BANNA BOIRCHE proved his liking for Dundalk and moved closer to an invitation to the Dubai Carnival when landing the seven-furlong bookings@dundalkstadium.com last night.

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

HARDLY the scoreline you would expect from two of the AIL’s Division One high-flyers, but there were extenuating circumstances in this top-four clash on Saturday afternoon last on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

Tyrone 1-20 Fermanagh 1-8

Always one of the great rivalries in Gaelic football, if not the greatest, Kerry and Dublin go head to head today for a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

WHATEVER the public expectations in the capital, Tommy Lyons and his charges are trying to avoid being smothered in the hype by concentrating firmly and solely on the Bank of Ireland SFC quarter-final against Donegal in Croke Park this evening, (4.15pm).

“Sean O’Donoghue came in centre field and Bill Cooper played centre-back, we’re just trying fellas out to see how they go — this is the time of the year to do it.”

Mick O'Dwyer was on the cusp of taking over as Dublin senior football manager seven years ago - but had a change of heart and quickly turned down the offer.

Tyrone 0-13 Fermanagh 1-9

WEXFORD PRO Alan Aherne has rubbished reports that Leigh O’Brien has opted out of their senior football set up.

Italy U20 26 Ireland U20 27: The Ireland U20s withstood a powerful challenge from Italy in Prato last night, before securing their second consecutive one-point victory in this year’s Six Nations Championship.

The Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham can prove the next step in Faugheen’s development towards superstardom, writes Tommy Lyons.

THE Monaghan county board management committee met last night in Truagh to consider demands made by Seamus McEnaney which will play a crucial role in determining whether he will remain in charge of the county’s senior footballers for a seventh year.

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.

CIARAN McMANUS is desperate to avoid a repeat of six years ago, when league success for Offaly was soured a few short weeks later by a premature and traumatic Leinster SFC exit.

YOU wouldn’t blame Brian Talty if he ever suffered from an identity crisis.

THE Taoiseach yesterday defended his single greatest sartorial crime — the decision to wear those yellow trousers at the G8 summit.