AIDAN O’BRIEN is responsible for six of the 13 confirmations for the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes as he seeks a ninth success in the Curragh feature on Sunday.

COUNTY Chairman Gerry Harrington last night jumped to the defence of the Dublin players criticised for taunting their opponents and inciting the crowd during Sunday’s Leinster SFC triumph over Laois.

CONDITIONS are certain to be testing at Naas tonight, so it is vital to have horses who will go through the ground on your side.

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.

JOHN KIELY has described the depth of his disappointment at being removed as Waterford football manager in a new book, to be launched in Dungarvan tomorrow.

IT was a wonderful weekend for the Kerry clubs in the opening round of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup.

THE finals of the Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields got off to a successful start in ideal conditions at Tullamore yesterday when Banbridge and Kilkenny produced golf of the highest calibre to qualify for today’s final of the Bulmers Barton Shield.

TOMMY WALSH left the scene of his latest outstanding performance happy in the knowledge that his beloved Kerins O’Rahillys are on track to win their first ever AIB Munster Club SFC title.

THERE have been three outstanding hurling games this year.

THE KERRY management’s desire to employ Marc Ó Sé’s footballing talents in the half-back line gets another trial tomorrow in Tralee, with the youngest of the Gaeltacht brothers selected at right half-back for the clash with Mayo.

Tommy Lyons on the lessons of Cheltenham

MUNSTER enhanced their unbeaten home record with a deserved Magners League triumph over struggling Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park last night.

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.

NOEL HICKEY makes his long-awaited comeback from injury for Kilkenny tomorrow afternoon after he was named at full-back for their NHL Division 1 clash against Limerick.

JOHN Oxx completed a big-race double with Aspectoflove and Erdiyna at Naas yesterday, the latter proving a shock 22/1 winner of the October Handicap under a power-packed ride by Michael Kinane.

TRALEE CBS’s penchant for striking goals was instrumental in a comfortable success against St Flannan’s in yesterday afternoon’s Munster Colleges Frewen Cup quarter-final in Glin.

TOMMY CONROY was unable to disguise the depth of his disappointment.

FORMER All Star, Alan Brogan, does not believe that there will be a major “cull” of players when Pat Gilroy settles on his final Dublin squad for 2010.

CONNECTIONS of Long Lashes are optimistic she will handle the expected testing conditions in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

ONE could only shake the old head in disbelief at the end of the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at Fairyhouse on Saturday. It had nothing to do with the fact hot-pot Cape Blanco obliged. That was as predictable as forecasting it will rain and rain throughout an Irish summer.