COACH Steve Ford made no excuses following Dolphin’s AIB League defeat to Cork Constitution at Temple Hill last week. A week on, a rematch at the same venue (2.30pm), and with a place in the league final at stake, neither is he about to start.

DOLPHIN’S dream of All-Ireland Cup glory was shattered at Musgrave Park on Saturday when Garryowen produced their best form of the season to secure a final berth against old rivals Cork Constitution.

DOLPHIN broke new ground in a season that is getting better by the week, with yesterday’s win over Galwegians at Musgrave Park earning them a place in the semi-final of the AIB Cup for the first time.

AN EXHIBITION of point scoring by John O’Dwyer powered Ballincollig to a thrilling victory over Tracton in a marvellous Evening Echo Cork Premier IHC quarter-final tie at Pairc Uí Rinn yesterday.

A SPLENDIDLY-TAKEN try by second row Brian Mulcair in the 38th minute was the difference between the sides in this Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final replay played at Dooradoyle yesterday.

Having re-fettled his S12B Subaru WRC following a crash on the Rally of the Lakes, Derry driver, Kevin Lynch took a comfortable victory in today’s ALMC Rally in Gormanstown, County Meath.

The third leg of the Donegal International Rally will not take place tomorrow following the death of a spectator today.

Reigning Irish Tarmac champion, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely, lead the way at the end of the opening leg of the Topaz Donegal International Rally in Letterkenny.

A WELL-WORKED injury time try turned this competitive AIB League tie on its head at Musgrave Park yesterday.

World Rally champions, Sebastien Loeb and co-driver, Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) dominated this second leg of the Shell Donegal International Rally, the fifth round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship.

BRITISH Rally Champions, Mark Higgins and Rory Kennedy

Tracton 3-11 Mallow 3-10

Manx born, Mark Higgins and his Letterkenny co-driver, Rory Kennedy (Subaru WRC) have won the Easter International Rally in Derry.

At the end of the opening day of the Derry based Easter International Rally, the second round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship, British Rally champions, Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru) head the timesheets.

St Patrick’s Navan 2-9 Knockbeg College Carlow 0-13 (AET)

Dolphin 14 Garryowen 34

Derry driver Kevin Lynch and co-driver Francis Regan were convincing winners of the Cork Forest Rally which concluded in Mallow this evening.

It was a day of changing fortunes for the competitors in the Letterkenny-based Shell Donegal International Rally, the fourth round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

Kevin Lynch and Allan Harryman in a Subaru WRC lead the Shell Donegal International Rally at the end of the opening leg.

TRACTON made it hat-trick of wins over Carrigtwohill in the county Premier IHC with a deserved two-point victory over the East Cork side in a keenly contested first round tie at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Nineteen year old British driver Matthew Wilson in a Ford Focus is the overnight leader of the Sligo based Rally Ireland.

OXFORD trainer Terry Kibble and Swift Leisure were both very active at the Curraheen Park sales earlier this week, picking up some choice lots.

An exciting Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally was won today by Ray Breen with Andrew Purcell in a Ford Focus WRC.

With a thrilling victory in the Sligo Rally, Kilkenny driver Ray Breen (Ford Focus WRC) has boosted his chances of landing the Dunlop National Rally championship.

Kilkenny’s Ray Breen notched up his first major rally success today by winning the Suirway Forklifts Raven’s Rock Rally in Waterford.

Setting the pace on the opening stage, Andrew Nesbitt in his ADL backed Subaru led throughout the opening leg of the Shell Donegal International Rally.

British crew, Jim Harrison/Harvey Bell (Subaru WRC) took their second victory in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, this time on the Woodland’s House Hotel Circuit of Munster Rally, the fourth round of the series.

Leading from the start, Kevin Lynch and Francis Regan (Subaru WRC) won the Midleton Park Hotel Moonraker Rally, round four of the McCauley Trailers Irish Forest Rally Championship.

With seven out of eight fastest stage times, it was a day of almost total domination for Andrew Nesbitt and co-driver, James O’Brien (Subaru WRC) at the end of the first leg of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney.

Back in competitive action following an eight-month absence, Armagh’s Andrew Nesbitt has lost none of his pace.

Joint Irish Tarmac champion, Eugene Donnelly and his co-driver, Paul Kiely have regained the lead of the Galway International Rally on today’s eighth and final stage of the first leg.

Manx-born driver Mark Higgins and his Belfast co-driver Michael Gibson, on board their Ford Focus WRC, lead at the end of the first leg of the AnswerCall Direct Ulster Rally.

The battle for the Dunlop National Rally Championship is still a three-way tussle between Niall Maguire, Jim Harrison and Patrick Elliott.

Armagh’s Andrew Nesbitt (Subaru WRC) took his second victory in the Punchestown Rally Experience when he finished almost seven seconds ahead of another former winner, Austin MacHale (Ford Focus WRC).

Imokilly 1-8 Carrigdhoun 0-11

Derry driver, Kevin Lynch, co driven by Gordon Noble, took his maiden victory in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship at the Waterford based Suirway Forklifts/Eddie Garry Car Sales co-sponsored Raven’s Rock Rally, round five of the series.

Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely on board their Kumho backed Toyota Corolla WRC took a dramatic win on the Shell Donegal International Rally, the fourth round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

With Andrew Nesbitt having stretched his lead in the Shell Donegal International Rally on today’s opening stage to 47 seconds, the rally was turned on its head on the next stage, Port Lake.