FOOTBALL

In a Dublin SFC quarter-final double-bill at Parnell Park, Na Fianna and defending champions Kilmacud Crokes advanced to the semi-finals of the Dublin senior football championship.

Johnny Cooper saw red for the Glasnevin-based side in conceding a second-half penalty, and while Dublin team-mate and Whitehall Colmcille dangerman Cormac Costello drilled his effort neatly into the corner of the net to draw the sides level, it was Na Fianna that responded better to the numerical disadvantage.

Whitehall claimed the final two points of the contest, but it was Na Fianna who marched on, 1-12 to 1-11.

So too did Crokes as Cuala's quest for a first senior county football title continues.

Paul Mannion and Shane Walsh showed glimpses of their undoubted talents in the opening 30 minutes, but Cuala never wavered and trailed by just a point at the break.

Crokes suffered a double blow midway through the second half when Mannion suffered an ankle injury and was forced off, and in the same sequence of play, Niall O’Callaghan, younger brother of Con, found the back of the net to edge the Dalkey-based side ahead.

Kilmacud however stuck to the task and finished strong to continue their interest in the competition on a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-09.

Nemo Rangers squeezed past Carbery Rangers to seal a place in the last four of the Cork SFC, while Castlehaven had a somewhat easier passage against Mallow.

Nemo found the back of the net through Jack Horgan in the ninth minute, but the city kingpins only added a point to their tally in the opening half with the West Cork men setting up a sound defensive effort to edge ahead at the interval 0-05 to 1-01.

The second period was a nip and tuck affair, with Barry O'Driscoll’s goal, a rebound effort after Horgan had struck the post, a crucial score in a 2-04 to 0-09 win.

In the second game of the Páírc Uí Chaoimh double header, first-half goals from Robbie Minihane and Michael Hurley laid the foundations for a Castlehaven win against Mallow.

Mallow made some inroads on the eight-point interval margin, but couldn’t reel the west Cork men in, who prevailed 2-14 to 0-13.

Patrick McBrearty

Patrick McBrearty hit nine points as Kilcar eased their way into the semi-finals of the Donegal SFC with a seven-point win over Killybegs.

The inter-county star was in sublime form, ably assisted by Ciaran McGinley(0-03) and Ryan McHugh (1-01) to secure passage to the last four once again.

There was plenty of drama in the second of the quarter-finals as Gaoth Dobhair edged out Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon by the bare minimum.

The first 10 minutes came and went without any score and by the half-time break things were balanced, with Ballyshannon trailing by a point, 0-3 to 0-2.

Phillip Patton would end up with 0-03 for the victors, while Eamonn McGee wielded a huge influence on proceedings at centre-forward.

With scores at a premium, Diarmuid McInerney kicked a score for Ballyshannon in the last minute of normal time to once again reduce the deficit to a single point.

There was time for late drama when Mark McGlynn, seeking to take the game to extra-time, was halted in the scoring zone, but the referee waved play on and with that went their interest in the championship as Gaoth Dobhair march on.

Defending champions St Eunan’s served notice that they won’t be letting go of their silverware without a fight after demolition of St Michael’s.

Niall O’Donnell scored eight points for the victors, while St Michael’s managed just two points in the first half.

Ciarán Moore and Conor O’Donnell Sr both found the back of the net as Eunan’s ran out comfortable 2-15 to 0-05 winners in Glenties.

In the second round of the Kerry SFC, there were wins for Austin Stacks, Templenoe and East Kerry.

David Clifford and Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan, who operates in the forward division at club level, kept the scoreboard ticking over in a 0-14 to 0-09 win over Spa.

Stacks proved far too strong for West Kerry where Conor Horgan and Michael O’Gara were among the goals as the Rockies had eight points to spare in the end.

Templenoe survived a late scare from St Brendan’s to emerge victorious by the bare minimum at Ardfert.

Brendan’s led 0-05 to 0-03 at the break, but the game changed in a blistering opening six minutes after the resumption where Templenoe plundered three goals, through Patrick Clifford and Stephen O’Sullivan (2).

A goal from Brendan’s deep into injury-time reduced the deficit to the bare minimum, but it was too little too late.

St. Patrick's booked their place in the final of the Wicklow SFC county final with a 1-15 to 2-08 victory over Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney in Aughrim.

The victors overturned a one-point deficit at the break, where a Tommy Kelly penalty pushed them into a lead they would never relinquish.

HURLING

Jason Sampson scored a decisive late goal for Shinrone

Shinrone qualified for their first Offaly SHC final since 1960 with a dramatic late win over Belmont, who were bidding to reach their first decider.

Belmont led by four going into injury-time at St Brendan's Park but goals from Ciaran Cleary and Jason Sampson sealed a one-point - 2-18 to 0-23 -win for Shinrone.

The men who dethroned four-in-a-row chasers St Rynagh's in the quarters will play the winners of tomorrow's meeting between Birr and Kilcormac/Killoughey in the final.

Five-in-a-row chasing Galway champions St Thomas' suffered their first SHC defeat in 23 games with a 15-point thumping at the hands of Turloughmore.

Tom Qurke and Sean Loftus hit the goals in a 2-23 to 0-14 victory that sends Turloughmore top of Group 1, though level with Thomas' on six points from four games.

In the day's other senior clash, Loughrea took control in the second half to beat Cappataggle 1-23 to 0-18.

The sides had been level at the break - 0-12 apiece -but Loughrea hit 1-07 without a response late on, including a goal for Neil Keary. Loughrea are now three points clear of Cappataggle at the head of Group 2.

Kyle Hayes' Kildimo Pallaskenry are heading to the knockout stages

In the final round of Group 2 games in the Limerick SHC, Kildimo Pallaskenry reached their first quarter-final since 1937 with a 0-23 to 0-19 win over Garryspillane.

Shane Barry scored 0-14 from placed balls as Kildimo-Pallaskenry fought back from going four points down midway through the first half.

They are promoted to Group 1 for next year and will play Patrickswell, Adare or Ahane next.

Former Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash scored 0-08 from frees South Liberties beat Ballybrown 3-18 to 1-20 to secure second place and the remaining spot in the quarters.

Newly promoted Mungret St Paul's missed out after they were held to a 2-20 to 3-17 draw by relegated Blackrock.

In Kilkenny, 2021 runners-up O'Loughlin Gaels were knocked out in the first round as they fell to a 3-09 to 1-14 defeat against Mullinavat.