A weekend to suit all sports fans

SPORTS fans soaked up a blistering atmosphere and some rare rays of sunshine as the bank holiday sporting bonanza got under way at a thronged Croke Park yesterday.

More than 70,000 spectators saw All-Ireland champions Galway prepare to hand over the silverware after being knocked out of the senior football championship quarter-finals by old rivals Kerry in a feisty 2-17 to 1-12 encounter.

As if the cloudless sky wasn't enough, the crowd had already been warmed up by the thrilling 2-9 to 0-15 injury time tie between Armagh and Sligo who will now replay the quarter-final on August 17.

In Ballybritt, punters watched the matches on a big screen at the closing day of the Galway Racing Festival which produced no less dramatic results.

Three jockeys were left tumbling in the turf after a collision in the fourth event of the day, the Ready To Go Handicap.

The big money race, the 45,000 Vodafone Ferrari Handicap, went to the 16 to 1 outsider Lorli.

Meanwhile, a young golf cub could become a Celtic Tiger after clinching the Scandinavian Masters less than two months after turning professional.

Rookie Graeme McDowell, aged 23, from Portrush, Co Antrim, astounded spectators and himself with a dazzling final round that left him 14 under par and £200,000 richer.

The footballing feast continues today with another double helping of quarter-final action at Croke Park when Cork meet Mayo at 2.30pm to be followed by Dublin and Donegal at 4.15pm.

The fixtures, which have been sold out for days, are set to produce the largest crowds at Croker for 40 years.

Gardaí are appealing to spectators to repeat yesterday's trouble-free performance by taking their seats in good time before the first throw-in.

AA Roadwatch is warning fans travelling by road from Cork today to give themselves extra time because of likely congestion on the N8 at Mitchelstown where some 40,000 visitors are attending the annual music festival.

For those fearing a bout of withdrawal symptoms after the bumper weekend there is more excitement to come tomorrow.

Sonia O'Sullivan will be defending her 10,000 metres European Championships title in the first of her two events in the competition in Munich, Germany, tomorrow evening.