HAVING missed the drawn game through injury, returning All-Ireland captain Graham Canty’s presence at midfield for Bantry Blues in Carrigadrohid assisted their passage through to a semi-final meeting with Mallow in the Cork Premier IFC.

TYRONE manager Mickey Harte introduces one newcomer for tomorrow’s floodlit NFL opener against Dublin at Croke Park.

IN the context of what might havebeen, victory was most welcome at Croke Park on Saturday. However that won’t diminish coach Declan Kidney’s food for thought in the weeks leading up to the Six Nations Championship.

LEICESTER coach Heyneke Meyer hailed a “brilliant” performance by Toby Flood after Tigers launched their Heineken Cup campaign with victory over the Ospreys at Welford Road.

IT came late, very late, but big Mark O’Sullivan’s 59th minute goal was crucial as Dripsey saw off stubborn Carrignavar to reach their first Evening Echo Cork Co JHC decider in their short history under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Nemo Rangers 1-10 Killavullen 0-7

LEICESTER captain Martin Corry admits his side’s Heineken Cup hopes are “out of their hands” after sinking to a 22-11 defeat in Toulouse.

SHANNON’S renowned spirit has rarely been seen to greater effect than at Clifford Park yesterday when they overcame a strong Cork Constitution side and the handicap of playing the last 20 minutes with 14 men to advance to the ODM Munster Senior Cup final.

SHANNON and Garryowen look in good shape ahead of the new AIB League season next weekend.

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan will have a far better idea of the well-being of his side after a near full-strength team has played Italy at Ravenhill tonight in the final warm-up for next month’s Rugby World Cup.

WASPS captain Lawrence Dallaglio last night hailed the Londoners’ Heineken Cup final victory over Leicester as the greatest Twickenham final of his glittering career.

HEINEKEN CUP hero Andy Goode has revealed a secret of treble-chasing Leicester’s success – fighting in training.

LEICESTER kept alive their hopes of an unprecedented trophy treble by stunning French Championship leaders Stade Francais to book a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

THE first match at Croke Park was supposed to be the celebration of a new era in Irish rugby.

Wales 9 Ireland 12

Perfect conditions greeted RBS 6 Nations favourites Ireland as they launched they title challenge with a tricky opener at the Millennium Stadium.

LEICESTER blew a disjointed Bourgoin side away in the first half to keep their Heineken Cup hopes alive.

Nemo Rangers 1-11 Dohenys 0-7

NEMO RANGERS advanced to the quarter-final of the Evening Echo Senior Football Championship by virtue of a 0-12 to 0-7 victory over arch rivals, St Finbarr’s, in what was at times an ill-tempered tie at Páirc Uí Rinn last evening.

Leicester 35 Sale 23

FRANKIE SHEAHAN is delighted to be back in the front row at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm) as Munster take on Leicester Tigers in a pre-season friendly.

CARDIFF BLUES are to deny Munster fans the potential for a big Heineken Cup show of strength at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand 34 Ireland 23

THERE were times at Inchigeelagh yesterday when Duhallow looked good, very good.

THE Limerick team to play Clare in the ESB Munster MHC semi-final qualifier in Cusack Park tonight (6.30pm), shows six changes from the team trounced by Cork in the first round.

Kinsale 2-12 Cill na Martra 1-9

HOLDERS Cork will field seven of the squad which trounced Limerick in last year’s provincial final in tomorrow night’s opening round of the ESB Munster Minor Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds (6.30).

England 24 Ireland 28

Ireland 19 Scotland 9

Cork 1-11 Dublin 1-10

Nemo Rangers 1-15 Douglas 0-5

Ireland 26 Italy 16

Cork 1-8 Tipperary 0-5

Nemo Rangers 1-14 Stradbally 0-10

DAY two of the Allianz Sciath na Scol finals at Pairc Uí Rinn yesterday produced a mixed bag with two evenly contested games and two one-sided affairs.

Nemo Rangers 1-13 Ardfinnan 0-6

THE IRFU have appointed three new members to the management of the national team.