1. Sean O’Brien put in a Trojan shift against the All Blacks

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

2. And he stepped up afterwards to demand more from himself and his teammates

“Yeah, I’d say I am angry,” he said after the dramatic defeat. “We should have trusted each other in the last couple of minutes – I’d say a lot of the lads are angry at the way it finished.

“We weren’t getting set early enough, not coming off the line at them again and we just needed to want it that little bit more for the last two or three minutes of the game, that’s where you should be trying even harder.”

3. Friday night lights

The county hosted the GAA championships’ first game on a Friday evening. After some dissent in the ranks, it has to be said.

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

4. Tullow Tank

INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Sean O’Brien’s namesake — the horse, Tullow Tank — won at Fairyhouse in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

5. Mount Leinster Rangers claimed an historic provincial title

They shocked red-hot favourites Oulart-the-Ballagh.

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

6. KCLR96FM commentators added another chapter to Irish local radio’s rich history

With this emotional, memorable narration of the final few minutes:

Can’t see the audio clip above? Listen here.

7. Just Europa

One player, James Hickey, coined a new phrase by describing the euphoric feeling as ‘just Europa’.

YouTube: Larry Ryan

8. Bernard Jackman continued to thrive with Grenoble

And he’s one of our favourite rugby pundits

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

9. Willie Mullins — whose yard is in Bagenalstown — won the Champions Hurdle with Ruby Walsh

Pic: Julien Behal/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Hurricane Fly also played a part.

See more of our county-by-county sporting highlights here >