JIM GAVIN has backed several of his Dublin U21 players to be future stars after qualifying for a first final at the grade since 2003.

THE Shane Lowry fairytale sucked in a sidekick yesterday with confirmation that his caddie of over two years will make the transition from the amateur to professional game with the new Irish Open champion.

JUST like two years ago, Dublin and Tyrone will meet in Croke Park tonight long after the sun goes down but it was the defeat to the Ulster side on a rain-soaked August afternoon last summer which Barry Cahill points to as his darkest hour in blue.

A distinct sense of déjà vu emanates from this evening’s Galway Publican’s EBF three-year-old’s race.

HE HAS played in two All-Ireland semi-finals, won three Leinster titles and represented Ireland but the last time Alan Brogan had a problem with nerves was when he walked into St Declan’s school in Cabra to sit his Leaving Cert physics exam eight years ago.

WHEN Stephen O’Shaughnessy runs out onto the Croke Park pitch on Sunday he may be a little more enthusiastic than his team-mates.

SELECTOR Dave Billings has rejected the notion that Dublin are simply the same old team underachieving with the same old faces as they look to continue their progress through the qualifiers in Leitrim tomorrow.

CORK’S disappointment at losing their Munster SHC title will be shortlived.

This afternoon's Leinster U21 FC final at Navan's Pairc Tailteann between Dublin and Kildare has ended in a draw.

DUBLIN midfielder Darren Homan has jumped to Tommy Lyons’ defence in the wake of last week’s heavy defeat to Mayo and has called on the players to stand up and be counted against Kerry in Parnell Park on Sunday.

There were wins for both the Dublin senior hurlers and footballers this afternoon in the Naomh Mearnog grounds in Portmarnock, as former Fermanagh half-forward Rory Gallagher failed to line out for the Blue Stars amid rumours of his potential inclusion on future Dublin panels.

Tyrone 0-3 Dublin 0-6 - half-time

ALLSTAR nominee Chris Lawn makes a dramatic return to the Tyrone team for the first round of the Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC clash with Derry at Clones on Sunday.

THE season didn’t end for all the Dublin players when Ray Cosgrove’s free agonizingly hit off the post last Sunday, as this weekend in Cavan, seven of the senior panel will be togged out in the Sky Blue again.

THE Dubs’ dream of football glory died in a packed Croke Park yesterday when Armagh snatched a one-point victory which puts them into an All-Ireland final against Kerry in three weeks’ time on September 22.

THE flags are out in force, stapled to every second car window that goes by, the jerseys crowd Henry street, the city is brimming with confidence.

IT will only be when this year ends for Paul Casey, that he will be able to sit back and absorb all he has achieved.

JOHNNY MAGEE is slimmed for success and rearing to go for Monday's All-Ireland quarter final, back in harness after an injury exile.

THE old parliament hadn't seen so much activity since Theobald Wolfe Tone and Edmund Burke were pondering the French Revolution.

There is a packed schedule today in the Allianz National Football League.

It was hard at times in Pairc Ui Caoimh to escape the feeling that you were a victim of the current fad of nostalgia. So striking were the parallels with the National League final that this match could almost have been titled, "I love 1999."