Crofton is new Kildare boss

GAELIC GAMES DIGEST/KILDARE: John Crofton has been appointed to succeed Pádraig Nolan as manager of the county senior football…

GAELIC GAMES DIGEST/KILDARE: John Crofton has been appointed to succeed Pádraig Nolan as manager of the county senior football team on a two-year term.

The Sarsfields clubman played at full back, corner back and centre back for Kildare during a career that spanned 15 years and ended when he played in the Leinster championship quarter-final of 1993 against Wicklow.

As a manager he guided Round Towers to a Kildare SFC title in 2003 and also managed Clondalkin-based Round Towers in Dublin.

He was a selector on the Kildare team that reached the All-Ireland final in 1998. He will be joined by selectors Pat McCarthy and Davy Dalton.

Meanwhile, Sarsfields and

St Laurence's will contest the Kildare SFC final having won their semi-finals at Newbridge against Moorefield and Leixlip respectively.

FOOTBALL SEVENS: St Gall's are the 2005 All-Ireland football sevens champions - however, they needed a 1-0 victory on penalties to claim the title from Monaghan side Castleblaney Faughs on Saturday.

A late Kevin McGourty point in normal time saw the Antrim team draw level level with Faughs, 2-11 to 3-8, at Kilmacud.

McGourty then saved all three of Faughs' penalties, with Kevin Niblock converting his kick for St Gall's to claim the first of a hat-trick of All-Ireland football titles won by Ulster teams in Dublin at the weekend.

PSNI: Trainee members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been given the go-ahead to compete in next season's Sigerson Cup. The body that runs third-level GAA activities met at the weekend and approved the PSNI's application to be included in the 2006 competition.

MONAGHAN: Goalkeeper Seán Farmer was the saviour - getting a hand to an effort by Fergal Mone two minutes into stoppage time - as Latton survived to overcome Clontibret 2-8 to 1-8 in the county senior football semi-final at Clones.

In the other semi-final, the Freeman brothers - Damien and Tom - led reigning champions Magheracloone to a 2-7 to 0-10 victory over Scotstown.

MASTERS: Galway's over-40 hurlers added to their county's cup haul when they overcame Tipperary by 1-19 to 0-9 at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday. Michael 'Hopper' McGrath stole the show for the Westerners with a six-point tally.

TIPPERARY SHC: Favourites Borrisoleigh were beaten by Drom-Inch, 1-8 to 1-4, in an exciting county senior hurling quarter-final at Semple Stadium.

The draw was also made for the semi-finals, which will both be played in Thurles next Sunday: Éire Óg Nenagh v Drom-Inch; Thurles Sarsfields v Loughmore-Castleiney.

CAMOGIE: St Vincent's won their first Dublin senior championship title since 1998 when they overcame Erin's Isle 4-5 to 2-4 on Saturday.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone