Laois secured their Division 1 status for 2021 with victory over Carlow in a dramatic dogfight at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday.

They’ll naturally be remembered for great summer days but when Jim Gavin was in charge of Dublin, they prided also themselves on not losing Allianz League games.

The Laois hurlers ensured their Division 1 status for another year with a slender one-point win over neighbours Carlow in a real dogfight at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday night.

A familiar theme of coming from behind and simply refusing to accept defeat played out again at Croke Park where Dublin suckered Donegal with a late onslaught to steal a narrow Allianz League win.

Offaly withheld a tremendous fightback from 13-man Louth to pick up their first Division 3 win of the season in a textbook game of two halves at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

Any Dublin supporters wondering if their five-in-a-row All-Ireland winning heroes would dig deep for new manager Dessie Farrell got their answer as the hosts rescued a remarkable Allianz football league draw at Croke Park.

The yawning chasm in class between these neighbours was fully in evidence as Kilkenny thrashed Colm Bonnar’s by 21 points in a NHL Division 1B mismatch before an attendance of 3,000.

Dublin this evening extended their unbeaten run against Mayo to 16 games.

Longford put in a solid display as they started their Division 3 campaign with a three-point win over Louth at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

As expected Clare opened their National League campaign under new manager Brian Lohan in impressive fashion as they eased to a comprehensive 16-point victory over Colm Bonnar’s Carlow in Ennis.

Making 23 substitutions throughout an entertaining and at times tense O'Byrne Cup semi-final encounter, the Dessie Farrell era ultimately got off to a losing start for Dublin.

An experimental Dublin side got their Walsh Cup campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable eight-point win over Westmeath.

Alan Plunkett’s goal less than a minute into the second half proved the decisive score as Ballintubber set up a mouthwatering clash with All-Ireland champions Corofin in Sunday’s Connacht club football championship semi-final.

Tracton advanced to a date with Blackrock in a Cork Intermediate Hurling championship quarter-final after defeating Midleton 0-18 to 0-13 in Ballinora on Saturday evening.

Well, did we ever suspect otherwise?

Antrim were full value for their first Qualifier victory in four seasons over disappointing Louth in the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda on Saturday night.

Camogie President Kathleen Woods was impressed with the standard in this thrilling Sciath na Scol C3 final in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. Two committed teams, with the work-rate of Scoil Bhailenóra proving the decisive factor.

Carlow's first home game in this year's Leinster senior hurling championship may have made for a heartwarming tale but Kilkenny have never been ones for romance or fairytales.

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.

Dublin won pulling up in their Division 1 NFL tie at Kingspan Breffni as Cavan fell way short of completing a hoped-for ‘mission impossible’.

It must have felt like Brexit had come early for Down — and boy was it a hard one.

Dublin finished their NFL Division One campaign with a spring in their step after easily winning their 'dead rubber' encounter with Cavan.

Galway advanced to the semi-finals of the Allianz League thanks to an impressive display in the second-half when they were playing against the wind at Pearse Stadium.

Dublin’s second-half revival secured a deserved five-point win at a damp Dr Hyde Park, a result which was harsh on their hardworking hosts.

Goals from Con O’Callaghan and Dean Rock enabled Dublin to maintain their push for a berth in this year’s league final after overcoming a spirited Roscommon challenge in wet conditions at Dr. Hyde Park.

So far, so good for Paraic Fanning in Division 1B of the Allianz League.

Leitrim 0-25 Louth 1-12

Waterford 2-13 Tipperary 3-9: Waterford produced a sensational comeback to beat Tipperary in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds.

Carlow 2-17 Louth 0-12

Tracton 1-18 Kilbrittain 3-9

MONAGHAN 2-12 DUBLIN 0-17: In the end, we were given a dramatic conclusion rarely in keeping with the general tedium of events as Fintan Kelly fired over a glorious point deep into injury-time to secure a noteworthy success for Monaghan against the All-Ireland champions.

CLARE 3-12 LOUTH 1-11: Clare maintained their Allianz Football League Division 2 status, with a merited win over bottom side Louth at Cusack Park Ennis yesterday.

Gawlay 0-13 - Dublin 0-13: Every other top football team in the country have tested themselves against Dublin under Jim Gavin’s management, but finally Galway had their crack – and at the first try they found a way under their skin.

Kilcormac-Killoughey will contest their third Leinster senior club hurling final in six seasons after they recorded a landslide win over Mount Leinster Rangers of Carlow yesterday afternoon, but a straight red card to county midfielder Cillian Kiely will be a huge blow to their chances of upsetting All-Ireland champions Cuala on Sunday week.

Kilkenny 0-30 Wexford 1-14: Further proof, in the unlikely event it was required, of the enduring appeal of underage hurling. 

Carlow 5-23 - Antrim 4-15: Carlow boss Colm Bonnar admitted his players forgot about the title at stake, and the place in the All-Ireland qualifiers, and simply focused on finally beating Antrim.

Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 2: Goals from Brandon Miele and Trevor Clarke gave Shamrock Rovers victory over bitter rivals Bohemians in this highly entertaining game at Dalymount Park.

John the Baptist CS, Hospital (Limerick) 2-6