SUBSTITUTE Eamonn Dillon’s 37th-minute goal inspired Dublin to victory in this exciting Leinster U21 hurling championship final at Wexford Park last night.

DUBLIN will be straining to retain their Leinster U21 title in tonight’s Wexford Park decider but their hosts will be motivated by a desire to restore pride as much as thoughts of rare silverware.

DUBLIN recovered from a sloppy opening to prevail by 13 points over a limited Offaly in their one-sided Leinster Under-21 hurling championship semi-final at a sun-kissed Parnell Park last night.

DEFENDING Under 21 hurling champions Dublin could afford to hit 21 wides yet secure a comfortable four goal win over hosts Carlow in this Leinster quarter-final tie at Dr Cullen Park last evening.

DUBLIN begin the defence of their Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC crown when they travel to Dr Cullen Park tonight to face Carlow in the quarter-final stage at 7.30pm.

A SCRAPPY encounter in this Munster club IHC semi-final in Ballyagran yesterday, but a dominant second-half performance was enough to see Ballymartle qualify for the final against Tipp side Borrisokane in Mallow on Sunday week.

IRELAND women’s coach Philip Doyle has made two changes from the side which defeated USA (22-12) for this afternoon’s World Cup Pool B clash with Kazakhstan, (Surrey Sports Park, 4.30pm).

SATURDAY evening in Tullamore provided further irrefutable evidence of how these counties operate at underage hurling level.

IRELAND’S hopes of causing an upset in the Women’s World Cup evaporated in Surrey last night, as England gradually ground them down before recording a bonus-point win.

GAVIN HENSON’S return to rugby was thrown into doubt after his no-show at pre-season training with the Ospreys.

Ireland 15 Scotland 3

IRELAND coach Kevin West has made three changes from the side which defeated Wales last weekend for tomorrow’s Women’s Six Nations clash with Scotland (Ashbourne, Meath, 7.30pm).

Ireland 18 Wales 3

IRISH U20 coach Allen Clarke has shuffled his deck for tomorrow night’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Dubarry Park, (7.35pm, RTÉ Two).

IRELAND will play their 100th Women’s international in Sunday’s Six Nations clash with England (Esher RFC, Surrey, 3pm).

IRELAND U-20 face a first real test of their Grand Slam credentials when they travel to face their French counterparts at Stade de la Chevaliere in Mazame tonight (RTÉ Two, 7.30pm).

IRISH coach Kevin West has made five changes from the side which defeated Italy for tomorrow’s Women’s Six Nations clash with France, (Stade des Allées, Blois, 6pm, Irish).

IRELAND have no lack of incentives ahead of tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations Women's’ Championship away to Scotland (Meggetland,7.30pm).

MANAGER Rachel Reid is hopeful that the Ireland Women’s rugby revolution can continue this evening at Templeville Road with an historic success over England.

IRELAND coach Steven Hennessy has made one personnel and two positional changes to the side which defeated Italy in Collefero a fortnight ago for Friday’s Women’s Six Nations clash against England at St. Mary’s College, Templeogue (6.30).

IRELAND Women’s team enter this afternoon’s Six Nations tussle with Italy at Colleferro brimful of confidence.

DANNY CIPRIANI is one of six capped players named in the England Saxons side to face Ireland A at Donnybrook. The Wasps fly-half was sent down to the Saxons by Martin Johnson earlier this week in the hope of him rediscovering some of his form, away from the pressures of the 6 Nations.

IRELAND finished third in the FIRA Women’s European Championship in Amsterdam after they drew 22-22 with France on Saturday.

IRELAND got their Six Nations campaign back on track last night as they ground out a solid victory over Scotland at Templeville Road.

Ireland 13 Scotland 3

In a bid to win a fourth consecutive Interprovincial title, the Munster women’s rugby team have made only two changes for this weekend’s final clash with Leinster.