Higher rates of student satisfaction have brought University College Dublin and University College Cork "within a whisker" of Trinity in The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020.

Two men who helped a criminal gang to murder Vinnie Ryan, a brother of slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, have asked a judge for mercy and to leave "light at the end of the tunnel" when handing down sentence.

Laois edged out neighbours Offaly in a highly entertaining Midlands derby to seal their place in Round 4 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

Eoin Lowry was Laois' late goal scoring hero as John Sugure's side edged a tight encounter against Derry to ensure they are in the hat for Monday's All Ireland Qualifying Series third round draw.

John Sugrue admitted that missed chances cost his Laois team dearly as they kept pace with Meath for 50 minutes or so before being badly burned.

Warm June rain greeted us as we exited Croke Park yesterday with smiles on the faces of the Royal supporters, in particular. Dublin pelleted over points for fun while both Kildare and Laois squandered some great goal chances. The centurion Cluxton culled the Lillies’ goal efforts and the quality of the forward play and score-taking was exceptional, at times, from all four participating teams.

The powerful midfielder crashed home a goal in the 31st minute to put Meath into a lead they wouldn't relinquish and his second with nine minutes to go killed the contest.

The government has nothing to hide in relation to the €3bn National Broadband Plan and will explain its decision and the project costs in due course, the Tánaiste says.

The collaboration between Aidan Coffey and the late Séamus Creagh was founded in Cork and survived for many years over long distances, writes Pet O’Connell

That was an interesting feature, written by Daragh Ó Conchúir, on trainer Tom Mullins, in last Saturday’s Irish Field.

Nigel Baxter was surprised to see little representation of Seamus Murphy in his home town. The British carver decided to take matters into his own hands. Literally, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

As Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly looks set to head out to the US for the summer in the coming days, the allure of Gaelic football in Boston is proving extremely attractive, with a host of inter-county and elite club talent basing themselves there this summer.

Diarmuid Connolly is set to play Gaelic football in the US this summer, the Irish Examiner understands.

Laois captain John O’Loughlin believes Dublin’s €1.46m per annum games development grant should be spread evenly around the 12 Leinster counties.

DNA matching a murder accused was identified on a glove and wig found alongside the sub-machine gun alleged to have been used in an attack that left a 36-year-old dead, a trial heard today.

The first day of the Joule Donegal International Rally in Letterkenny was a battle of the Kellys — Frosses driver Donagh Kelly and Letterkenny’s Manus Kelly — while Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings remains very much in touch.

Donegal’s Donagh Kelly has won numerous Irish rallies some of which culminated in National and Tarmac Championship titles — one of three drivers to win both in the same season. Yet, the one rally that has eluded him is, ironically, the Joule Donegal International Rally.

Monaghan’s Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta WRC) strengthened his grip on the Triton Showers National Rally Championship when claiming the Rathkeale House Hotel Circuit of Munster Rally, round four of the campaign.

The Rathkeale House Hotel Circuit of Munster on Sunday marks the halfway point of the eight round Triton Showers National Rally Championship. However, it also contains several subplots including preparation for the next rounds of the British and Irish Tarmac Championships and also forms part of the Top Part West Coast regional series.

The Garda Commissioner has announced the appointments of 11 newly-promoted senior officers and the transfer of seven Garda bosses, in a major reshuffle of top brass.

In the life cycle of every team, a moment presents itself whereby the glass ceiling can be cracked.

In the so-called good old days, Listowel was always regarded as the real start of the National Hunt season.

Without a win since landing the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in March 2013, Realt Mor returned to the winner’s enclosure when landing the Sheridan Agri-Contractors Chase in Ballinrobe last night.

Rise Of An Empire, trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Noel Meade, recorded his third success over hurdles when making all to land the Investec Rated Novice Hurdle in Ballinrobe last night.

Dublin based dissident republican Vincent Ryan died of gunshot wounds to the head. Ryan, from Grange Abbey Drive in Donaghmede, died on February 29, 2016.

There are growing signs the expected statement from the Garda commissioner over the O’Higgins transcripts is awaiting a “political” green light.

The Cheltenham Festival and St Patrick’s Day don’t always coincide on the calendar, but the organisers know a good thing when they see one. So it is that the third day of this four-day bonanza is always designated as ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’.

The details of how Dublin man Tom O’Gorman was violently killed by his tenant have yet to be “fully ventilated”, an inquest has heard.

Nearly Nama’d relished the heavy ground to land his second decent pot of the season at Fairyhouse in the Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase yesterday.

Ball D’Arc can set the ball rolling on what should be another great weekend for Gigginstown House Stud by taking the opening maiden hurdle this afternoon at Navan.

Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Colm Murphy savoured a welcome change of luck when Catalaunian Fields landed the Thatch Bar Katies Kitchen Maiden Hurdle in Bellewstown last night.

The Game Changer has been a revelation since embarking on his chasing career and will be strongly-fancied to complete a hat-trick over the bigger obstacles in the Stena Line Horizon Chase in Wexford tonight.