It was a day of thread bare margins in rugby and soccer, while Cork proved their class in the Senior Final at the Camogie All-Ireland triple header showpiece in Croke Park.
Soccer
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland, Leicester 3-2 Aston Villa
After a subdued 1-0 victory for Tottnham Hotspur over Sunderland, it was Leicester who illuminated today's Premier League action with a a courageous comeback to convert a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa. This brings them up to 2nd position on the table, one ahead of Manchester United and four shy of Manchester City.
Jack Grealish ignited the day with a curling strike on 38 minutes to mark his 20th birthday and his first goal for Aston Villa. Carles Gill complimented the Grealish effort with a second goal from a similar position and a similar technique after that. His goal came from a counter-attack started just inside their own half of the pitch. The ball was brought down the wing before a transfer across the pitch to the waiting Gill who provided the appropriate touch.
It looked like Villa would plunder forward for the win but Leicester had another script in mind. Inspired by the individual work of Riyad Mahrez, Leicester found a way back into the tie and it all started in the 72nd minute. Mahrez delivered a corner into the danger area and was met by the oncoming head of Richie De Laet. His header cracked against the post on route for the goal and was deemed to have crossed the white line following a consultation with video technology.
But it didn't finish there. Jamie Vardy was in poaching form today and his persistence paid off 10 minutes after their first goal. Mahrez again was instrumental in meandering the ball through the Leicester defense and a cross field pass found the vital connection in Vardy's outstretched foot to tap it in.
There was just enough time for one more patch of drama on 89 minutes. Danny Dyer put himself in a potentially career ending situation when he contested a ball in flight with Leicester goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Dyer won the race and the ball was in the net but at the expense of absorbing a heavy hit for the goalkeeper.
Dyer took a brief recess but was back on the pitch for the remaining phases and to celebrate the famous victory.
Rugby
Gunniess Pro12: Munster 20-18 Ospreys
CJ Stander rescued Munster's blushes today with an 80th minute try to snatch a win and keep Ospreys on a winless streak.
It was thought the feast of Davies six tries would suffice for an Ospreys win but Munster squeezed through and negated the penalties with two vital tries.
A minute's silence was observed before kick-off for former Ospreys player Jerry Collins who died in a car crash recently along with his wife Alana. The number 6 jersey was then retired for the game and a round of applause began in the 6th minute to honour his memory.
The hosts enjoyed most of the possession and after a bombardment of pressure, they were awarded a first of six penalties on 10 minutes. Davies duly converted to give his side the initiative.
Munster then leveled matters with a Tyler Bleyendaal penalty three minutes later which he added with another penalty to give his side the lead.
Davies responded with another penalty to bring them back to a draw game after Dave Kilcoyne killed the ball in front of the posts after breaks from Joe Bearman and Sam Parry. And Davies then made it a perfect three just before half-time to leave them 9-6 ahead at the break.
This three point lead extended into six shortly after the restart but Stephen Fitzgerald revived the Munster cause with a try to take the lead. Ospreys appeared nonplussed when Davies edged them back in front with two further penalties, but Munster had one last stroke to pull.
Substitute Ian Keatley kicked to the corner and Munster went to the maul before going through the phases from right to left and before CJ Stander stormed over the line on the 80th minute to record his third try in two games.
Camogie
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Finals:
Senior: Cork 1-13 0-09 Galway
Intermediate: Waterford 2-09 1-05 Kildare
Junior: Laois 2-4 Roscommon 1-3
Cork took the spotlight once again in Camogie and claimed their second successive All-Ireland title at the expense of a gutsy Galway side. Briege Corkery claimed her record 15th All-Ireland medal across both codes and has another final to look forward to on the 27th when she lines out for the footballers.
Elsewhere, Waterford dispatched Kildare in the Intermediate final while Laois dusted off a Roscommon challenge in dreary conditions to end their All-Ireland final curse after two years of defeats.
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