ALL STAR Eddie Brennan has been included on the Kilkenny team to play Galway in the NHL clash on Sunday following his successful appeal against his dismissal against Waterford last weekend.

NONE of the three people involved in the interim Offaly football management is interested in being considered for the position of manager for the year.

JOHNNY Murtagh had to settle for a double, from a strong book of rides, at Dundalk last night, scoring on Royal Entourage and Glowing.

HENRY SHEFFLIN returns to the Kilkenny side for his first appearance of the year in tomorrow’s NHL showdown against Tipperary. Shefflin comes in at centre-forward in place of Willie O’Dwyer, while Ballyhale Shamrocks clubmates TJ Reid and Michael Fennelly are also drafted into the team.

GER REIDY of Castleisland Desmonds and Aidan O’Shea from the Glenbeigh-Glencarr club are the two new faces on the Kerry team to play Donegal in the opening round of the Allianz NFL at Austin Park, Tralee tomorrow.

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.

MUNSTER fly-half Ronan O’Gara was last night named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year.

IF there is a consensus about Offaly football it is probably one of a plucky little county punching several divisions above its weight.

CIARAN McMANUS has launched a staunch defence of Offaly following heavy criticism aimed at them and opponents Westmeath after Sunday’s Leinster SFC meeting in Croke Park.

AUSTIN STACKS, with county midfielder Kieran Donaghy inspirational, advanced to the second round of the Kerry County Senior Football Championship with a 2-11 to 2-9 win over Laune Rangers.

Yesterday was all about the favourites, with Vautour, Thistlecrack and Limini all winning as expected. We’ll have to wait and see if today brings more upsets.

Will we see more surprises today?

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh will hope to keep the winning streak going, with Un De Sceaux highly fancied for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Jockey Ruby Walsh has admitted his surprise at the late decision by trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci to run Vautour in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup, on Friday.

It’s day one of the Cheltenham Festival, with plenty of Irish interest on today’s races.

Latest:Fine Gael's legal advisor says the party will take legal action if they feel their Longford Westmeath candidate James Bannon has been wronged.

It’s Grand National day at Aintree! The bad news for Irish racing fans is that Ruby Walsh has been ruled out, having suffered a wrist injury in a fall yesterday.

Kildare 1-22 Offaly 2-14

Kildare went without a score for 28 minutes and not even a late brace of points could save them.

Clare produced a rousing finish to beat Kildare in a high-scoring Allianz Football League Division 3 final at Croke Park.