We’ve rarely had a witching hour quite like the glorious spell that came last Saturday. It was as the clock ticked past 8.30pm that the first official reports emerged of heads being melted. 16-year-old Max Dowman’s goal for Arsenal in North London signalled waves of sheer bedlam. Less than three kilometres away, a near 9,000 crowd at the sold-out 3Arena were preparing to lift the roof as they built towards Pierce O'Leary’s raucous homecoming. The main event world title fight ring walk began as France national rugby union team wrestled back the Six Nations trophy.

Source: Irish Examiner March 17, 2026 20:17 UTC