MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS became the first team from Carlow to reach the All-Ireland Club IHC final after a titanic struggle with Robert Emmets of London in Parnell Park yesterday.

All League and Championship matches in Derry have been called off this weekend as a mark of respect following the death of referee Martin Mulholland.

PLAYERS from a top London hurling team were caught up in a violent dressing room brawl in Ruislip on Saturday.

HARD to imagine Lar Corbett or John Mullane coming out with that one and, indeed, neither did. The pithy statement was, rather, the summation of one of the players from a team known as the Wild Geese as they left the field following a game on Saturday.

THE Wild Geese, a team of US marines based in England, are amongst eight sides competing in the inaugural Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling 13s this weekend.

The preparations of London senior hurling manager Brendan Bolger ahead of his side's Ulster championship opener against Antrim on Sunday week have been hit by the news that seven players have transferred out of the county.

FRANCE weren’t the only side who came to Ireland and ignored the sporting script on Sunday. In Limerick, London outfit Robert Emmets shocked Clare champions Clooney Quinn in the All-Ireland Club IHC semi-final and booked a March date with Galway’s Killimordaly in Croke Park.

AS expected, Athenry full-back Diarmuid Cloonan - younger brother of team captain Eugene - has been ruled out for the All-Ireland club hurling final with James Stephens in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Michael Ellard and Brendan Larkin