Yesterday saw one of the great hurling games take place, as Cork and Limerick went toe-to-toe in a 78-point epic at a sodden Croke Park. And it was the latter who edged a clash for the ages, pulling away from their Munster rivals in extra-time to win by a staggering 3-32 to 2-31 and book their place in the All-Ireland SHC final on August 19th. John Kiely's side are now one game away from lifting Liam MacCarthy for the first time since 1973, after overturning a six-point deficit in the dying embers of normal time and outlasting the Rebels over a further 20 minutes. And in his column today Nicky English has paid tribute to their strength of will: "Limerick are there after proving yet again their resilience under the most extreme pressure. . .their reinforcements again came to the rescue and showed that they had the edge on their opponents." Yesterday's game followed in the hefty footsteps of another classic on Saturday, as Clare held reigning champions Galway 1-30 to 1-30 in an extra-time thriller. And today Malachy Clerkin has reflected on an absorbing, bonkers weekend. He writes: "Two games, two draws in normal time, four periods of extra-time. Just shy of 200 minutes played, 82 players used, a grand total of 7-123 scored. Teams level 25 times. Nine Hawkeye calls, all into the Hill 16 goal. Seven Níl, two Tá, since you ask. A nice round 125,264 punters through the gates across the two days. It all adds up to an All-Ireland final date for Limerick in three weeks, their suitors as yet unknown."
Geraint Thomas secured his maiden Tour de France title yesterday, cycling along the Champs Elysees in his yellow jersey before easing back into the pack as Norway's Alexander Kristoff took the 21st and final stage in a sprint finish. Dan Martin finished in 68th spot - a place behind Thomas - but his overall classification of eighth was already secured. There was a further boost for Martin after he took a place on the podium after being named the Tour's 'most combative' rider.
Dustin Johnson shot a final round of 66 last night to secure his maiden Canadian Open title, winning by three strokes from South Korean duo Kim Whee and An Byeong-hun. Johnson's win is his third on the PGA Tour this season, making him the first player since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win three or more times in three consecutive years. On the European Tour English journeyman Richard McEvoy kept his nerve to birdie the last hole and secure a maiden victory in the Porsche Open in Hamburg, as the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion for America's Bryson DeChambeau.
Ireland women suffered the first loss of their Hockey World Cup campaign yesterday, losing to hosts England 1-0 in their final group game. India or Italy await Graham Shaw's side in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Ciara Mageean warmed up for next month's European Athletics Championships in fine style yesterday, securing a 1,500m and 800m double at the Nationals in Santry. A good omen? The last Irish athlete to secure a national distance running double was Sonia O'Sullivan, 18 years ago.
And the Galway Festival gets underway tonight, with Willie Mullins an odds-on favourite to emerge from the week as leading trainer. Monday's highlight is the Connacht Hotel Handicap (7.40), with Patrick Mullins looking for a first ever victory in the 'amateur derby' on board his father's 2016 Cheltenham Festival winner, Limini.
