Cork will spend the next two weekends in Croke Park after comfortably securing their place in the Super 8s with this emphatic 14-point dismissal of Laois.

Warm June rain greeted us as we exited Croke Park yesterday with smiles on the faces of the Royal supporters, in particular. Dublin pelleted over points for fun while both Kildare and Laois squandered some great goal chances. The centurion Cluxton culled the Lillies’ goal efforts and the quality of the forward play and score-taking was exceptional, at times, from all four participating teams.

Laois are through to the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup after comfortably overcoming Kerry this afternoon.

A small dog with a major disability and an even bigger personality is about to have his destiny transformed, thanks to upcoming appointments with media superstars ‘The Supervet’ Dr Noel Fitzpatrick and singer Will Young.

Three goals in eight second-half minutes propelled Laois to a first ever All-Ireland Minor B Camogie Championship, getting the better of Limerick by 4-6 to 2-5 in the replayed decider at MacDonagh Park.

While Peter Keane enjoyed a successful first league campaign of sorts in charge of the Kingdom, another manager from the depths of South Kerry was quietly going about his business far from the glamourous spotlight of the top division.

It was notable that John Sugrue was the man the Laois players wanted to succeed Peter Creedon as manager.

An idyllic summer afternoon in Croke Park, the type of day footballers dream about — getting an opportunity to showcase their skills and the fruits of all the work that goes into being an inter-county footballer. 

Laois 0-12 Carlow 0-8

Laois captain John O’Loughlin believes Dublin’s €1.46m per annum games development grant should be spread evenly around the 12 Leinster counties.

Kilmessan capitalised on their second bite of the cherry to become AIB All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie champions for the second time after a strong second half performance against a resolute Clanmaurice at Silvermines.

Kildare have coasted through a Leinster football semi-final on the back of the most facile of victories over an utterly insipid Laois side in Tullamore this afternoon.

Laois 3-25 Meath 2-13: Laois manager Eamonn Kelly admitted he couldn’t recall a better midfield display than Paddy Purcell’s in Navan.

Tyrone chairperson Roisin Jordan has insisted the county executive is fully behind Mickey Harte and his team, and fully supportive of their efforts to win a first All-Ireland title since 2008.

The returning David Moran is one of five changes to the Kerry side for today’s McGrath Cup final clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds (3pm).

Irish TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick tells Keeley Bolger animals should be given the same options in surgical care as afforded humans

Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10: In the end, like most recounts in a general election, there was no change.

Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10: For a time, it didn’t appear Jim Gavin wanted to level any criticism at his team for the two goals they conceded in the second half.

Generational renewal and putting the building blocks in place for young farmers is crucial for growth in the agricultural sector, Macra na Feirme national president Seán Finan said.

Two goals in the space of a couple of minutes at the end of the third quarter proved decisive as Armagh confirmed their superiority over Roscommon to claim the Irish Daily Star National League Division 3 title.

Hurling’s managerial carousel had already picked up considerable pace by the time Kilkenny returned up the steps of the Hogan Stand in early September, several high-profile figures opting off the merry-go-round.

The first big weekend, as mood music, fell flat. 

A Laois father-of-seven has been jailed for six years for the sexual abuse and rape of his young daughter more than 30 years ago.

Kilkenny 2-18 Laois 0-11: All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny confidently claimed a place in the Leinster MHC final against Dublin with an easy 2-18 to 0-11 win over Laois at Nowlan Park yesterday.

Kildare 3-18 Laois 1-11: Not even their own supporters held much hope of Kildare beating Laois given their injuries and a horrible league campaign but manager Jason Ryan insists he and his coaching staff retained faith in their methods despite some of the vitriol being aimed in their direction.

Laois 0-29 Offaly 0-20: A little over a week ago, Laois hurling was at a crossroads, with the significant progress made in the past three years on the brink of being washed away in one fell swoop.

Laois put a difficult fortnight behind them in the most definitive fashion possible, blitzing old rivals Offaly in the final 45 minutes to record their first championship victory over them in 43 years.

Laois gained the expected upper hand in this local derby against Carlow to set up another battle for domestic bragging rights against Kildare in the Leinster quarter-final.

Down 3-12 Laois 1-15: Down’s ability to find the net helped them clinch promotion back to Division One while Laois maintained their league status despite defeat in Pairc Esler yesterday.

Derek McGrath marvelled at how Pauric Mahony is settling into a leadership role with the team.

Allianz FL Division 2 Round 2: Laois 2-6 Cavan 0-17: Neither the absence of light in their dressing room nor the malfunctioning showers could affect the good humour amongst the Cavan contingent at O’Moore Park on Saturday night.

Laois 1-11 Dublin 1-12: Jim Gavin was fulsome in his praise for midfielder Emmet Ó Conghaile after he scored the winning point with the last kick of the game in Portarlington.

We call on the Government to review Irish energy policy in light of recent changes in renewable power technologies. 

Down 1-12 Laois 1-8

Laois 0-18 Wexford 0-17

An embarrassing oversight has prevented Waterford hurler Brian O’Sullivan from appealing a two-match ban. The forward picked up the suspension retrospectively following Waterford’s Munster SHC quarter-final defeat by Cork last Sunday week.

Robert Corbet has been found guilty of murdering Laois nanny, Aoife Phelan, in October 2012.

The Central Criminal Court has heard Laois nanny Aoife Phelan was not pregnant at the time of her death.

The man charged with murdering Laois nanny Aoife Phelan told detectives he killed her because her pregnancy was going to scupper his relationship with his ex-girlfriend.