Monaghan were absolute value for a commanding victory over Tyrone in Castleblayney, making amends for their narrow opening day loss away to Galway.

The harsh and punishing reality of life among Gaelic football’s elite stared Meath in the face as they made their return to Division One after a 14-year absence.

A dogged Tyrone gave newly-promoted Meath a flavour of the realities of competing in Gaelic football’s top tier as they eased to a five-point success at Healy Park.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is set to postpone his annual January cull due to an injury crisis ahead of the start of the Allianz League.

Longford boss Padraic Davis has challenged those who question the need for pre-season competitions in an already crowded GAA calendar.

When Longford last won the O’Byrne Cup 20 years ago thanks to a 2-6 to 0-7 win over Westmeath at Mullingar, current manager Padraic Davis and selector Paul Barden started in the forward line, kicking 0-3 between them.

Holders Tyrone reached yet another Dr McKenna Cup final with a nine points win over Down at the Athletic Grounds.

Offaly set up an O’Byrne Cup final clash with Longford next weekend, their victory sealed by two late points from substitute Cian Farrell.

The Mike Quirke era of Laois football began with a defeat in the opening round of the O’Byrne Cup against neighbours Offaly on Saturday.

Six points from Daire Bolger helped Rathgarogue-Cushinstown become the first Wexford club to lift the Leinster Club JFC crown following this exciting decider at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

Tyrone struck an early and perhaps decisive blow in their Super 8s opener at Hyde Park, where they scored a four-point win over Connacht champions Roscommon.

Tyrone blew Cavan away as they charged into the Super 8s series with a ruthless demolition of the beaten Ulster finalists.

Laois edged out neighbours Offaly in a highly entertaining Midlands derby to seal their place in Round 4 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Gearoid Hegarty, and Graeme Mulcahy have been restored to the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster hurling final.

Kevin Egan When the qualifier draw is made this morning, it will be Offaly — the only remaining county in today’s draw that will play their league football outside the top two divisions next spring — that will be seen as the plum draw for most of the other seven.

Qualifier specialists Tyrone are up and running again, and while a four points margin at Pearse Park will not inspire supreme confidence, they are set to gain momentum along the back door route.

Donegal swept past Tyrone to book their place in the Ulster SFC final, scoring a first win over fierce north-west rivals Tyrone in four Championship clashes as they triumphed by four points at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Offaly safely negotiated a potentially tricky first round qualifier tie at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park in Tullamore this afternoon, where they had the brilliance of Bernard Allen to thank for the ten-point winning margin they enjoyed against London.

Tyrone charged through to the Ulster SFC semi-finals with a demolition job at the Athletic Grounds.

Last year's All-Ireland finalists Tyrone came through a draining battle when they just couldn't shake off a game Derry challenge in the Ulster Championship preliminary round in Omagh.

Bryan McMahon saved Meath's blushes with a late goal to turn a potential disaster into a battling Leinster SFC win for the hosts in Navan.

Mickey Harte declared himself satisfied with their new attacking strategies after his side moved a step closer to Division One survival with an Ulster derby win over 14-man Cavan.

The game was played without the controversial hand-pass rule which had just hours earlier been ditched by Central Council, and Sunday’s FBD Connacht League final between Galway and Roscommon at Tuam will also be played without the ill-fated regulation.

Mickey Harte has named the team that is bidding to stop Dublin winning a fourth All-Ireland title on the bounce.

Clare 1-19 Offaly 2-14

Clare needed every one of their 20 scores to edge out a valiant Offaly side that refused to give in.

Down will be without their free-taker Donal O’Hare for their round 2 Qualifier against Cavan on Saturday.

Tyrone escaped from Navan with a narrow win and a place in the second round of the Qualifier series, squeezing out a courageous Meath side in an extra-time thriller.

MONAGHAN 0-15 - TYRONE 0-14: Monaghan people could almost be tempted to take it for granted, but after this win over Tyrone, they are almost virtually guaranteed to play in Division One in 2019, for the fifth consecutive season under Malachy O’Rourke.

Tyrone 1-12 Donegal 1-16: Donegal and Tyrone threw the play-books out the window and served up an entertaining Bank of Ireland McKenna Cup final.

University of Ulster 1-13 UCD 0-18 (after double extra-time)

Brian O'Seanachain and Con O'Callaghan scored in the second period of double extra-time to book UCD's place in Saturday's Sigerson Cup final for the third year in a row.

Galway scored their 13th ever league win over Tyrone when they led throughout a tough contest at Tuam Stadium.

Cork County Board have refused to comment amid fears that the cost of the Páirc Uí Chaoimh redevelopment project may rise to €85m.

Tyrone 0-19 Cavan 1-9: Tyrone’s unbeaten record in this Division 1 campaign never looked in any danger, even when they trailed by four points at Healy Park.

Tyrone turned on the power in the second half to take over the leadership of the Division One table and send Cavan crashing into a relegation dogfight.