NATIONAL League and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, will face Tipperary in their first outing of the second phase of the NHL, GAC Chairman Padraig Duffy yesterday confirmed.

Kildare are sweating over the prospect of being stripped two league points for the second time in 12 months.

FOR the fifth successive year, Clare and Tipperary have been paired for the first round of the Guinness Munster hurling championship.

CLARIFICATION of the penalty for infringing the 'blood rule' is unlikely to be given before the next meeting of the Central Council in September but counties are being warned that any blatant disregard for the rule in the meantime will not be tolerated.

CORK senior footballers will continue to sweat for at least another day before knowing whether they will be stripped of their Munster championship crown following the use of six substitutes in Sunday's provincial final against Tipperary.

A murder hunt was underway today after a nun was sexually assaulted and strangled in the grounds of her Co Monaghan convent.

A nun was sexually assaulted and strangled in the grounds of her convent just hours before she was due at a friend’s 100th birthday celebrations, it emerged tonight.

Residents of Ballybay, Co Monaghan have described their shock at a sexual attack that left a nun and former teacher dead.