Yesterday's National Football League semi-finals produced a novel final pairing of Offaly versus Derry after a mixed afternoon. Offaly's win over Donegal was good; Derry's dispatch of Monaghan bad and ugly. Four goals and plenty of attacking football entertained a crowd of 17,419 in the first match, whereas rancour spoiled the second.

Despite a positive start by Donegal which saw their extremely in-form full forward Tony Boyle hit the net after 10 minutes, Offaly re-arranged a rickety defence and hit back with a goal from Roy Malone in the 14th.

Two stunning goals from James Stewart and Ciaran McManus were the main planks in the 3-10 to 1-14 win. Derry's defeat of Monaghan was marked by a sound, controlled display at midfield by Anthony Tohill and Dermot Heaney and better finishing which enabled them to win comfortably, 1-12 to 0-8. Tempers deteriorated after the interval and referee Brian White sent off Derry's Johnny McBride and Monaghan's Stephen McGinnity.

Meanwhile in the National Hurling League Limerick's closer-than-expected victory over Dublin confirms the county's status as qualifiers from One A. Galway and Clare will play each other with the second semi-final place at stake. Cork wrapped up their semi-final place from One B after a thrilling one-point victory over Tipperary, with Waterford and Wexford (who drew at Walsh Park) and Tipperary in the hunt for the second place, as are Laois who moved above Kilkenny at the bottom after a win at Nowlan Park despite the reemergence into inter-county hurling of DJ Carey.