St Patrick's begin defence

St Patrick's, Navan begin the defence of their All-Ireland senior football title this week with the start of the Leinster colleges championship.

The first round involves 10 teams in total, but all eyes naturally fall on St Patrick's, who last year won the Hogan Cup.

The trip to Rochfortbridge on Friday shouldn't cause too much sweat for the Navan students. A win there against St Joseph's will give them home advantage in next week's second round where, if they progress, they met Scoil Dheaglain.

Among the other interesting first-round games is Friday's clash of Maynooth and Portmarnock, who play for the attractive second-round meeting with Good Counsel.

In the Corn Ui Mhuiri senior football in Munster, St Colman's take on Colaiste Barra tomorrow and the winners play St Brendan's, Killarney for a place in the semi-final against Colaiste Na Sceilge on February 18th.

The other semi-final between St Flannan's and Killorglin will be decided a week later.

The open draw for the Ulster senior football was also made recently and has pitched holders St Patrick's, Armagh against last year's runners-up St Michael's, Enniskillen in the quarter-final - to be played on February 3rd.