Connacht 3-19 Ulster 1-15

AISAKE Ó hAILPÍN has signed a two-year contract to play Aussie Rules with Essendon District Football League side Maribyrnong Park Lions.

WHO would envy Paddy Richmond this Sunday as his club, Dunloy Cuchullains, take on reigning champions Portumna in the All-Ireland club hurling semi-final, in Dublin’s Parnell Park?

Barney McAuley of Loughgiel and Cushendall’s Brian Delargy will make their league debuts for Antrim in Sunday’s NHL Division 1B opener against Galway at Casement Park (throw-in 2.30pm).

A LATE bid to have UCD hurlers banned from participating in the 2006 Dublin county championship seems doomed to fail.

STEPHEN MacGABHANN will make his Championship debut with Meath in Sunday’s Leinster clash with Wicklow in Croke Park.

FOR ALL those in the deep south who believe the All-Ireland club hurling final in Croke Park today is more or less a foregone conclusion, that the honest physical endeavour of the Antrim champions Dunloy will succumb to the pacy, cultured hurling of Newtownshandrum — a word of warning from one who should know.

Antrim 8-27 London 1-5

COLIN CORKERY won his second straight AIB GAA provincial player award in the AIB Bankcentre yesterday, while Athenry’s star forward Eugene Cloonan became the first player to win three awards.

WHOEVER set the odds for the bookies in last Sunday’s All Ireland club semi-final between Dunloy and Mount Sion was no hurling man.

CORK footballer Colin Corkery, who was controversially overlooked on the 2002 Allstar selection, was yesterday named AIB Munster Provincial Footballer of the year for the second consecutive season.

It doesn’t seem like six years ago in Dunloy, but it was. That day when St Mary’s Athenry, overwhelming favourites not just for the semi final but the All Ireland, were brought down to earth by north Antrim spirit.