A guide to the championship won last year by Ballyhea.

Castlelyons 0-13 Newcestown 0-11

If Vedfield Emperor can reproduce his semi-final performance he will take a world of beating in the final of the Greyhound & Pet World A1 525 at Curraheen park tonight.

Vedfield Emperor produced a much-improved and top-class performance when winning the first semi-final of the valuable Greyhound & Pet World A1 525 at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

The best cattle he had ever seen at any American or European dairy show, was the fulsome tribute paid by Canadian Donald Dubois after he judged last week’s Emerald Expo 2012 show in Kilkenny.

Tonight’s opening semi-finals of the Curraheen A3 hosts a number of very promising youngsters but the exciting Brogan Henry made quite an impression when winning his first-round heat last Saturday night and from a perfect draw, he is a confident selection to follow up.

Cork GOBA sponsors the entire card at Curraheen Park tonight — a programme that consists of no fewer than four stake finals — and the nap selection goes to Cooly Colebe, who can be expected to stamp his class all over the closing race.

DAMIAN and Noel Fleming, who bred English Derby winner Taylors Sky, earned the plaudits at Curraheen Park on Saturday night when that one’s half-brother, Rising Magic, took the featured O’Riordan Brothers’ Tarmacadam A1 final.

Birmingham 1 Brentford 1 (aet, Birmingham win 4-3 on penalties)

Mallow 1-19 Castlelyons 0-9

Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens today named an 18-man squad for next month’s European Championship qualifier in Tallinn against Estonia on September 9 (kick off: 3pm Irish time).

Norwich 1 Sunderland 4

Eddie Nolan will captain the Republic of Ireland U21 side in his native Waterford tonight.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has announced an 18-man squad for this month’s matches against Spain and Turkey.

The FAI today announced the nominations for the 19th eircom / FAI International Awards.

Owen Garvan produced a man-of-the-match performance to score twice for the Republic of Ireland U-21s to earn a draw against Portugal in Madeira.

Striker Karl Moore has been called into the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of the UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifier against Portugal next Tuesday.

Don Givens was full of praise for his young Republic of Ireland Under-21 side after their surprise 3-2 friendly win over Sweden in Uppsala.

Sweden Under-21 2 Republic of Ireland Under-21 3

Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens today named his side to play Sweden in a friendly in Uppsala tomorrow evening (kick-off 5.30pm Irish time).

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today announced his squads for the forthcoming matches against Sweden and England.

Republic of Ireland captain Michael Spillane scored a late winner to defeat hosts Portugal 1-0 and clinch the four-nations invitational tournament trophy in Lisbon on Sunday afternoon.

THE Republic of Ireland Under 19 side were narrowly defeated in their European Elite qualification game against Georgia in Senec, Slovakia, losing 3-2 for the second time this week.

SPRUCE HUNTER, owned by Master Darragh Bourke from Castleisland, Co Kerry — beaten in the semi-finals of All-Aged Stakes at Castleisland and Kilflynn — made it third time lucky yesterday when taking the Jades Dilemma and Big Fella Thank Stake at Clonakilty.

TIMOTHYS STANCE, a January puppy owned by Timothy Carr & Martin Scanlon of Listowel and trained in Macroom by Liam O' Callaghan took the featured Derby Trial Stake at Bandon & Careys Cross yesterday.

Cork’s Castletownshend captured a silver medal in the senior ladies final of the World Coastal Rowing Challenge at La Grande Motte, Montpellier, France.

Two west Cork clubs fly the flag for Ireland tomorrow week when they compete at Montpellier, France, in the World Coastal Rowing Challenge.