A Jack Downey 45 in the fourth minute of second-half stoppages handed victory to Limerick in this Munster U20 football quarter-final.

What’s seldom is wonderful.

Derry manager Damian McErlain was a relieved man after his team finally got their Division 3 campaign up-and-running with a five-point victory over Offaly in Celtic Park yesterday.

Back-to-back All-Ireland champions Dublin will face old foes Westmeath next weekend after Tom Cribbin's side edged out Offaly at the second attempt in the Leinster quarter-finals.

Our Lady’s, Templemore (Tipperary) 0-24 Kilkenny CBS 2-15: Our Lady’s Templemore manager Tom Byrnes is relishing a crack at competition kingpins St Kieran’s in the Croke Cup final on Saturday week.

Our Lady’s Templemore 3-14 Thurles CBS 1-10: Our Lady’s Templemore haven’t tasted Harty Cup glory since winning the competition for the one and only time in the school’s history back in 1978.

Longford 2-11 Offaly 0-9: Second-half goals from Liam Connerton and Darren Gallagher helped Longford record an eight-point win over Offaly in this Round-2 O’Byrne Cup clash in Newtowncashel.

LAST year’s runners up Our Lady’s Templemore eased into the last four of the Harty Cup with a ten-point victory over local rivals Thurles CBS in front of a huge crowd at The Ragg this afternoon.

Westmeath 1-9 Offaly 0-9: Westmeath maintained their Division 3 status for another week at least with this hard-earned three-point victory over Offaly in Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Clare 1-20 Longford 1-9: Clare’s promotion aspirations are still on track after a merited 11-point win over visitors Longford at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Offaly 0-15 Clare 1-11: Offaly added their name to the shortlist of Division 3 promotion candidates yesterday when they overcame the concession of a late Eoin Cleary goal to snatch the last score of an entertaining contest against Clare at O’Connor Park.

St Munchin’s 7 - CBC 10

Munster A must beat London Scottish today to remain in the hunt for the British and Irish Cup quarter-finals.

Yorkshire Carnegie 43 Munster A 29: Munster A’s valiant second-half fightback was all in vain as relieved Yorkshire Carnegie eventually claimed victory to all but seal Pool Three’s top spot in the British & Irish Cup.

Dependent on team selection higher up, Munster A coach Mick O’Driscoll has rung the changes for tomorrow’s British & Irish Cup game with Yorkshire Carnegie in Lockwood Park, Huddersfield.

Longford 1-9 Wicklow 1-5: A strong second-half performance saw Longford secure a home semi-final with O’Byrne Cup champions Dublin on Sunday.

O’Byrne Cup - Offaly 0-13 Louth 1-9: A late Louth rally came up short as Offaly rang in the new year with a win in Darver. 

PJ Banville has provided Wexford football boss David Power with a timely New Year boost.

British and Irish Cup

Munster A - champions in 2012, begin their challenge for a second B & I Cup title when they take on London Scottish at the Athletic ground in Richmond, London tonight (7.45pm).

Kerry 3-13 Wexford 2-9: The full-time score gave a somewhat misleading representation as Kerry performed a late escape act in Dungarvan on Saturday afternoon to remain on course for a 16th All-Ireland junior title.

Wexford 1-10 Meath 0-12

Longford 0-16 Offaly 0-13: In a streaky game where both sides thrived on confidence, ultimately Offaly’s lack of self-belief cost them when they saw the finishing line.

Longford’s survival instincts served them well as they came from seven points adrift to oust Offaly in a keenly contested Leinster SFC clash at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Offaly had way too much firepower for Longford and it was their more clinical finishing of better chances created that earned them the new Division 4 silverware.