Wexford and Galway finished 0-16 apiece after a thrilling final quarter in their Leinster hurling round-robin clash at Salthill yesterday. Keith Duggan explains how both teams are now left with plenty to do after a scrappy stalemate. In Sunday's football action - Longford and Kildare will have to do it all over again next Sunday after an entertaining draw in Tullamore. In Ulster, Donegal broke down Fermanagh's defensive blockade to set up a mouthwatering Ulster semi-final against Tyrone, and earlier in the day Laois edged Westmeath to reach the last four in Leinster. The big result on Saturday seen Roscommon beat Mayo in the Connacht semi-final - Deja vu as fallible Mayo repeat the same old mistakes. The draw for the first round of the All-Ireland football qualifier series takes place at 8.30am this morning.
Following the defence of their Pro14 title against Glasgow on Saturday - Leinster's players and coaches have revealed how the pain of their Champions Cup defeat spurred them towards redemption at Celtic Park. Head coach Leo Cullen explained: "Johnny (Sexton) mentioned regrets, those regrets are there forever. But, as he also said, we've been to four finals in the last two years and winning three is a nicer ring to it than two wins." Last night there was confirmation that Seán O'Brien will miss the World Cup due to another hip operation which will sideline him for six months. Gerry Thornley reflects on the international career of one of the great Irish rugby players of the professional era.
In his column this morning, Ken Early writes that Philippe Coutinho has become a convenient scapegoat for Barcelona: "The fact is that the job Coutinho could do for this team is already being done by Messi, and there is not really another place where he fits in. This is not his fault, it's Barcelona's." Back at home, The FAI has declined to comment following a request for a reaction to a damning assessment by Minister for Sport Shane Ross to the decision to bring Noel Mooney in to head up the organisation for the next six months. He described it as "a backward step" and confirmed that it was made despite the opposition of both the government and Sport Ireland.
Meanwhile Italian rider Dario Cataldo (Astana) profited from a long breakaway ride to triumph on Sunday's 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia, outsprinting compatriot Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) at the finish in Como. Irishman Eddie Dunbar had another impressive showing, netting 19th on the stage. He came in one minute and six seconds behind the stage winner and advanced three places to 21st overall.
