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Leinster brought back down to earth; Kilmacud and Ballyboden must go again

Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with ‘The Irish Times’ sports team

The Leinster team dejected after Maxime Médard scored a late try. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Mon Oct 22 2018 - 07:34

Leinster were brought rudely back down to earth yesterday, suffering their first defeat in 11 European matches when edged out by Toulouse. Gerry Thornley writes that "the Stade Ernest Wallon was still rocking long after the post-match sunlight gave way to darkness, and this was also a reminder that Leinster's status makes them both the biggest draw and the biggest scalp in the competition."

Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden, St Enda's must do it all over again after a tense battle in yesterday's Dublin senior hurling final ended in a draw after extra time. The replay will take place next Sunday at 3.30 despite the running of the Dublin City marathon and Kilmacud's bank holiday football final against St Jude's. On a busy day of club finals action, Ballyea punished a wasteful Cratloe effort to take the Clare hurling title, Clonoulty-Rossmore defeated Nenagh Éire Óg to win their first Tipperary senior hurling title since 1997, St Loman's four in a row bid was ended by local rivals Mullingar Shamrocks in Westmeath, Crossmaglen returned to their familiar seat of power in Armagh, Coalisland cruised to the Tyrone football title, Odhran MacNiallais was to the fore in Gaoth Dobhair's triumph in Donegal, Moorefield retained the football crown in Kildare and Coleraine edged Lavey in the Derry final.

The English Football Association is awaiting the referee's report before deciding whether any further action is warranted over the unsavoury scenes on the touchline at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Everton were 2-0 winners over Crystal Palace in Sunday's only Premier League fixture. Tonight Arsenal host Leicester City, with new manager Unai Emery warning fans not to get carried away with their recent run of form. They can notch up a 10th consecutive win tonight.

Lewis Hamilton will have to wait a few days longer for his fifth Formula One title after a wild and wonderful US Grand Prix ended with the improbable outcome of a victory for Kimi Räikkönen. The victory was the Finn's first since March 2013, as Mercedes' British driver finished third. In his Tipping Point column this morning, Brian O'Connor explains why Formula One drivers are the nearest thing sport has to a boy band: "how sustainable is pitching this global business through a drivers' championship that increasingly boils down to how some savvy operator with the biggest commercial appeal can squeeze his svelte behind into the fastest cockpit."

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Meanwhile Sergio Garcia's bid for a hat-trick of Andalucia Masters titles has been delayed until today because of more bad weather at the Real Club Valderrama. He will carry a three-shot lead over Lee Westwood, with Shane Lowry and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a tie for third, one shot further behind.

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