A rich weekend entrée to this week’s sporting feast

THIS past weekend delivered sporting delight across many of the games which Irish men and women play and support with great passion and pride. Centre stage were the Irish rugby men’s XV who beat the valiant Scottish visitors. Results were reversed when the Scottish women claimed a first-ever win in Dublin over the Ireland women’s side.

The Ireland men’s rugby team very quietly won the famed Six Nations championship.

Yet, there remains the little matter of the Grand Slam to be decided next Saturday, which happens to be St Patrick’s Day, against the “auld enemy” at their lair in Twickenham.

That day will also be the high-point for the GAA clubs with Corofin footballers facing Nemo Rangers and Na Piarsaigh hurlers facing Cuala. The GAA fields were busy this weekend with big games in both the Gaelic football and hurling national leagues.

Sadly, the epic Dublin versus Kerry clash at Croke Park did not really fire as a contest and the Dubs won by a big margin.

The other big Gaelic football games also drew enthusiastic crowds. But hurling delivered far more thrills, promising a huge climax to that league and presaging a much-awaited, mouth-watering championship.

But this past weekend’s huge package of sporting delights also had the air of being an entrée to a week-long sporting banquet which will really start with the annual Irish invasion of the Cheltenham Racing Festival.