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.

Kerry 1-15 Dublin 1-8

THE Limerick stars at the centre of the dual player controversy may be left to decide on their preferred code for 2004.

FORMER GAA president Joe McDonagh believes that the Association will be forced to rethink its policy towards allowing other sports to be played at Croke Park, following the successful hosting of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics.

DAVID HENRY, controversially dropped from the Dublin football team for the Bank of Ireland Leinster semi final, is likely to be recalled for next Saturday’s glamour All-Ireland qualifier with Derry at Clones.

Roscommon 1-18, Kildare 0-19 (after extra time)

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

LIAM HAYES was installed as Carlow football manager late last night and immediately warned that everybody in the county would have to stand up and be examined by the end of the year.

WESTMEATH have left the centre half forward berth vacant for Saturday’s televised Division 1A clash with Cork under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn.

YOU know the surname and its association with high-calibre goalkeeping during Kerry’s golden years.

Dublin 1-13 Leitrim 0-4

PADDY CLARKE was in the air, flying to Australia as part of the Irish management for the 2001 International Rules Series, when Brigid’s lost heavily in the Dublin county football final to a Na Fianna side captained by Kieran McGeeney.

The winter season in Thurles swung into gear yesterday and there was a familiar feel to proceedings.

Clonmel’s six-race hurdle card proved a profitable one for favourite backers, with odds-on chances obliging in the first three races, but the feature event, the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle, went to one of the outsiders, Time For Mabel.

Willie Mullins made it a fourth feature race success in five days at the 2018 Galway Festival and the theme of it not being the leading market fancy from the yard continued as Nessun Dorma caused an upset in the Guinness Handicap in the hands of Billy Lee.

Ireland 27 France 22: Not a performance to shout about, but Ireland’s U20s did just about enough to make it three wins from three in this year’s Six Nations at Donnybrook last night.

The UCC Don’t Step On The Crest Handicap Hurdle was the feature event on Students’ Raceday in Mallow, writes Tommy Lyons, and local trainer Eoghan O’Grady landed the spoils with the game Westerner Point, ridden by Philip Enright.