Banbridge Academy completed a fairytale season by claiming the Subway All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championship in style at Havelock Park yesterday.

Ursulines Thurles’ hopes of a first Subway All-Ireland Schoolgirls title since 1996 are all but dead as Kilkenny College and Banbridge Academy led the way on the first day of the national championships at Havelock Park yesterday.

Glenstal Abbey 21  Ardscoil Rís 20 Munster Schools Senior Cup, Thomond Park: Amid tremendous excitement and high drama at Thomond Park yesterday, Glenstal Abbey bridged a 47-year gap when they just survived a magnificent rally by Ardscoil Rís to qualify to meet PBC in the final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup on St Patrick’s Day.

Garbally College 19 Summerhill College Sligo 18: A masterful kicking display from Simon Keller, a first-half try from Michael O’Neill and some incredible last ditch defending in a frenetic finale saw Garbally College end their eight year wait for the Top Oil Connacht Schools Senior Cup title at the expense of a gallant and talented Summerhill College of Sligo.

Connacht Schools: Garbally College Ballinasloe 45 Coláiste Iognáid 0

The collapse of building firms has delayed 20 major school and college projects over the past three years.

Villiers gave Ashton a good test before succumbing 5-1 in an entertaining Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup final at Garryduff yesterday.

IRELAND remain in the mix to land the five-team U18 Centenary Schools Shield following last night’s draw against Scotland at the Waterford RSC.

At the headiest of times for Irish hockey, the agony and ecstasy of the national sides chasing their Olympic dreams was put harrowingly into perspective this week.

THE Ireland U18 schools’ side let an interval lead slip yesterday as they suffered defeat by Australia in Coolock in their season opener.

Connacht Rugby have continued their recruitment drive for next season by securing the services of Harlequins scrum-half David Moore for next season.

LIMERICK proved a happy hunting ground for Lurgan College once more as they claimed overall victory on a remarkable final day of the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships at Crescent College Comprehensive.

AN INSPIRED performance by Colm Egan, brother of Westlife’s Cian, was not enough for Sligo Grammar at the Sportsgrounds yesterday.

IRELAND will be bidding to advance to their third FIRA-AER U18 Championship decider in four years when they face Georgia in tonight’s semi-final at Casale Sul Sile, Treviso, (7pm, Irish time).

LACK of game time may be a concern for Ireland U19 coach Allen Clarke but the former Irish international still looks forward to a quality performance from his side in tonight’s clash with the Australian Schools U19s at Cork Institute of Technology’s ground (7.30pm).

St Michael's College lock Emmet McMahon will lead the Ireland Under-19 Schools team, coached by Terry McMaster and Bobby Byrne, to play the Australian Under-19 Schools at UCD tomorrow.

The Minister for Education has granted approval for 25 new school building projects, which will now proceed to the tender and construction phases.

DESPITE cuts in public spending, up to 9,000 pupils have been promised new classrooms as part of a school building and refurbishment programme, which is to get under way by the end of the year.

PROMISING full-back Danny Riordan — he will be 22 on Monday — has received a timely birthday with his inclusion in the Connacht side to play Edinburgh Gunners in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow night.

CRESCENT COLLEGE, Comprehensive, winners of the Coca-Cola Munster Schoolgirls Senior Hockey Cup for the first time this year, play host to the Kate Russell All-Ireland tournament tomorrow and Friday.

The trial for the Ireland School's side takes place in Blackrock College, Williamstown, on Saturday at 2pm with several of last year's Ireland XV featuring on the Paul Nash (St Mary's College)-led Probables side.