A POINT by Declan Mullen two minutes from the final whistle gave Derry a shock victory in a hugely entertaining ESB All-Ireland MFC quarter-final at Croke Park on Saturday.

A few decades ago they were the talk of the GAA, footballers supreme; a few weeks ago, they were the talk of the nation, as, along with former Meath star David Beggy, they sang and danced — terms used loosely — in RTE’s Celebrity You’re A Star show. Kerry’s Jack O’Shea and Barney Rock of Dublin met with Diarmuid O’Flynn to talk of times present and past, not to mention tomorrow’s semi-final clash.

WHILE writers up and down the country reach for their cliché collections, one man not ready to resort such measures is Roy Keane.

MIDLETON took a leaf out of Limerick’s book, got the early scores and succeeded in holding their nerve in the closing minutes to see off the challenge of Cloyne in a rousing Cork SHC tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, causing the first serious upset of the championship.

BUSY times for the RTÉ sports department in Montrose. Crucial times too. The Premiership is back in its stride, the World Athletics Championships begin in Osaka on Friday, while the hurling and football championships begin to reach their annual crescendo.

CORK manager Billy Morgan said he was confident ahead of yesterday’s emphatic defeat of old rivals Meath.

WATERFORD proved last weekend just how hard it can be to break a losing habit in semi-finals and, until yesterday, the only other team in the country that could match them for heartbreak at the penultimate hurdle was the Cork footballers.

ERIN’S OWN had to pull out all the stops to see off the challenge of a dogged Carrigdhoun side in a disappointing Evening Echo county senior hurling championship third round tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

AFTER the long and winding road of 2007, Limerick returned to the bread and butter of the league in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday and proved inhospitable hosts to Laois.

A HIGH-SCORING Allianz Hurling League opener in fine conditions yesterday, and a debut to remember for Clare free-taker Mark Flaherty who finished with an impressive 3-8.

LOOK out Mancs, we’re gaining on ya! Well, technically. Wouldn’t it be nice to read about football occasionally?

EVERYONE at Liverpool will be in the dock soon.

GER FARRAGHER’S injury-time free, controversially awarded to team captain Alan Kerins after he attempted to barge his way past several defenders, saved Galway from what would have been an embarrassing defeat in yesterday’s Allianz NHL game in Tullamore.

“IT’S the middle of February”, protested Kerry coach Pat O’Shea, but for the Kingdom faithful casting a critical eye on their All-Ireland champions, there are always small concerns. And one in particular.

SPRINGTIME in Kilkenny and the Cats are back on the field. One week later than planned, given the postponement of last week’s game with Cork, but otherwise it’s normal service resumed, as they beat Dublin a one-sided League encounter not likely to linger in the memory.

GOALS early in either half were the decisive moments in this Waterford SFC semi-final at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday with Ardmore deservedly advancing to their first decider since 1981.

HE’S great, Euro-Rafa. Never doubted him for a second. But at the weekend, Anglo-Rafa failed once more.

A PHOTOGRAPHER has lodged an official complaint to Gardaí following an incident at yesterday’s Munster JFC Final in Askeaton.

UNACCEPTABLE levels of abuse from players, managers and spectators are having a crippling affect on the amount of young referees making it as far as the inter-county scene, according to the GAA’s match officials coordinator, Pearce Freaney.

I GUESS I should come clean about my role in Sunday’s defeat at the Riverside and the untimely demise of an unbeaten Premiership run stretching way back to last April.