Armagh 0-19 Wicklow 2-13

KIERAN KILKENNY proved why he is one of the most exciting young talents in the country with a tour de force performance as Dublin swept Kildare aside in last night’s Leinster minor football semi-final.

IT was meant to be Mick O’Dwyer’s swan song, the last fling of the most successful GAA manager of all time.

IT’S A big weekend on the Allianz Hurling League front. In the first division especially, six teams are still in with a chance of making the final and all involved in games against each other, while the remaining two teams – Wexford and Offaly – meet in what will probably be the relegation decider.

EMBATTLED Fermanagh manager John O’Neill has claimed reports of player unrest in his camp are fabricated and is confident of maintaining the county board’s backing.

CONOR COUNIHAN has named an unchanged side from the team that beat Monaghan a fortnight ago for Cork’s Allianz NFL Division 1 game tomorrow night against Down.

LEITRIM finished with 13 men as Wicklow collected the points at Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.

IT might only have been the second weekend in January but Tony Hannon’s clenched fist celebrations after scoring what turned out to be the winning point in a chilly Portlaoise yesterday suggested Wicklow are well up for a repeat of their O’Byrne Cup run to the semi-finals in 2007.

THIS game will always be remembered for a number of reasons, not least the fact that Down brought the Sam Maguire Cup back to Ulster for the first time since they themselves won it in 1968.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

Down 4-21 Mayo 0-14

Mayo 2-20 Westmeath 0-15

A FINE second-half display drove Mayo to a win over Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup at McHale Park, Castlebar on Saturday.

England’s Jonathan Hurst has set his sights on the West of Ireland Amateur Open title after a level-par 71 gave him the first round lead at wind-blown Rosses Point today.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled to a four-over par 75 as Co Louth's Simon Ward led the qualifiers in the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland Amateur Open.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Stephen Grant fired a sensational course record 64 in the first round of the Radisson SAS sponsored West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

Despite the heavy rain, three players, Quentin Carew (Edenderry), Iarlaith Keane (Malahide) and Steffan O’Hara (Co. Sligo) share the lead on one over par 72 following the first round of the inaugural Irish Boys Under 15 Open 36 holes at Balbriggan Golf Club.

Midfielder Ronan McGarrity and forward Billy Joe Padden are back in the Mayo team for Sunday's Connacht SFC semi-final against Leitrim (Carrick-on-Shannon, throw-in 3.30pm).

BRIAN SHEEHAN and Colm Cooper will start for Kerry against Laois in the Allianz NFL semi-final at Killarney on Sunday.

The Irish Amateur Close Championship at Westport Golf Club

East of Ireland Championship 2005

The first and second round of matchplay took place in the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Magner's North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush

Local lad Wayne Telford has again stormed to the top of the leaderboard on the Valley Course after the opening day's qualifying round in the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Mullingar’s John Morris opened with a five under par 67 to take a one shot lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth yesterday.

Former Galway star Brian Feeney is back in the Athenry side to face Birr for Sunday's All-Ireland club championship semi-final.