Harry Potter fans are probably aware that today marks the fictional character’s birthday (he’s turning 35). It is also the magical world’s creator JK Rowling’s 50th birthday, and bakers around the world have been marking the day with some magical cakes.

Russell Crowe was "mean" to Giuliana Rancic when she interviewed him.

Ballynahinch sealed the Division 1B title and a place in the top flight of the Ulster Bank League for the first time with a 41-8 victory over Buccaneers at Ballymacarn Park this afternoon.

Antrim 1-10 Dublin 3-12

A challenge brought by prominent republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy to a ruling that tax charges against him should be dealt with by the non-jury Special Criminal Court rather than the ordinary courts may be heard by the Supreme Court before Christmas.

Cork senior football manager Conor Counihan has added three new selectors to his backroom team for the 2013 season.

Current Kerry captain Colm 'Gooch' Cooper has given his public support to the county's newly-installed senior football manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

Dermot Weld wasted no time in opening his account at this year's Galway Festival by taking the first race of the meeting, the Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle, with Train Of Thought.

The frustration of Tyrone's All-Ireland SFC exit to Kerry and his sending-off in the second half of the match is keenly felt in Brian McGuigan's latest 'Gaelic Life' column.

Kilkenny 5-16 Dublin 6-12

Slash has almost finished writing his second solo album.

Gardaí have arrested 'Fat' Freddie Thompson on an extradition warrant from Spain.

Caimin Morey has been brought into the Clare team for tonight's All-Ireland SHC second phase qualifier against Galway in Salthill (throw-in 7pm).

A constitutional challenge by republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy to prevent his trial from going ahead is due to be heard in the High Court today.

A Belfast man shot dead a taxi driver in the city as he lay on the ground with his hands over his head, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told today.

The nephew of one of Dublin’s most notorious criminals has admitted killing a 23-year-old man in Co Meath and causing serious harm to another man on St Stephen's Day three years ago.

Yesterday's All-Ireland SHC final man-of-the-match Lar Corbett heaped praise on his team-mates after Tipperary ended their nine-year wait to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup 'home.'

Former Tipperary manager Michael 'Babs' Keating is not unfamiliar with launching post-match broadsides, and he unsurprisingly decided to shoot from the hip when reviewing Sunday's Munster SHC quarter-final defeat to Cork.

Blue comic Roy “Chubby” Brown was today cleared of hitting a 21-year-old woman in the face during a foul-mouthed row in a supermarket car park.

Buccaneers 9 Ballynahinch 13

The High Court in Dublin has remanded in custody a Belfast man who extradition is being sought by authorities in the North for a kidnapping that threatened the peace process.

Thurles Sarsfields 0-14 Drom & Inch 0-5

Old Crescent 5 Clontarf 50

Ballynahinch 25 Galwegians 24

Ireland have finished in eighth place in the Aga Khan Trophy competition at Dublin this evening on a total of 36 faults.

Cork Constitution 6 Ballynahinch17

Clontarf 46 Buccaneers 26

Dungannon 15 Ballymena 19, Stevenson Park

A Belfast dissident republican became the first person to be convicted by a Dublin court today for the murder of a man in Belfast last year.

The trial of a Belfast man at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of a taxi driver in Belfast will hear closing speeches from the prosecution and defence tomorrow.

Unbeaten Irish boxer John Duddy will face 'Punching Policeman' Sam Hill on November 21 in New York as he makes his transition into a light middleweight contender.

UCD 10 Blackrock College 6

Wexford 2-15 Dublin 1-15

St. Mary's College 19 Dolphin 11

Skeletal remains found in a lake in Clare last week have been positively identified as those of 17-year-old Richard Kelly.

David 'Doc' O'Connor has been included in the Wexford team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm) in the only change manager John Meyler has made to the side that saw off Tipperary last weekend.

Paul Ormonde has withdrawn from the Tipperary hurling panel, leaving manager 'Babs' Keating short another defender for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Cork.

Despite some observers pointing to a current crisis in Clare hurling, Antrim half-back Ciaran Herron has a different perspective on today's All-Ireland SHC qualifier between the Glensmen and the Banner at Casement Park (throw-in 2.30pm).

Defender Brian McCormack popped over the match-winning point in a disappointing Division 1B clash in Portlaoise.

FOR one night only — it’s the Saipan Four reunion.

New York 1-14 Antrim 2-20, Canton

The Tipperary County Board have confirmed that 2007 will see Michael 'Babs' Keating continuing in his role as the Premier county's senior hurling manager.

According to a statement issued by the Tipperary county board this afternoon, only two players have been dropped from the Tipperary senior hurling panel, and not five as previously reported.

Bob Marley did not consider bassist Aston 'Family man' Barrett a member of his band The Wailers, the reggae legend's widow Rita told London's High Court yesterday.