The Morning Sports Briefing

Soccer

Leicester City rescued a crucial point from their encounter with an in-form West Ham side yesterday - Leonardo Ulloa's last minute penalty stretching their lead at the top of the table to eight points despite Jamie Vardy's red card putting a damper on the result.

Vardy will be suspended for Sunday's home match against Swansea City after being dismissed for diving, and there is the possibility that his ban could be extended if referee Jonathan Moss, who endured a difficult afternoon, claims in his report that the striker was verbally abusive before leaving the pitch.

Elsewhere Arsenal ended any remote dreams of a league title comeback with a 1-1 draw against London rivals Crystal Palace - a results that slips them back into a familiar fourth spot in the table.

Staying with soccer and in La Liga Barcelona continued their recent slump with a third defeat on the bounce on Sunday against Valencia - which allows Atletico Madrid to join them at the top of the table. This was the first time the Catalan club registered a third straight La Liga defeat since 2003.

GAA

In the Allianz hurling league semi-finals Clare gave Kilkenny a taste of their own medicine as Davy Fitzgerald's team blitzed the Cats with three first-half goals to reach the league final. The Munster side eventually ran out winners to the tune of 4-22 to 2-19 with Colm Galvin, Aaron Cunningham and John Conlon all in rampant form for the Division 1B winners.

In the other semi-final defending league champions Waterford were ruthless and efficient in Thurles to ease by the challenge of Limerick and set up an all Munster affair in the Division One league decider.

Rugby

When the heat came on, there was simply no ignoring form and home advantage, as roared on by all four sides of the ground on a perfect evening for rugby, Connacht were simply more comfortable and confident in their running game than Munster on Saturday evening - read Gery Thornley's match report here.

Racing

Meanwhile the lights could be burning late at the Turf Club HQ tonight when former champion jockey Barry Geraghty appeals a controversial 30-day ban picked up under 'non-trier' rules at Limerick earlier this month - as things stand the former champion jockey is scheduled to miss the Punchestown festival.

What to watch out for

It's pretty early stages still but follow the latest from the World snooker Championship at Sheffield tonight.

BBC 2, 10am-noon, 1pm-6pm

Eurosport, 10am-1pm, 2.30pm-11pm

Tottenham can close Leicester City's lead at the top of the table to five points tonight as they visit Stoke City.

Sky Sports 1 from 7pm