Ballinhassig 3-23 Tracton 0-18: Ballinhassig served notice of their championship credentials with a polished second half performance against South-east neighbours, Tracton, in round one of the Cork Premier IHC in Carrigaline on Saturday.

The final of the Lee Strand 550 was the feature in Tralee on Saturday night, and the Mossy O’Connor-trained Russmur Flyer justified odds-on favouritism with an all-the-way victory.

A Limerick man who successfully appealed against his conviction for the murder of his partner yesterday pleaded guilty to her manslaughter.

The Paul Hennessy-trained, John Turner-owned Jaytee Valencia is the inaugural Gain Cup champion following a doughty performance in Saturday night’s decider at Curraheen Park.

There were two top-drawer performances on the first meeting of the year at Curraheen Park, on Saturday night, and both came from experienced bitches.

The strong-running, tight-railing Absolutely Ace landed the featured Macra Na Feirme A2 525 final on Saturday night’s card at Curraheen Park.

Outright favourite Ballymac Matt produced another faultless display, when posting the fastest time of the second round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park.

The track was really flying at Curraheen on Saturday, with numerous very fast times recorded. Chief amongst those was the career-best effort of the Niall Dunne-trained Minor Bound, who shed his maiden status in style, in the first round of the Odds On Dog Food A3 Tri-Distance.

The final of the Curraheen S1/S2 featured on a good card at Curraheen on Saturday night, and Glanmire Trooper, trained by Pat Kiely for John Organ, Dungarvan, prevailed in a very tight finish.

Rockybay Thomas can send Curraheen punters home on a high by making the most of a favourable draw in the finale.

A Supreme Court judge has said it is “dispiriting”, despite difficulties with the defence of provocation in Irish law being identified several times over at least 15 years, there has been no “legislative response”.

The Burgess A1 Puppy Stake was the feature on Saturday night’s programme at Curraheen, and victory went to the sponsors, JJ Fennelly and Sheila Spillane, Killeagh, with 5-2 chance Burgess Tadhg (Ace Hi Rumble – Dower Twilight).

The Greyhound and Pet World Golden Muzzle final is the feature in Limerick this evening, and the relative youth of Ivy Hill Bart can claim the winner’s cheque for €4,000.

Tracton 0-18 Kilworth 1-10: Tracton outscored Kilworth by 10 points to two in the second half of this Cork Premier IHC tie to secure victory at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Following in the paw-prints of 1990 winner Adraville Bridge and 2003 champ Nikita Billie, Midtown Raffa gave trainer Mossy O’Connor a third Laurels success with a thoroughly authoritative display in Saturday night’s decider at Curraheen Park.

Following his semi-final victory and a favourable draw 2014 Consolation winner Midtown Raffa will likely head the market for next weekend’s final of the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park.

There was a victory for patience and perseverance in Saturday night’s final of the Hennerty Sales Cork Oaks at Curraheen Park as Rastafari Chic landed the €5,500 winner’s prize for Vic and Jackie Roche, Waterford.

Farloe Blitz continued his serene progress through the Greyhound & Pet World and Odds On Dog Food Supersprint with a wide-margin victory in the first semi-final on Saturday night at Curraheen Park.

The Droopys Cain A1 525 was one of five finals on Saturday night’s 12-race programme at Curraheen Park and Young Legends showed her class with a terrific display for trainer Pat Kiely and owners Master Jack and Master Bryan Kiely, Dungarvan.

It’s Cork GOBA Christmas Party night at Curraheen Park and five finals feature on the 12-race programme.

Please allow me to acknowledge the tremendous achievement, both on and off the field, by Cork City FC. 

The final of the Willie Kenny Memorial A5 525 returned a fittingly classy performance from Local Student, who landed the spoils for owner Patrick Sheehy, Tralee, and trainer John O’Sullivan.

East of Ireland champion Colm Campbell and leading qualifier Stuart Grehan were forced to dig deep to make it into the last 16 of the AIG-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at a sun-kissed Seapoint.

There were a couple of stake finals and two semi-finals of the Kudos Supersprint down for decision on a good card on Saturday night at Curraheen.

The Leaving Certificate exams seem a long way off right now but the business of choosing which colleges and universities to apply for is a necessarily important process and not least for golfers with ambitions of becoming a touring professional.

Congratulations to Tricia Mangan on her appointment as the next high performance director of the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU).

Youghal 1-18 Tracton 1-16

Tracton 1-18 Bandon 2-13

Stuart Grehan and Pat Murray are amongst the big names competing in the South of Ireland, which begins in Lahinch this morning.

Ulster withstood a late rally by Munster at Lee Valley yesterday to dethrone the home team as Irish Interprovincial champions and regain the title they last held in 2010.

Ulster and Leinster played out a thrilling tie on the opening day of the Interprovincial Championship at Lee Valley yesterday while defending champions Munster survived a few anxious moments in mid-afternoon to emerge 7 ½-3 ½ winners over Connacht.

Even though they are the defending champions and will be performing on home territory, Munster are regarded as underdogs in the Senior Men’s Interprovincial Championship beginning at Lee Valley this morning.

UCC’s Ian O’Rourke smashed the men’s course record at Strandhill Golf Club with a dazzling eight-under-par 62 to coast to victory in the second event in the Intervarsity Series.

Trainer Kieran Lynch must have left Curraheen Park on Saturday night a very satisfied man after his Madam Shaw posted the fastest time of the night and Postman Ray claimed the most notable of sprinting scalps.

Tracton 2-7 Ballinhassig 1-10

The Johnny Linehan-trained and Noel and John Crowley-owned Droopys Delfino produced a terrific performance to land the spoils in Saturday night’s final of the €5,000 to-the-winner Greyhound & Pet World A1 525 at Curraheen Park.

There are two withdrawals from the third round of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby but it remains highly competitive.

Many of the top fancies go into action in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tonight.

A vastly superior Youghal outfit inflicted a humiliating defeat on Tracton in this one-sided Premier IHC meeting at Caherlag on Saturday.

The last race on tonight’s card could develop into a match between Sede Vacante and Splendid Joy but preference is for the former, who has rediscovered his best form in recent weeks.