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.

Longford booked their place in the O’Byrne Cup semi-final for the fourth year in a row with six points to spare over Carlow in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Brilliant Bohemians smashed Dundalk’s domestic 31-match unbeaten run last night to all but secure their place in Europe next season.

Qualifier specialists Tyrone are up and running again, and while a four points margin at Pearse Park will not inspire supreme confidence, they are set to gain momentum along the back door route.

Both sides kicked some wonderful points though remarkably, the second half of extra time yielded no score.

Longford champions St. Columba’s created history as they became the first club from the county to reach the Leinster Senior Club Final with a well deserved win over Carlow Champions Eire Og in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Longford 2-11 Offaly 0-9: Second-half goals from Liam Connerton and Darren Gallagher helped Longford record an eight-point win over Offaly in this Round-2 O’Byrne Cup clash in Newtowncashel.

Dundalk 2 Bohemians 2: Richie Towell netted a 94th-minute equaliser for Dundalk last night against Bohemians to keep the leaders eight points clear at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

SSE AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Sligo Rovers 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 2

Drogheda United are still only four points off the top of the table, but their unexpected defeat by leaders Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night raises questions about the Boynesiders’ ability to finish the season in style.

Gavin Peers ensured Sligo Rovers’ Europa League campaign is far from over after scoring a vital away goal in last night’s first-leg clash with Spartak Trnava in Slovakia.

European gains is top of Ian Baraclough’s agenda as Sligo Rovers go into Europa League action tonight in Slovakia, where they are plotting an away victory.

TUAM STARS, the most prolific winners of the Galway SFC but without a win since 1984, reached their first final since 1995 after ousting favourites Salthill/Knocknacarra in this replay at Tuam Stadium yesterday.

SALTHILL/KNOCKNACARRA needed a Sean Armstrong point in added-time to grasp a draw after a terrific second-half comeback from Tuam Stars almost saw them reach their first Galway SFC final in 16 years.

SLIGO ROVERS moved two points clear in the Airtricity Premier League following a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds.

LIMERICK came from six points down at half-time to claim the All-Ireland ladies junior football championship crown against Louth at Croke Park yesterday.

Limerick 4-10 Louth 3-8

RYAN GUY struck late for St Patrick’s Athletic at Turner’s Cross last night to deny Cork City a chance of closing the gap at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

JEFF KENNA has admitted to feeling the pressure as St Patrick’s Athletic slipped to a seventh defeat in eight matches when showing little resistance on Saturday night against a Cork City side who notched their biggest win of the season.

Meath5-14

Having built up a strong lead on the first and second timed runs, Eugene Ferry/John Gallagher, in a Ford Escort, were convincing winners of the Westport based Castlecourt Single Stage Rally.