IRELAND’S joint second place in the opening leg of the Samsung Super League was as good as could be hoped for, but the fact it was shared with Switzerland and the US dented the value of the performance in terms of points gained.

DUBLIN captain Alan Brogan believes Kerry’s Munster final defeat will work in the Kingdom’s favour as they bid for a third consecutive All-Ireland title.

Kildare 1-15 Offaly 1-13

Laois and Kildare couldn’t be separated and have to meet again next Saturday at O’Connor Park, Tullamore after this rip-roaring Leinster championship clash.

Kildare romped to a facile victory over 14-man Longford to continue their restorative run through the Qualifiers in style at Cusack Park.

The sentencing hearing for three former Anglo Irish Bank executives found guilty of trying to defraud Revenue has heard character evidence on behalf of each of the officials.

Jason Ryan has named an unchanged Kildare team for this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Kerry.

FOR a pleasant change, all four South of Ireland semi-finalists at Lahinch this morning are career amateurs, men who work during the day and play golf in their spare time.

IT WAS, in a number of ways, a seminal day. Mick O’Dwyer took charge of Kildare for the last time, Dublin won a first Leinster title since 1995 and Croke Park welcomed its biggest crowd in four decades.

New Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy has been more open with the media than his predecessor Paul Caffrey ahead of their Leinster SFC final clash with Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare in Croke Park on Sunday.

VERY few Gaelic football players or teams escape a tongue lashing from Joe Brolly, and Dublin were no exception three weeks ago even if they managed to slay the Meath dragon and advance towards a Leinster semi-final.

JOHNNY MURTAGH missed his two booked rides at Tipperary last night, having failed to arrive back from Heathrow in time.

RADIOHEAD will bid to supplement his Royal Ascot gains in the Camas Park & Ashtown House Studs Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday week.

HINDU Kush landed the featured Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes for Dandy Nicholls at Leopardstown last night.

THE four-runner BBQ Night At Tipperary Race offers the best chance of showing a profit at Tipperary tonight.

REFEREES’ chief Michael Curley has insisted Rory Hickey was correct to award a Cork penalty in Sunday’s Munster SFC final and hit out at media criticism of the controversial decision.

TIPPERARY have re-arranged their attack for Sunday’s Allianz National Hurling League final against All-Ireland champions in Thurles, making no fewer than four changes from the last round game against Limerick a fortnight ago.

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.

THE twin successes of Dublin clubs St Vincent’s last year and Kilmacud Crokes on Tuesday also produced two father-and-son winners in the AIB Club football championship.

THE inclination is to suggest Crossmaglen Rangers qualified for this afternoon’s AIB All-Ireland club football final too easily to judge their true worth — dismissing Drom-Broadford by 18 points — whereas Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes proved their credentials by putting out Corofin in a close encounter.