A thundering and typically spirited display by the Shannon pack, with skipper Lee Nicholas and flanker Charlie Carmody in inspirational form saw them to a decisive 23-10 victory over Young Munster in a highly enjoyable and keenly contested All-Ireland League encounter at Thomond Park last night.

Scrum-half issues further up the chain have impacted on Munster A head coach Peter Malone’s selection for the visit of Dragons A to Cork this afternoon for this Celtic Cup third round game (5:30pm).

England 48 - Ireland 15: Ireland capitulated in the second-half as their U20 Six Nations finished in disappointing fashion at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Leinster Development 30 Ireland U20 XV 26: Paul O’Connell returned to the national rugby fold yesterday as a 69th-minute try from Myles Carey helped the Leinster Development side defeat an Ireland U20 selection.

Cistercian College, Roscrea will face Gonzaga College in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup, following their narrow victories over CBC Monkstown and Castleknock College yesterday.

CBC Monkstown 18 CUS 11: Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup: Second-half tries from Sean Doyle and Ben Mahon were crucial as CBC Monkstown booked their place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final at the expense of CUS at Donnybrook yesterday.

Dublin SFC final

New York 1-10 Wexford 1-12

New York 1-10 Wexford 1-12

Loughgiel 1-16 Ballygalget 1-09

Derry 1-16 Down 0-25

Down 0-25 Derry 1-16, Athletic Grounds

Down 3-20 Armagh 1-11

Down 0-23 Meath 1-10

Meath 1-25 Down 2-22 (aet)

Down 1-20 Armagh 1-11

Munster 3-20 Ulster 1-14

Emmett Óg Killoe (Longford) 2-13 Navan O’Mahony’s (Meath) 0-8

Emmet Óg 2-7 Dromard 1-8

Derry cruised to an 11-points victory over Down in this tame Ulster SHC semi-final in Casement Park yesterday.

Derry 0-24 Down 0-13, Casement Park

London boss Eamonn Phelan hailed his side’s resilience after they booked their place in the Christy Ring Cup final.

Twice Down came from behind to grind out a draw with London in this exciting and closely fought Christy Ring Cup semi-final at Páirc Esler on Saturday.

Goals in the first and third quarters boosted Wicklow to a survival success over battling Down in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A relegation play-off at Trim.

Down 0-17 Wicklow 2-14

A goal and a point in the final minute of added time gave Westmeath victory over luckless Down at Páirc Esler Newry yesterday.

Gene Muller offered no excuses as a second Irish Olympic hockey dream went up in smoke within seven days when Belgium proved an all-round superior force in Kontich yesterday.

Kerry secured their place in Allianz Hurling League Division 2A after this victory at Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday.

Gene Muller hailed Ireland’s women’s win over Spain yesterday in Kontich, Belgium as the “biggest result” of his tenure as his side now look forward to a play-off on Sunday for an Olympic berth.

Derry produced a fine display of first-time hurling allied to some brilliant free-taking by their right half-forward Paddy Henry to overcome Down in this Allianz NHL Division 2A game in Pairc Esler, Newry yesterday.

Ireland coach Paul Revington insists playing for a draw against Malaysia in their crunch final pool clash at the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London Olympic qualifiers in UCD tomorrow (3pm) is not an option.

Carlow made a winning start to their Allianz Hurling League season with an impressive display at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

NUI, Maynooth travelled north to Belfast and came away with a deserved win with a last minute point in this Sigerson Cup clash at the Dub.

It was freezing in Belfield last night and this Sigerson Cup first-round match did little to raise the mercury.

CHAMPIONS Kerry lead the way on this year’s Christy Ring Cup Champion 15 with four players rewarded for their performances on the side that claimed honours in last June’s final against Wicklow in Croke Park.

LONGFORD produced a strong final quarter to claim victory over Athlone IT in this O’Byrne Cup tie at Ballymahon.

SECOND half goals from Méadbh Deeney and Lucy Mulhall secured the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies JFC title for Wicklow at Croke Park on Sunday.

New York 0-8 Wicklow 2-10

SUB Laura Hogan forced a replay for Wicklow in yesterday’s All-Ireland Ladies JFC final with a dramatic late equaliser.

RESOLUTE Armagh stunned Down in yesterday’s Ulster SHC semi-final at wintry Casement Park to push the Mourne men out of the race and book themselves a place in the decider against Antrim.

DOWN’S hurlers strolled to an Ulster SHC semi-final, hammering Derry by 16 points at Casement Park yesterday.

Down 1-17 Kerry 1-18

CLARE had no problem at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday in dismissing the challenge of Down in the Allianz HL Division 2.

ÁINE CONNERY looks set to be given the chance to resurrect her Irish international hockey career, after she was confirmed as a participant in the team’s central preparation programme (CPP) yesterday.

Down 4-24 Armagh 0-9