IRELAND’S absentee list continues to grow before tomorrow night’s friendly against Norway.

ARNOTTS is a name long synonymous with Dublin even prior to the company’s 18-year sponsorship of the Dublin GAA teams.

Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-19 Portumna 0-17

AT this time of year, most clubs in the country, whatever their grade, are in serious training for their upcoming county championships. But any of those worth their salt are also thinking of All-Ireland finals.

THEY could finally relax in Newtownshandrum and Ballyhale yesterday, their respective provincial titles won, hurling season over for 2009.

Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-14 James Stephens 1-11

MANAGER Maurice Aylward believes Ballyhale Shamrocks’ progression to the Leinster club SHC final on Saturday represented a victory on two fronts.

IT’S funny how the wheel turns. On St Patrick’s Day 2005, James Stephens were Kilkenny, Leinster and All-Ireland club senior hurling champions.

THE morning after the night before, and Giovanni Trapattoni had his happy face on when he met the media in a city centre hotel yesterday to review the narrow win against Cyprus and reflect on where his Irish team goes from here in World Cup qualifying Group 8.

THE extraordinary outburst by Fr Alex Reid has perhaps served to expose just how distorted and exaggerated is the sense of grievance felt by some nationalists.

THE family of a woman who died mysteriously in 2003 said they were “delighted” following a meeting with senior gardaí last Friday.

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