As a nation sweated on the fitness of Shane Long and John O’Shea in the build-up to Ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off, Martin O’Neill’s backroom team could pore over a dizzying array of stats assessing his players’ readiness to play against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

2008 champions Belvedere College sent out a message of intent in Balbriggan yesterday afternoon, as first-half tries by Adam Foy and Josh Hutchinson provided the foundations for a comprehensive 28-3 opening round victory over Wesley College.

Terenure College 13 Belvedere College 7

WILLIE “Big Bang” Casey is ready to return to the ring under new management for a tilt at the durable French super bantamweight, Daniel Kadjo, at the Limerick Institute of Technology on September 3.

Michael Cole scored seven second-half frees as Meath's hurlers erased an 11-point deficit to secure a 0-16 to 2-10 draw with Derry in Navan today.