Preparations are underway for the senior and U-21 Hurling/Shinty international matches which are due to take place over the coming weeks.

KILFEACLE defeated arch rivals Clanwilliam to book their place in the semi-finals of the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup with a 30-7 victory.

Wicklow 3-11 Kildare 2-11

Not for the first time Mick O’Dwyer is working the oracle in an adopted land. Brendan O’Brien, Daragh O Conchúir and Colm O’Connor spoke to four men who have first-hand experience of the Kerryman’s managerial brilliance.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez spoke of his joy tonight after club captain Steven Gerrard was cleared of affray.

England footballer Steven Gerrard was a free man today after he was cleared of unjustly attacking a man in a bar.

ENGLAND footballer Steven Gerrard yesterday apologised for lashing out three times at a man in a bar brawl, saying he mistakenly believed he was about to attack him.

Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard today apologised for lashing out three times at a man in a bar brawl, saying he mistakenly believed he was about to attack him.

Liverpool football captain Steven Gerrard was in a "huff" before he attacked a man with a barrage of punches, a court has heard.

The man allegedly attacked by England footballer Steven Gerrard during a bar room brawl today relived the incident in court.

Footballer Steven Gerrard “totally lost it” and hit a man “with the style and speed of a professional boxer” during a row over music, a court heard today.

THE equine world is focussed on the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, which takes place at the Curragh tomorrow. But many of those in attendance will already have witnessed a thoroughbred derby of a different nature however, having gone to tonight’s battle football battle between Kildare and Laois.

A £10m (€11.33m) redevelopment of Belfast International Airport aimed at speeding up the process of getting passengers from check-in to departure gate was announced today.

Liverpool star Steven Gerrard was expected to formally plead not guilty today to charges of assault and affray.

Steven Gerrard is to deny assaulting a man during a nightclub brawl, a court heard today.

Steven Gerrard is expected to appear in court today after being charged in connection with a nightclub brawl.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a bar brawl which allegedly involved Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard.

Coleen Rooney’s brother was detained over the nightclub brawl which resulted in England footballer Steven Gerrard being charged, it was reported today.

England footballer Steven Gerrard returned to training today with little fanfare.

Football star Steven Gerrard is due back for training today after he was charged with assaulting a club DJ.

Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard was supported by his football club today as he faced a maximum five-year jail term if convicted of assault.

Liverpool will give captain Steven Gerrard “all the support he needs” after being charged with assault and affray.

England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was today charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following an alleged nightclub brawl, Merseyside police said.

The bosses of Belfast International Airport (BIA) tonight demanded a full public inquiry into the application for a runway extension at the rival Belfast City Airport.

The GAA have announced the squads which have been selected for the U21 and senior hurling/shinty internationals against Scotland on Saturday next, October 18.

Aer Lingus this week launches four new international routes from Belfast.

Budget airline easyJet is launching four new routes out of Belfast this week, it announced today.

UP TO 1,000 jobs could be created if Aer Lingus proceeds with plans to make Belfast International Airport its British hub, it was claimed yesterday.

A multi-million euro business park next to Belfast International Airport was launched today.

BELFAST International Airport (BIA) has launched a cross-border drive for business as it announces yet another new international route.

Belfast International Airport (BIA) launched a cross-border drive for custom today as it announced yet another new international route.

BOTH Armagh and Donegal have been hit by injuries prior to their Ulster SFC final clash at Clones on Sunday.

Kildare football manager John Crofton been boosted by the return of experienced pair Dermot Earley and Glenn Ryan to training.

A STRANGER ambling through Laois or Kildare this past two weeks would be forgiven for thinking it was a boxing or wrestling show in the pipeline this week.

A Dublin man who raped and sexually abused his stepdaughter until she was 17 years old has been jailed for nine years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.

AS the inter-county GAA season emerges from winter hibernation, Brendan Larkin and Therese O’Callaghan canvassed football and hurling managers on their close season training regime.

LIKE any great story, this one has had a touch of everything: drama, suspense, plot twists, a catalogue of characters and a touch of comedy thrown in for good measure.

THE GAA’s hottest managerial signature was up for grabs last night, as legendary coach Mick O’Dwyer prepared to walk away from Laois.

IRELAND’S top player Peter Clarke was the big news-maker on the Irish tennis scene yesterday when he was surprisingly left out of the Ireland team to meet Ukraine in the Davis Cup on the weekend of July 16-18.

The Irish tennis selectors have rushed back into consultation following two hammer blows to the side originally selected to play Hungary in next months Davis Cup tie at Fitzwilliam.

Ireland have recorded a famous Davis Cup victory over Egypt after completing a 4-1 victory.

ANYONE around Merrion Square yesterday morning was probably rubbing their eyes.

Heavy rain was a prevalent factor at the Danone Sponsored Irish Close played at the Donnybrook LTC today.