Getting by car to some of Ireland’s most famous beauty spots can be both a pleasure and a nightmare, a new study shows.

Alan King has paid tribute to the retiring Robert Thornton, highlighting the 2008 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle victory of Nenuphar Collonges as the ride that best showcased his talents.

The listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes has been a "lucky" race for John Oxx since its introduction in the 90s, and the Curraghbeg trainer annexed the prize for the 11th time when Tarana, ridden by Declan McDonogh, powered up the Ballybrit hill to land the spoils in Galway last night.

It was Donnacha’s day at Dundalk yesterday as Aidan O’Brien’s younger son registered his first success in the saddle when producing odds-on favourite Quartz with a well-timed late challenge to foil Duchess Andorra by a half-length in the Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Maiden.

Cratloe football boss Colm Collins has described the decision of Limerick veteran John Galvin to switch club allegiances across the border as a "fantastic lift" for the Clare outfit.

Andrea Atzeni showed why he has been signed up by Qatar Racing with a good ride to get Cappella Sansevero home in the Nestle Supporting Irish Autism Action Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Shutter Island got up late on to land the most valuable race on Ballinrobe’s card, the E. P. S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle last night.

Irish trainer Michael O’Callaghan has confirmed Fergal Lynch will ride his intended runner at Ayr, should the jockey return to British racing on Monday.

Fergal Lynch is to be allowed to ride in Britain for an initial one-year period, the British Horseracing Authority said yesterday.

The Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat proved the star of last night’s action in Naas as he completed a fabulous four-timer under Chris Hayes, himself completing a double, in the concluding Stuart Insurances Supporting Console Handicap.

Aidan O’Brien and his son, Joseph, warmed up for Australia in the Irish Derby at the Curragh tomorrow when combining to land the 12 furlongs plus Maiden at Tipperary last night with Granddukeoftuscany.

In-form trainer Dermot Weld described Tested as "a group-class filly" after the daughter of Selkirk justified 4/11 favouritism in the Ladies Day June 21st Fillies Race in Gowran Park yesterday.

Cusack Park in Ennis is the headquarters of Clare GAA, the field on which the All-Ireland senior hurling champions of 2013 were fired and forged.

Backed into 1/2 favourite, the J P McManus-owned Shield delivered for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien in the two-mile bookigs@dundalkstadium.com Maiden in Dundalk last night.

The Clare hurlers’ bachelor mission to the Mexican resort of Cancun is a man down yesterday after captain Pat Donnellan confirmed he popped the question to Limerick girl Edel Leahy.

Mutual consent.

Dr Crokes (Kerry) 0-13 Cratloe (Clare) 0-12

Mount Leinster Rangers, Dr Crokes and Ballinderry claimed AIB Provincial Senior titles in Leinster, Munster and Ulster respectively this afternoon.

Cratloe 0-10 Doonbeg 0-7

Cratloe advanced to a Clare SFC semi-final with Éire Óg, Ennis next weekend after an impressive 2-6 to 0-7 win over Kilrush Shamrocks in Clarecastle yesterday.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Cratloe, were knocked out of the Clare SHC on Saturday when their final group game against Crusheen finished in a 0-16 apiece draw.

Tributes have been paid to Fergal Lynch, the longest-serving member on Clare's 2013 All-Ireland SHC winning panel, after he announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

THE All-Ireland champagne stays on ice, but the Chill bubbly can begin to flow.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald has named an unchanged team for their All-Ireland SHC final replay against Cork at Croke Park on Saturday (throw-in 5pm).

Pádraic ‘Podge’ Collins is part of a new breed of hurler to have blossomed in recent times.

Clare will line out with an unchanged team when they take on Munster rivals Cork in tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC final at Croke Park.

Clare captain Pat Donnellan has a lot to answer for. Brendan Bugler too. But for the 28-year-olds, this Clare team’s average age would be lower than an already decidedly youthful 23.

At 2pm local time on Monday last, 52 hours after entering the water and after four previous failed attempts over the previous 35 years, 64-year-old Diana Nyad emerged from the ocean in Florida Keys and thus became the first person to swim the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Jonathan Clancy is 27, established in his professional life as a fully qualified accountant working with Eamon Keane & Co in Ennis and a hurler of note since he joined the Clare senior panel since 2005.

Hats off to Davy Fitzgerald and his management team for the job they’ve done with this Clare team, in the last few weeks especially.

I was expecting a tactical battle from the throw-in last Sunday and I was surprised when it failed to materialise. I will be astonished if Clare and Limerick isn’t a tactical engagement.

Wonderfully, a full-sister to Mars, defied a significant market drift to make a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden at Fairyhouse last night.

It was a case of Murphy’s Law in Naas last night as longshots Big Time (16/1), trained by John Murphy and Joe Murphy’s Euphrasia (33/1) shocked punters.

Aidan O’Brien’s Coach House, who made a very promising debut when second at the Curragh, was taken from 4-6 to 2-5 in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden at Tipperary last night and won with any amount in hand.

The Ger Lyons-trained Keeping looked a decent prospect when foiling favourite Bint Nayef in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Battle Of Marengo laid down an early marker for the Investec Derby with a determined triumph in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

Clare 1-15 Kilkenny 3-10, Ennis

The last time Cork hurlers appeared in Páirc Uí Rinn they served up champagne style hurling when defeating Tipperary.

Clare 0-18 Galway 1-13

Health insurers have claimed Health Minister James Reilly’s reform plans will “force” them to impose new 20-40% premium cover price hikes onto already cash-strapped customers.

Clare 1-21 Tipperary 1-13

Former champion apprentice Gary Carroll ended the 2012 campaign at Dundalk on a high when completing a double on Lily Of Kenmare and Shukhov last night.

Whenever I think of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s many superlative achievements — the journey from Fiji to Cork to the most coveted steps in Croke Park, the All Stars and All-Irelands won and captained, the transformation into corporate gold and cultural icon who transcended the game — it’s his disciplinary record that impresses us as much as anything.