Colm Collins blamed a frozen pitch in Páirc Esler for the horrific ankle injury sustained by Dermot Coughlan, while Kieran McGeeney was unhappy three key decisions went against Armagh in an action-packed Division Two draw in Newry.

Kieran McGeeney had to settle for a draw on his first return to Kildare as an opposing manager after Jimmy Hyland earned the home team a share of the spoils with the last kick of the game.

The game was played without the controversial hand-pass rule which had just hours earlier been ditched by Central Council, and Sunday’s FBD Connacht League final between Galway and Roscommon at Tuam will also be played without the ill-fated regulation.

Dr McKenna Cup semi-final Armagh 0-14 Donegal 1-10

Sligo 1-13 Armagh 1-19

Fermanagh 0-12 Armagh 0-7: Where to now for Armagh and the five-year revolution under Kieran McGeeney after this limp, uninspiring, and naive performance, during which they went an entire hour without scoring from play?

Fermanagh 0-7 - Armagh 07: A point each gives plenty to both teams. Armagh go up, after two seasons in the third division, while Fermanagh have to wait the outcome of a winner-takes all battle, on the final day of the season, away to Longford.

Armagh 1-11 Longford 1-10: This was the ultimate smash and grab operation.

A Jamie Clarke goal in the 70th minute propelled Armagh into the fourth round of the qualifiers, writes Eoghan Cormican

Westmeath restored battered pride, but it was 14-man Armagh who took the spoils in a bruising Round 2B Qualifier at Cusack Park.

Tipperary 3-8 Armagh 0-16

Monaghan are through to a first Ulster U21 FC final since 2007 after a comfortable semi-final win over Armagh in Newry last night.

UL 0-12 Queen’s University 1-8

Tyrone 3-17 Queen’s University 0-11: Mickey Harte handed out seven debuts to inject some young blood into his team, and they responded with a commanding performance as the Dr McKenna Cup holders began their title defence with a resounding win at Healy Park.

Cavan 10-25 Down 0-3

Two first-half goals against Armagh helped Tyrone into the Ulster U21 final for the first time in three years last night.

Queen’s 0-8 Sligo IT 1-9 (after extra-time)

Derry 1-5 Queen’s 1-9

Donegal 2-16 Queen’s 1-08: Rory Gallagher posted his first win as Donegal manager as his side comfortably overcame Queen’s University Belfast in miserable conditions in Ballybofey yesterday.

FAI FORD CUP:

Athlone Town 1 Shamrock Rovers 1

Shamrock Rovers 0 Dundalk 1

SSE AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Cork shot-stopper Elaine Harte has reclaimed the No 1 shirt for Sunday’s All-Ireland ladies’ football decider at Croke Park.

Ireland 0 Japan 3

St Paul’s Bessbrook easily claimed the All-Ireland Colleges SBFC title on Saturday at Breffni Park.

Ireland's Olympic dream died in agonising fashion at Belfield today as they were undone by a Korean winner in the final seconds of the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London final, going down 3-2.

Ireland overcame a potential banana skin in work-manlike fashion as they dispatched Chile last night to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for a first Olympics since 1908.

Ireland wasted a slew of chances but nonetheless got the job done with a workmanlike 3-0 win over Chile at the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London Olympic qualifier at Belfield tonight.

It says a lot about where Ireland are and where they want to be that last night’s draw with world number six Korea at the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London Olympic qualifier at a sold-out Belfield was met with disappointment by coach and players alike.

Ireland 1 Korea 1

THREE second-half goals at Tallaght Stadium last night ensured Airtricity Premier Division holders Shamrock Rovers saw off Monaghan United, taking all three points from their first home game.

IAN SLOAN gets another chance to continue his remarkable development into a top-class international hockey star after he was named in the Irish squad for next week’s INSEP Five Nations in Paris.

IRELAND all but assured themselves of a UCD Nations Cup final place as they hammered France 6-1 in Belfield last night, rounding off a miserable few days for the French.

THE feelgood factor for Irish hockey continued last night in Belfield as a second quarter blitz saw a sixth win in four days for the country’s senior teams as they beat China 4-2.

IT MIGHT, in reality, be the Airtricity League versus the Football Conference but any meeting of Ireland and England comes with added spice and tonight’s International Challenge Trophy game at the RSC in Waterford (7.30) is no exception.

IRISH women’s hockey captain Eimear Cregan is on the verge of a move from Cork Harlequins to Catholic Institute, it emerged yesterday.

IRELAND have secured a spot in the 2009 EuroHockey Nations Trophy final – and with it a guaranteed promotion back up to the Championship in 2011 – by defeating hosts Wales 1-0 yesterday.