Cork 2-19 Dublin 4-9: John Cleary hailed the composure of his leaders as Cork retained their All- Ireland Ladies Football minor A championship crown at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford yesterday.

Having led the Irish challenge at the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort outside Girona, Simon Thornton is in a real battle to make the cut heading into today’s fourth round.

Simon Thornton is best of the Irish after the opening two rounds of the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in north-east Spain.

Cork 3-10 Galway 2-4: Eimear Scally inspired Cork to All-Ireland Minor A Ladies Football glory in Thurles.

Aghabullogue 2-18 Blarney 0-12

Ireland swing into action in the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Ganton in Yorkshire today in buoyant mood after several of their players staged fine performances in recent events.

Garryowen 18 Cork Constitution 21

Boherbue (Cork) 0-7 Thomas Davis (Dublin) 1-12

Boherbue (Cork) 0-7 Thomas Davis (Dublin) 1-12

Galway 3-10 Cork 1-15

Connacht, who bridged a 28 year gap when capturing the title at Rosses Point last year, begin their defence of the Interprovincial Championship this morning with a difficult match against Munster at Royal Co Down.

Cork’s pace and clever use of possession were crucial factors as they cruised to victory in this All Ireland U14 championship final in St Brendan’s Park in Birr.

DEFENDING champion Alan Dunbar hopes his batteries will be recharged when he tees it up at Royal Dublin this morning and takes on six of his fellow Walker Cup squad members in the Irish Amateur Open.

TOULON moved top of Pool 3 with a convincing bonus-point victory over London Irish on Saturday.

CHARLEVILLE CBS suffered a chastening experience on their return to the Dr Harty Cup as Nenagh CBS got their campaign off to a winning start at Ballybricken yesterday.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

DECLAN KIDNEY has made just one change to the Ireland team to play the USA on Sunday in Buckshaw Stadium, Santa Clara just outside San Francisco.

FORMER Ireland hooker Frankie Sheahan is to undergo a scan to discover the severity of a chest injury which threatens his move from Munster to Brive.

MUNSTER Branch officials hope Cork City Council reconsider a decision to vote against the rezoning of lands inside Musgrave Park, the sale of which was to assist in the redevelopment of a new stadium.

IF IT’S Declan Kidney’s stated intention to build a panel during his tenure, then the Ireland head coach will be satisfied with the tier of talent below his senior selection after Ireland A produced a solid performance to overwhelm Scotland at the RDS last night.

POSSIBLY the lowest moment in Ireland A history came at McDiarmuid Park, Perth, last season when their Scottish counterparts scored 10 tries in a 67-7 demolition of the visitors.

THOSE harbouring ambitions of playing a part in the RBS 6 Nations will be hoping to impress their respective national coaches in tonight’s intriguing Ireland A-England Saxons tie at Donnybrook (kick-off 7.35pm).

PAUL O’CONNELL and Rory Best are included in Ireland’s 28-man squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial test with Argentina.

IN what is Munster’s first home game since winning the Heineken Cup in May, Tony McGahan has kept faith with 11 of the side that started in last weekend’s impressive 46-22 win over the USA Eagles for tonight’s sell-out friendly with London Irish at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

New Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named a 45-man squad for next week’s four-day camp in Cork.

England Saxons 34 Ireland A 12

Heineken Cup winners Denis Hurley and Tomas O’Leary have been named in the Ireland A team for Wednesday’s Churchill Cup clash with the United States.

Despite the heavy rain, three players, Quentin Carew (Edenderry), Iarlaith Keane (Malahide) and Steffan O’Hara (Co. Sligo) share the lead on one over par 72 following the first round of the inaugural Irish Boys Under 15 Open 36 holes at Balbriggan Golf Club.

The Barbarians will field a team selected from seven countries, including Ireland's David Humphreys and Bob Casey, when they tackle an England XV in Sunday’s Gartmore Challenge match at Twickenham.

CARLOW enjoyed a very productive evening at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd All-Ireland Schools Quiz held in the Montrose Hotel, Dublin, last night when their representatives, St Mary’s College, Knockbeg, and Vocational School, Borris, had victories over Dublin opposition.

NICE job, supportive family and good lifestyle. That should be enough for anyone, but Bob Casey, once described by Donal Lenihan as one of rugby’s hottest properties, isn’t fully satisfied with his lot.

Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan intends to use Friday night’s A fixture against France to assess the potential of the nation’s next batch of Test hopefuls.

Ireland followed an uninspired first-half, from which they led 12-0 through four Paul Burke penalties, with seven second-half tries that kept them on the road to a Grand Slam in their A international campaign at Donnybrook.

John Kelly’s elevation to the Ireland senior squad has opened the door to an Irish A start for his Munster team-mate Jason Holland.

Geordan Murphy, Rob Henderson and Keith Wood have all been left out of the Ireland rugby squad due to injury for the Six Nations game against Scotland on Saturday week.

Celtic League champions Leinster have drafted in Trevor Brennan to their back row for Saturday evening’s Heineken Cup match at Newcastle.

Leinster coach Matt Williams has named his team to play Toulouse at Donnybrook in the opening round of the Heineken European Cup on Friday night.

WARREN GATLAND is hoping the clash between the Rest of Ireland and Munster at Thomond Park tomorrow week will be a no-holds-barred contest to boost chances of a big Irish representation on the Lions tour to Australia.