GAELIC GAMES
It's an excellent start to the league for the mens and womens football teams from Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
Laois'
footballers defeated Armagh by 20 points to 1-10 at O'Moore Park in
Division Two on Saturday night, Ross Munnelly kicked seven points while
Billy Sheehan and Donie Kingston got four points each
Padraig Clancy, Sheehan and Brendan Quigley missed good goal chances in the first half
Our coverage of Laois and Armagh was with thanks to McConvilles Supervalu and Gerry Browne Jewellers Trophy Centre
Westmeath also up and running in Division Two
Despite
losing Doron Harte to a red card in the first half the Lake County were
able to come from six points down to defeat Louth by 0-16 to 2-9 at
Cusack Park
Midfielder John Heslin kicked a couple of injury time points to seal the win
Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan is delighted with the comeback
Westmeath versus Louth was with thanks to Heavins Expert Hardware Athlone
Elsewhere in Division 2 Galway beat Derry by 1-15 to 15 points at Pearse Stadium and Wexford beat Longford by 2-8 to 1-10 at Wexford Park
In the top flight Kerry failed to score in the second half as they lost 15 points to 1-6 against Mayo in Castlebar.
Monaghan hammered Meath by 1-18 to 2-3 in Division 3.
Elsewhere Antrim beat Cavan by 1-14 to 2-9
Fermanagh got the better of Wicklow by 1-16 to 9 points and Roscommon saw off Sligo by 1-11 to 1-8.
Offaly's footballers have returned home following a 1-13 to 1-5 win over London in Division Four
Anton Sullivan scored Offaly's goal after 50 minutes
Their success was without injured captain Niall McNamee, but manager Emmet McDonnell says the injury is not serious
Our coverage from London was with thanks to Guy Clothing, Gallagher's Manor Tullamore and Carroll's Ham
Waterford beat Clare by 1-9 to 11 points
Limerick were 11 points to 9 winners against Leitrim
and Carlow edged out Tipperary by 1-14 to 16 points.
In hurling, Wexford beat Kilkenny by 2-18 to 16 points to advance to the Walsh Cup final where they'll face Dublin.
Tipperary booked their place in the final of the Waterford Crystal Cup with a 1-20 to 2-12 win over Limerick IT.
Laois' ladies footballers won 1-16 to 1-9 away to Donegal in the Ladies National Football League's top flight
Westmeath began life in the second flight with a 3-10 to 2-11 success against Cavan
And Offaly had a colossal 9-17 to 0-4 victory away to Derry in Division Four
Saint
Brendan's Community School's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
campaign came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a 4-17 to
0-9 defeat to Saint Kierans College at Ratheniska
Paul Earley is the new Irish International Rules manager.
The Kildare based former Roscommon star replaces Antony Tohill.
The
GAA have also confirmed that the first series test against Australia on
October 19 will take place at an Ulster venue yet to be confirmed with
the second scheduled for Croke Park the following week.
NFL
The Baltimore Ravens held off a huge comeback by San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl last night.
It finished 34-31, but only after a half an hour break because of a power cut in the second half of the New Orleans clash.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis ended his career with a second Super Bowl victory
RUGBY UNION
Jamie
Heaslip, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Rob Kearney are all
expected to to be for for Irelands clash with England at the Aviva next
Sunday despite picking up injuries in Saturday's win over Wales.
Keith Earls will see a specialist during the week having damaged his shoulder.
Peter
O'Mahony took a bang to the head, but felt no ill effects after the
game and will follow the graded return to playing protocols this week.
Coach Declan Kidney has delayed naming his team until Friday, it had been planned to reveal the side on Wednesday.
Ireland's
Under 20s suffered a two point loss to Wales in the Six Nations on
Friday night, Ireland welcome England to Athlone this coming Friday
19 year old Birr prop Peter Dooley made his debut, coming on in the second half
Former Knockbeg student Tom Daly scored Ireland's second try in the 17-15 loss
Offaly's
Niamh Kavanagh and Laois' Alison Miller played on the wings for
Ireland's Womens team as they won 12-10 away to Wales in their Six
Nations opener
Buccaneers were held to a 36 all draw by Blackrock at Dubarry Park on Saturday afternoon
Alex Hayman scored a brace of tries and Eoghan Grace and Luke Satchwell also crossed the whiteash for the Pirates
The result leaves Buccs within 4 points of second place
In the Seconds Towns Cup,
Birr
defeated neighbours West Offaly Lions 23-0, Portlaoise lost 6-3 away to
County Carlow, Tullamore won 6-0 against Kilkenny, Clondalkin were
30-16 winners over Mullingar while the Midland Warriors defeated Gorey
8-0
SOCCER
The draw for round four of the Combined Counties Cup was made on Midlands 103's Inside Line show yesterday evening
Should Willow Park overcome Boro Celtic then they'll face Grange or St Aengus in the last 16
2011 Cup winners Mullingar Athletic are at home to Mostrim
Premier Division pace setters CK host Dynamo Town
Gracefield take on Monksland, Clara play Rosenallis and Melville face Derry Rovers
It's Killavilla at home to Longford Wanderers or Ericssons Athlone and St Peters have been handed a home tie against Edenderry
Westmeath's Connor Smith has been forced to withdraw from the Ireland Under 21's squad to Holland
The Watford attacker has picked up an injury which causes him to miss out on a chance for a first cap
Keith
Andrews has been named Ireland's international footballer of the year
for 2012 while Kevin Doyle collected the goal of the year prize for his
strike against Kazakhstan.
James McCarthy was young player of the year and Robbie Brady is the under 21 player of the year.
Jason
McGuinness collected the Airtricity league player prize for his
performances with Sligo Rovers and Arsenal's Emma Byrne is the women's
player of the year.
Steven Gerrard has been named the Football Association's player of the year for a second time.
He took the award after impressing for England during Euro 2012 and getting his 100th international cap.
But
the Liverpool captain saw his club side only close the gap on fourth
place in the Premier League to nine points after a 2-2 draw at
Manchester City.
BOXING
Moate's Joe Ward has lost his first bout in this season's World Series of Boxing
The
European Lightheavyweight champion was on the receiving end of a 48-46
decision against 2011 World Series champion Abdelhafid Benchabla
Ward's British Lionheart team lost 4-1 overall against Italia Thunder
St Mary's Daingean have won the Offaly boxing club of the year award
They won 7 county titles in the past year
GOLF
Padraig Harrington ended tied for 9th on 17 under at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The Dubliner hit a final round 70 to finish 11 behind winner Phil Mickelson.
HOCKEY
Mullingar remain second in Division Four of Leinster's Hockey League following Saturday's 2-1 loss to Weston
Monkstown are now 11 points clear at the top of the table
Mullingar's ladies suffered a 10-1 defeat to Avoca
RACING
Sizing
Europe is on track for a return to Cheltenham following an impressive
showing in the Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown
The 1
to 8 on favourite was a ten lengths winner under Andrew Lynch and
trainer Henry De Bromhead won't be rushing into making a decision on
which race to target at Cheltenham
There was disappointment for
Westmeath's Gigginstown House Stud in the Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice
Hurdle as Mozoltov under jockey Ruby Walsh was able to edge out Don
Cossack in the finish
Our live coverage at Punchestown was with thanks to Patrick Mitchell and Company, Riverview Commercial Park, Tullamore
