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.

Lansdowne 18 Clontarf 17: Scott Deasy’s nerveless conversion of a difficult 66th minute penalty sealed victory for Lansdowne over champions Clontarf in Saturday’s pulsating Ulster Bank League final at the Aviva Stadium.

Cork Constitution’s vice-like grip on the Bateman Cup strengthened when they produced their classiest performance of the season at Temple Hill on Saturday to become the only team to win three successive titles.

Martin O’Neill thinks Shane Long will take the pressure associated with his €15 million move to Southampton in his stride but believes setting a target for the season would help the Tipperary man bridge the gap from being a scorer of great goals to a great scorer of goals.

Martin O’Neill insisted yesterday he would not feel left down if Roy Keane were to return to club football.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY:

Martin O’Neill will seek a clear declaration of Stephen Ireland’s willingness to return to international duty before he considers recalling him to the Ireland squad.

Dublin football manager Jim Gavin believes that the Allianz Football League should not begin until April.

Robbie Keane has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Serbia in a friendly in Dublin on March 5.

Westmeath manager Paul Bealin is optimistic his outfit will stay the course against All-Ireland champions Dublin on Sunday.

Laois 2-18 Offaly 1-15

Kildare 2-15 Longford 3-8

Kildare 1-12 Longford 0-12

Youth will, once again, be given its chance when Ireland host Poland at the Aviva in two weeks' time, and the big news is that Anthony Pilkington has finally made it into a senior squad after being named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s 27-man party for the friendly on February 6.

Portlaoise (Laois) 1-11 Emmet Óg Killoe (Longford) 2-05

Emmett Óg Killoe (Longford) 2-13 Navan O’Mahony’s (Meath) 0-8

Cavan snatched a last gasp victory over Longford in the Leinster JFC semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park when Martin Dunne created the opportunity for Martin Reilly to fire home the decisive matchwinning goal in the final minute of the game.

The reception Shannon received from their ecstatic fans as they trooped off the Coonagh pitch spoke volumes for the sense of relief felt by those from the Limerick club.

Louth put up a spirited display to beat Longford in last night’s Leinster U21FC quarter-final at Haggardstown.

Cork Constitution kept their Ulster Bank All-Ireland League dream alive with a devastating second half display at Temple Hill on Saturday.

The teams for this weekend's All-Ireland League fixtures have been announced.

Blackrock College will be able to call on the strike power of their Ireland U20s Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken in Division 1A against a Dolphin disrupted without their regular number eight James Coughlan, who has been called up by Munster.

The teams for this weekend's round of All-Ireland League rugby matches have been announced.

LONGFORD will have home advantage in their Leinster MFC quarter-final with Westmeath on May 22 after this deserved qualifier victory at Pearse Park on Saturday.

Leaders Cork Constitution will have Munster's Jeremy Manning back at out-half at home to old rivals Shannon in Division 1A of the AIB Leagure at Temple Hill tomorrow.

ANDY KEOGH and Darron Gibson are included in the Republic of Ireland squad to face England in next month’s UEFA Under-21 Euro Qualifier.

THE intimidating atmosphere of Turner’s Cross can help Ireland’s Under-21 side to victory over Portugal in their European Championship qualifier tonight (kick off 7.30pm).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 manager Don Givens has selected a new-look 18-man squad for the friendly International away to Luxembourg, on Wednesday in the Stade Fr Trausch, Mamer.

Birmingham defender Alex Bruce, son of Blues manager Steve, has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Steve Staunton will be an interested spectator as the national U21 side contest a four team Madeira tournament.

IRELAND’s U19 team lost to Denmark by 2-1 in their third and final game in the tournament in La Manga in Spain yesterday.

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