IT was a character called Mr Bumble who made the quip about the law being an ass in ‘Oliver Twist’ and that withering assessment sprung to mind on Saturday night after a gripping All-Ireland club semi-final.

Corofin (Galway) 2-14 Charlestown (Mayo) 0-7

PAUL CARBERRY proved an unlikely hero at Thurles yesterday, two days after his controversial 30-day ban started.

THE tremendous success story of Gordon Elliott continued at Killarney last night when his Grand Opera completed a hat-trick in the featured Ladbrokes’ Gold Rush Handicap Hurdle.

RUBY WALSH continued his phenomenal run of success when recording a superb four-timer at Wexford yesterday, brining his tally for the last seven racing days to an amazing 16 winners.

PROPOSALS to build a €63 million gas pipeline to supply industries in the Cork region have been unveiled at an oral hearing.

ROOKIE trainer, Eamonn O’Connell, was flying high after his Powerstation had landed the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Captain Christy Novice Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

CHRIS Hayes continued in superb form at Downpatrick, following-up his Curragh double on Sunday with another brace, on Red Key and Four Corners.

THE LAST HURRAH produced a gutsy performance to defy top weight in the featured Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle at the final stage of a hugely successful Killarney Festival yesterday.

NICANOR, winner of the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltehnam, got an enterprising drive from champion-elect Ruby Walsh in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa Champion Novice Hurdle.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN travelled to Leopardstown yesterday and missed seeing his City Storm run out a decisive winner of the Comeragh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

CURRAGH trainer Dessie Hughes continued his impressive strike rate with his team of summer jumpers when Khairambar, carrying his own colours, scored a smooth success in the Parkhouse Stud Chase at Wexford last night.

DERMOT WELD and Pat Smullen, fresh from a treble at Leopardstown on Wednesday evening, wasted no time adding to those gains when Sweet Firebird took the opening Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Fillies Maiden at Clonmel last night.

JOHN THOMAS McNAMARA, who received widespread acclaim for his Cheltenham success on Spot Thedifference, was again seen at his strongest when winning the Garryrichard Stud Tertratema Cup yesterday on 8/1 shot Good Step.

Pat Keane

SECTIONS of the media came under fire from a Travellers’ spokesperson yesterday for giving a ‘sensationalist’ slant to serious acts of violence in the Traveller community.

CRYSTAL VIEW, trained by Kevin Prendergast, came late and fast to beat Imperial Rose and Falstaff in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Premier Nursery at the final stage of the Tralee Festival yesterday.

THE YOUNG BISHOP, trained locally by Bill Harney, proved a popular winner of the Devil’s Bit Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

ALWAYS, confidently ridden by champion jockey Paul Carberry, had to survive mistakes at the last two flights before justifying odds on favouritism in the Athleague Novice Hurdle at Roscommon last night.

DESSIE HUGHES’ Central House got punters off to a flier when landing the opening Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

FOR reasons defined only by narrow parochialism, Athenry are not the most popular club in Galway, but in recent seasons, they are undoubtedly the best.

Pat Keane