Despite suffering a heavy defeat to Six Nations holders England at Castle Park, Doncaster, captain Ciara Griffin insists the Ireland women’s team are closing the gap to the Red Roses.

Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs sang the praises of Galway teenager Beibhinn Parsons after his side went top of the Women’s Six Nations table with a bonus-point triumph over Wales at Donnybrook yesterday.

Ireland recorded a bonus-point triumph against Wales to moved to the summit of the Women’s Six Nations Championship.

Dublin boss Mick Bohan has made three changes in personnel as the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Champions prepare to welcome Lidl National League Division 1 holders Cork to Croke Park.

Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs was a relieved figure after seeing his side overcome the stubborn challenge of Scotland in their Six Nations opener at Donnybrook.

When the sides met at Páirc Uí Rinn in last year’s League campaign, Tipperary claimed a famous win.

A Joe Halligan goal proved the difference as Westmeath defeated Wexford in Saturday's Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup senior football opening round tie at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.

Trailing by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break, Thomas’ won the second period by 1-6 to 0-3, but it wasn’t until the final 12 minutes of the half that the Thomas’ display really sparked to life.

St Thomas have won all three county finals they have played in — having only made it to their first decider in 2012 — and they will go into a repeat of last year’s Galway SHC showdown against Liam Mellows as favourites in two weeks’time to retain the title for the first time.

A record-breaking crowd of 56,114, but the fare they bore witness to won’t live long in the memory as Dublin needed just five scores to secure a third consecutive All-Ireland ladies football title

Cork boss Ephie Fitzgerald has opted for one change ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland Ladies SFC semi-final against Dublin.

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald has opted for one change in personnel ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship semi-final against holders Dublin at Croke Park.

Tracey Leonard scored 1-5 as Galway negotiated the dreadful conditions and a stiff challenge from Waterford to advance to the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final where they’ll face rivals Mayo.

Galway came from behind at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise to secure a hard-earned victory over Kerry in Group Three of the TG4 All-Ireland SFC.

Galway captain Tracey Leonard said that Galway learned their lessons to overcome Mayo in the Connacht SFC Final in the LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Tracey Leonard fired goals in each half as Galway claimed their third TG4 Connacht Ladies SFC title in a row, but they needed to fend off a strong Mayo comeback to claim the win in the first Connacht final staged in Munster.

A rip-roaring TG4 Connacht SFC Final gave the Castlebar crowd everything they craved and more when a ferocious Mayo team put Galway to the pin of their collar on Sunday afternoon.

Martin Kavanagh fired 11 points for Carlow, but he was unable to get them over the line for victory as Galway claimed the win in their Leinster SHC opener at Pearse Stadium.

A dominant second-half showing delivered Cork ladies football a 12th Division 1 league crown.

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald has made three changes to his starting team for Sunday’s Lidl National League Division 1 Final clash with Galway – as the Leesiders chase a 12th top-flight crown.

Galway manager Tim Rabbitte wants to see his side hit new heights against Cork in the Lidl National Football League Division 1 final after they eased past Donegal in the last four.

Galway’s outstanding form this spring continued as they burst out of the blocks against Donegal and easily secured their place in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 final, their first time to reach that decider since 2015.

The early exchanges suggested that the Kilkenny side were going to enjoy a successful afternoon as they got out to a flier through Jack Morrissey and Ciarán Cooney, but St. Raphael’s quickly settled back into the tie and draw level by the fifth minute.

Ballyhale Shamrocks are AIB All-Ireland club SHC winners for a record seventh time after a power-packed Croke Park display proved far too much for an overwhelmed St Thomas'.

In a game like this, the inches all count.

Defender David Sherry was the toast of St Thomas' after popping up with a remarkable winning point five minutes into stoppage time at Parnell Park.

LIT have booked a home quarter-final in the Fitzgibbon Cup following a 3-22 to 0-8 victory over Trinity College in Moylish.

Limerick Institute of Technology advanced to the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals after a 4-24 to 0-12 win over Garda College at LIT.

St Thomas’ claimed their third Galway SHC title with the largest winning margin in nine seasons as Darragh Burke inspired them to a memorable victory at Pearse Stadium.

Tracey Leonard played a captain’s role as her six points fired Galway to a sixth TG4 Connacht senior title in the last seven years and to victory over arch rivals Mayo at MacHale Park.

Galway 0-26 Dublin 2-19

Dublin nearly stunned the All-Ireland champions in Salthill but Paul Winters two second-half goals were not enough to edge victory for Pat Gilroy’s side in Pearse Stadium.

Jason Flynn's 1-9 haul eased All-Ireland title holders Galway to an anticipated victory at Parnell Park, setting up an Allianz hurling league promotion shoot-out with Limerick next weekend.

New Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs believes a daunting test in France tonight will be the making of his team.

Galway 1-19 Antrim 1-16: After an hour of average hurling Micheál Donoghue’s Galway finally showed their class to launch the defence of their league and championship titles with victory over Antrim at Pearse Stadium.

Neal Peden’s Antrim almost landed the first major knock-out blow of the season, but the All-Ireland and league champions Galway finally found their form in the closing minutes to take the points at Pearse Stadium.

Rugby star Sophie Spence wants female Irish players to “receive an equal level of respect and treatment” as their male counterparts.

The IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship goes down to the wire this afternoon when Munster host champions Leinster in a top of the table clash at Thomond Park (2.30pm).

There’ll be much soul-searching and head scratching once they’ve been put out of their misery, but right now, Ireland will lift their heads one last time in a bid to take something meaningful out of this Women’s Rugby World Cup.

It’s not the job of the Ireland team to sell this Rugby World Cup but Tom Tierney’s side are doing more than anyone to make the wider public, both here and abroad, sit up and take notice of events at Belfield.

Joe Canning and Conor Cooney weighed in with 0-18 between them at Croke Park as Galway came good with a storming second-half performance to claim the Leinster SHC title.

No surprises here. Not even the hint of any.