Mayo are League champions for the first time in 18 years, after they beat Kerry 3-11 to 2-10 in yesterday's Division One final in Croke Park. It was a tight contest in which James Horan's side got their noses in front towards the death thanks to a goal from the brilliant Diarmuid Connor. The Kingdom threatened a cruel comeback but a stunning save from Rob Hennelly - followed by a cool finish from Ciaran Treacy up the other end of the pitch - saw Mayo over the line. Keith Duggan writes: "Maybe, just maybe, it will come to symbolise Mayo's appetite for the kill. It was their first league win since the millennium was young. And it was their first time to win a national final, after nine defeats, since that day in 2001."
Prior to Mayo's victory Limerick delivered an ominous message to the rest of hurling as they ended their own league title drought of 22 years with a dominant 1-24 to 0-19 win over Waterford. Aaron Gillane scored 1-9 in a supreme performance as his side became the first All-Ireland champions to go on to win the league since Galway in 1989, outside of Kilkenny. And more silverware could be in the pipeline, writes Ian O'Riordan: "And between the beauty and pain which comes after every final one thing is now certain:Limerick are the best hurling team in the land, and it's beginning to feel like there is no stopping them."
Elsewhere the line-up for the semi-finals of the Champions Cup has been confirmed, after Toulouse produced a remarkable 22-21 win away to Top14 rivals Racing 92 yesterday afternoon. The four-time winners defied a 28th minute red card for outhalf Zack Holmes to see off the profligate Parisians at the La Défense Arena and will now travel to play Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday April 21st in the last four (kick-off 3.15pm). Munster meanwhile face a daunting trip to play Saracens in Coventry on Saturday April 20th (3.15pm) after their tense 17-13 win over Edinburgh last Saturday. With 12 Heineken Cup titles combined between the last four, Gerry Thornley writes: "The semi-finals are once again the stage for European aristocracy."
Liverpool have returned to the top of the Premier League, as they were the beneficiaries of a late Hugo Lloris mistake at Anfield yesterday, beating Tottenham 2-1 to leapfrog Manchester City as the title pendulum swings again. The French goalkeeper failed to deal with a simple late cross before palming Mohamed Salah's tame header straight at Spurs' centre-half Toby Alderweireld, who could only turn the ball into his own net. Earlier in the day Chelsea left it late as they came from behind to beat Cardiff City 2-1 away from home, with Cardiff boss Neil Warnock apoplectic after late decisions went against his side - particularly Cesar Azpilacueta's offside equaliser. Tonight, Arsenal welcome Newcastle to the Emirates (kick-off 8.0pm). In Scotland yesterday, James Forrest's 86th minute strike gave Celtic a 2-1 win over 10-man Rangers, after Alfredo Morelos gad been sent-off in the first half. The defending champions are now 13-points clear, with an eighth-straight title surely a formality.
And Graeme McDowell is back in the winners enclosure after three-and-half years, after he held his nerve to shoot a final round of 69 and take the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic by a stroke. As well as a $550,000 payday, victory also means McDowell regained his full PGA Tour exempt status. Elsewhere, Kevin Kisner beat Matt Kuchar 3&2 to take the WGC Matchplay in Texas, while in California a final round of 77 saw Leona Maguire miss out on her maiden professional win by two strokes.
