Dublin’s 3-20 to 0-18 win over Carlow means they’re in pole position to advance to a semi-final against Galway.

Shortly before the Leinster hurling championship began, Marty Kavanagh admitted that Carlow would be targeting the Dublin game in particular.

When Dublin, trailing by three points, were awarded a free deep into injury-time at Parnell Park and centre-back Sean Moran strode forward, the mind was drawn back to Croke Park last year.

Anthony Daly penned a column in these pages at the weekend pondering how and why a Dublin team he himself once managed always seemed to “swerve” in Thurles.

Mattie Kenny's Dubin side have booked themselves a Division One league semi-final spot with a richly-deserved victory over Tipperary in Thurles this evening.

It wasn't always pretty from Dublin at rain-drenched Parnell Park but Mattie Kenny's men dug deep to secure the win and top spot in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL.

That Tipperary have only one league win from three outings is not a concern for Liam Sheedy.

Dublin nearly stunned the All-Ireland champions in Salthill but Paul Winters two second-half goals were not enough to edge victory for Pat Gilroy’s side in Pearse Stadium.

Limerick 1-26 Dublin 0-17: Limerick maintained their 100% record in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B by comprehensively beating Dublin 1-26 to 0-17 at the Gaelic Grounds.

Galway 0-21 Dublin 0-19 (after extra time): On many levels Galway required this win. There was last week’s senior disappointment, last week’s minor disappointment and the disappointment suffered at this very juncture for the last four Augusts.

Ger Cunningham wouldn’t mind having more of his panel available to him against Wexford on Saturday but he agrees it feels more like his team this year.

DUBLIN 1-17 LIMERICK 1-16

Former Dublin hurling boss Humphrey Kelleher has called into question the managerial credentials of Ger Cunningham, claiming Michael Carton’s decision to quit the squad is a direct result of his manager’s actions.

In recent years, lots of people, including myself, have been looking for linesmen and umpires to get more involved in assisting referees with making disciplinary calls.

Clare 2-22, Dublin 2-20:

A lucky 14-man Clare somehow escaped Cusack Park with the win, largely thanks to goals from John Conlon and Tony Kelly.

Tipperary last week and now Kilkenny.

There were three hard-fought games in Division 1A of the Allianz National Hurling League - with the defending champions' visit to Cork, Dublin's first League game under new manager Ger Cunningham and Clare's visit to Pearse Stadium.

DCU 1-20 St Pat’s-Mater Dei 0-11 

Dublin 0-28 Antrim 2-12: Walsh Cup: They may need someone to lift the Walsh Cup very shortly though Ger Cunningham still isn’t sure exactly who his Dublin captain for 2015 will be. 

Dublin 2-08 Westmeath 0-13

Dublin 1-17 Laois 1-10

Tipperary 2-13 Dublin 1-16

Clare boss, Eamonn Fennessy described the dramatic conclusion to this pulsating tie as “heartbreaking”, after his young charges saw two massive decisions go against them, enabling Dublin to snatch the honours.

Dublin retained their provincial crown with a well-deserved four-point win over Wexford in their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC final at a rain-sodden Croke Park yesterday.

They’re holding out for a Febreze sponsorship — and it looks like they are going to need it.

Dublin were clearly on a mission in Dr Cullen Park on Saturday after being ousted by Wexford last week.