-one had got a bonus point against Connacht so we knew it was going to be really difficult to get the bonus point today,” he admitted afterwards.

“We had a little bit of pressure when we really needed it, but we are really happy with it.

“They are a good team. It is their first time in the Heineken Cup and they play great rugby and we are just happy to have the win.”

Robbie Keane is likely to make his debut in tomorrow's home clash with Everton. (Pic: Nick Potts/PA)

Robbie Keane has tipped his former club Tottenham as genuine title contenders after returning to the Barclays Premier League on loan to Aston Villa from LA Galaxy.

Keane has joined Villa until the end of February and, subject to international clearance, is in contention to make his debut in Saturday’s home clash with Everton.

But he had already arranged a spell training with Tottenham before making the temporary move to the midlands and has no doubt Harry Redknapp’s side can challenge the two Manchester clubs for the title.

He said: “Tottenham are genuine contenders. Definitely. If you look at their form over the last 10-12 games they are on a really good run and they haven’t lost many.

“They are playing some great stuff, and had another great result last night (against Everton).

“Harry (Redknapp) has built up a good squad there, a really strong squad.

“If you look at the squad there compared to United and City, they are certainly up there with the strength in depth they have.”

Keane is relishing being reunited with another former Spurs player in Darren Bent.

He said: “Darren is a top player and has proven that over the years. Even at Tottenham, when he did play he would always score goals.

“He has proven that at every club he has been at. It will be great to play with him again.

“But there are other good strikers at Villa like Gabby (Agbonlahor) and I look forward to playing with all of them.”

Keane admits his love for football persuaded him to temporarily link up with Villa and cut short his break before reporting back for pre-season training with the Galaxy.

It is a club he has been linked with many times during the past decade, since the collapse at the 11th hour of a move from Wolves to Villa in 1999 which resulted in him joining Coventry.

He said: “Initially I was going to take the break and could have been lying on a beach now.

“But I was back training with Tottenham next week. I was getting myself prepared for the MLS season anyway.

“I’ve had my rest of three to four weeks at the end of the season. I’m not a player who likes to sit around for eight weeks.

“I get itchy feet, and the move to Villa is good. It works out well for both of us.”

Keane is hoping he can make the same impact at Aston Villa as Thierry Henry on his return to Arsenal.

Henry marked his return to the Gunners by netting the winner against Leeds in the midweek FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium.

Keane said: “Can I do a Thierry Henry? I hope so. It would be great to do that.

“It was written that he was always going to come back and score on his return to Arsenal.

“Good luck to him, he is obviously a legend at Arsenal.

“If I can do something like that in the six (league) games, and help the team, that is great.”

Family and friends of the late Donal Bolton want to secure a permanent memorial. (Pic: Supplied)

The family of a young man who died after being struck by a car in Cairns say they are upset at a local council’s failure to erect a memorial for him.

Donal Bolton, 23, of Ballinagar Co Offaly was killed when an out-of-control car collided with the bench he and his girlfriend were sitting on.

Since the January 2010 accident, his family have been trying to negotiate with Carins Regional Council to secure a permenant memorial after the original memorial plaque installed by the family “disappeared”.

Mr Bolton’s father, Eugene Bolton, said the idea behind the memorial was to have a spot where Irish visitors to Cairns could stop and say a prayer for Donal if they wanted.

“The death of our youngest son caused us, and his girlfriend Justine, enormous pain and heartache, which I am sure we will carry with us for the rest of our lives,” he said.

“One of the ideas we came up with to help us cope with our loss was to have something put where Donal died. We were felt that if we kept our memorial small and tasteful no one would interfere with it, but we were greatly shocked last week on the second anniversary of Donal’s death when we discovered the plaque was gone.”

He added that while the council deny that they removed the plaque, the family had been informed that people in council style uniforms were spotted taking the memorial down.

The late Donal Bolton with girflriend Justine Walsh.

Donal Bolton’s uncle, Denis Heron, lives in Queensland. He said it has been “heartbreaking” for the family to have so much difficulty in getting the memorial replaced.

“It was very upsetting to see that the plaque had been taken because it was only the size of half an A4 page, and it was on the wall out of everyone’s way,”said Mr Heron.

He said that the issue has attracted a lot of attention in Australia and in Ireland, and that Offaly County Council would be pressing a motion to have a letter written to the council in Cairns and Irish Embassy in Australia.

Eugene Bolton added that he could not believe that the people of Cairns would want their council acting in such a cold and ruthless fashion.

“By raising awareness like this we are hoping the council will either replace the plaque themselves or assure us they will leave it there if we replace it ourselves.

“After the hurt we have suffered we believe this is the least we can hope for,” he said.

Since the accident, no charges have been laid over Mr Bolton’s death as the driver of the car was suffering a medical condition at the time of the collision.