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This sporting life...

Sport in Ireland has rarely been confined to back-page coverage but this week, it all is over the front pages and for all sorts of reasons...
i gcuimhne Michaela Harte 
Michaela Harte, daughter of respected Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, was found dead in her honeymoon hotel room in the island paradise of Mauritius, the media reported on 11 January.
At the time of writing, three Mauritian citizens were in custody, charged with the 27-year old’s murder which seems to have occurred as a result of her disturbing thieves when she returned to her room in the afternoon.
The human tragedy that has befallen the McAreavey and Harte families is being felt acutely by Irish people far beyond the confines of O’Neill country. TRWS can only offer the same heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families that Irish people everywhere are feeling...
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It was also the week that the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) met with the Presbyterian Moderator Dr Norman Hamilton for the first time in the history of either institution.  Dr Hamilton described the meeting as "a warm and instructive, getting to know you couple of hours".
The GAA was not to be outdone in the glasnost stakes and Ulster GAA president Aogan Ó Fearghail said he looked forward “to further developing mutually benefcial links with the Presbyterian Church.” Ó Fearghail went on to describe his first meeting with Dr Hamilton as “important”, and added that he hoped it would be the first of many.
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Dark tragedies and dawning optimism were accompanied in the sporting Irish news by an unwelcome spectre of an altogether grimmer time. The sinister old practice of sending bullets in the mail was brought back into service this week with Glasgow Celtic players Paddy McCourt, Niall McGinn and Manager Neil Lennon the intended recipients of said ordnance posted in Northern Ireland.
Lennon is sadly no stranger to this kind of attention. The 39- year old former Northern Ireland player, received death threats in 2002 and was forced to pull out of an international against Cyprus as a result, his international career ended shortly thereafter.
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Glentoran striker Matthew Burrows found himself in exalted company this week when his  15-yard volleyed back-heel lob goal against Portadown put him into contention for the FIFA goal of the year award.
Unfortunately the Northern Ireland Carling Premiership player lost out to Hamit Altintop's 22-yard volley for Turkey against Kazakhstan.
To watch Burrows goal, click here
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I gcuimhne Michaela Harte: ‘Ar lámh dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam uasa’
Click here to sign the Tyrone GAA Facebook of Condolences
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