THE Cork football squad have been rocked by the decision of sharpshooter James Masters to walk away from the county panel.

Despite spending almost €250,000 on a feasibility study into modernising O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Leinster GAA secretary Michael Delaney says the Council has no intention of developing the ground in the foreseeable future.

COLÁISTE EOIN took full advantage of perfect conditions to claim the honours with a near flawless display at Belfield yesterday.

HOPES that replacing the open-hand pass with a fisted delivery would lead to increased use of the boot in Gaelic football have proven unfounded, according to research carried out by a former All-Ireland referee.

Things will start to happen for Tyrone once they get that elusive first win under their belts, midfielder Aidan Cassidy insists.

Mayo proved just too good for underdogs Leitrim in Cloone last night, advancing to a semi-final meeting with Roscommon on St Patrick's Day.

Limerick staged a great second-half comeback to beat Clare at Cooraclare in last night's Munster quarter-final. A goal by Cormac Joyce-Power was the turning point 10 minutes from the end.

Denis Murphy helped himself to 1-5 as Carlow easily booked a semi-final clash with Dublin after a 13-point win over Kilkenny at O'Moore Park.

Aaron Kerrigan's 1-4 scoring salvo at Healy Park helped Derry advance to the first round last night.

In no other county should Darragh O Se's announcement that he was to retire have been greeted with more relief than Galway.

Three first-half goals paved the way for Coláiste na Sceilge to avenge their defeat in last year's final.

WHAT is it about Clare footballers and their security methods these days? Kilmurry-Ibrickane will head for the AIB All-Ireland club football final against St Gall's this day next week without having conceded a goal in their last five games.

GAELIC GAMES: Ger Reidy, a top contender to take over from Diarmuid Murphy as Kerry's No 1 goalkeeper, has left the panel.

Colaiste Choilm finally made their superiority count when Eoin Carroll's goal in the second half of extra-time saw off dogged Portlaoise CBS in a dour encounter in Portarlington.

TOMORROW

Galway attacker Sean Armstrong could miss the rest of the league campaign after picking up a hamstring injury in Saturday's defeat to Cork.

Gallen CS prevailed in a very exciting final at St Loman's Lakepoint Park yesterday. Although St Peter's were first off the mark with two early points, the Ferbane midfield partnership of Leon Fox and Brian Grehan began to assert their influence.

Kieran Donaghy has backed David Moran to step up to the mark and become a cornerstone of Kerry's future plans.

Whether remunerated in some form or not, the pressure on any inter-county manager will always remain the same, all that ever changes is the amount of it.

Dublin almost kicked themselves out of the competition on Saturday, needing extra-time and a three-point salvo from substitute David Quinn, of Lucan Sarsfields, to overcome Louth in Dundalk.

A tremendous second-half display on Saturday enabled Westmeath to advance to a semi-final clash with Laois.

For the second successive year, Laois have dumped Wicklow out of the championship following their win at Aughrim on Saturday.

OFFALY had to withstand a furious late Roscommon rally before claiming two crucial points in Tullamore yesterday.

IT'S over two years since Wexford put back-to-back league victories together but they were always superior at Wexford Park yesterday.

A comfortable victory over Fermanagh, under the Casement Park lights, keeps Antrim on course for promotion for the second season running.