Sporting rivalries don’t always crackle and fizz.

At first glance, hurling has never seemed stronger. The game is faster than ever before at the top level, where the competition has rarely been more finely balanced. Galway and Limerick won the last two All-Ireland finals but it would take a brave man to identify this season’s All-Ireland semi-finalists. Why is Michael Moynihan sounding a note of warning, then?

Joe Schmidt has long been preparing for this year’s World Cup with the diligence and work ethic of a beaver building a dam but the Ireland head coach still rails against the very mention of the tournament itself, writes Brendan O'Brien.

From the first whistle to the last, there was no doubt as to who take the eighth spot in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup as Bandon Grammar School ran in nine tries against a Clonmel side who couldn’t keep up with the Cork men.

CASTLEHAVEN clubman Michael Hurley put Cork IT to the sword with a sensational exhibition of point scoring – he hit a total of 0-12, half of his tally coming from open play - as Pat Critchley's side emerged worthy six point victors of this fast-flowing Sigerson Cup 2nd round tie at the IT Carlow grounds last night.

UCC booked a spot in the quarter-final of the Fitzgibbon Cup at the Mardyke yesterday (Wednesday). Just three days after securing victory over champions UL, they recorded another impressive win to top Group A with 11 points to spare over UCD in tough conditions. The victors host NUIG next Wednesday, and should they come out on top here, they will enjoy a home venue in the last eight.

From family breaks to adventure trips, Ciara McDonnell rounds up the best packages to book now.

The “final project cost” is now €1,433bn, €453m higher than the €983m approved in 2017, writes Alison O'Connor

Peter Jackson gets over the gain line, behind the headline.

Read an excerpt from My Coney Island Baby, Billy O'Callaghan's New York-set novel below.

St Francis College already topped their group, and today in Ballygarvan they continued winning ways when they got the better of fellow Cork school Coláiste Choilm in a hard-fought quarter-final of the Corn Uí Mhuirí.

Corn Ui Mhuiri holders Pobalscoil Chorca Duibhne stumbled into the last four of this season’s competition after Ruarí Ó Beaglaoich’s late goal saw them beat St Flannan’s 1-5 to 1-3 in Killeedy.

Manchester United dumped holders Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 fifth-round win at Stamford Bridge to leave Maurizio Sarri's position as Blues head coach ever more precarious.

Newport County’s remarkable FA Cup odyssey may have ended on Saturday but a 4-1 defeat didn’t stop Irish striker Pádraig Amond from leaving the pitch with a pep in his step.

Scoreboard To the chorus of voices who argue that counties have adopted a blasé approach to this league, given the threat of relegation is off the table, yesterday’s second half from Wexford Park should be made compulsory viewing.

Laois 3-17 Offaly 2-16

French referees will take charge of the Irish provinces' Champions and Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Co Kerry couple Nicky and Anne McAuliffe will get a lifetime achievement award at this weekend’s Gradam Ceoil, writes Pet O’Connell.

Cabinet ministers should have their Garda drivers reinstated immediately. The decision on ministers losing this security detail was taken during the height of the recession.

Wild at heart- can you handle fashion's fiercest statement? Annmarie O'Connor reports.