Fianna Fáil has conceded defeat in the Meath East by-election with Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee on course to be formally elected to the seat previously held by her late father.

The way he has Crossmaglen Rangers playing should surprise no one who has ever known him.

John and Tony McEntee have called time on their stellar club careers with Armagh outfit Crossmaglen Rangers.

THE OLD-TIMERS up here have a saying; “There is only a while in anything and all good things must come to an end”.

HARD to credit it now when they are 60 minutes away from bringing the Andy Merrigan Cup home for a fourth time but Crossmaglen couldn’t find a manager for love or money at the start of the season.

AFTER pulling pints in the Dáil for almost four decades, Sean Sheils has more than a few entertaining tales to tell.

TDs and senators fear a Dáil barman, who is retiring after 38 years of service, will write a tell-all book on his experiences.

THERE is the possibility - if not indeed the probability - of a little bit of history being made today when the Vodafone Allstar hurling team for 2005 is chosen in Dublin.

ARMAGH have been in the last two All-Ireland finals and based on yesterday’s performance at Croke Park, that trend is set to continue in September.

IN Joe Kernan’s eyes, he is as good as any footballer in the country.

NOW for the hard part. Errigal Ciaran took three games to overcome the might of Armagh champions Crossmaglen in the Ulster club championship.