Clare’s ability to come out on the right side of so many tight battles in 2016 has restored confidence in the camp, according to Bobby Duggan.

In the space of one Allianz Football League campaign, Peter Kelleher has become an integral member of the Cork senior football side.

Midleton’s hopes of regaining the Cork SHC title have received a blow with the news Cork star Conor Lehane is likely to miss the rest of the club’s campaign.

Cork U21 star Anthony Spillane admits that the county carry an extra weight of expectation at underage level, based on tradition.

Gaining access to his players this spring hasn’t been as cut and dry as Cork Under 21 manager Sean Hayes would have wished.

Cork midfielder Ian Maguire has overcome a back injury and is selected for tomorrow’s Munster U21 football quarter-final against Limerick.

I met Jimmy Barry-Murphy underneath the stand last month in Clonmel, says Anthony Daly.

With Round One of the Allianz National Hurling Leagues taking place this weekend, Peter McNamara previews the three fixtures in Division 1A.

Former Cork captain Tomás Mulcahy believes finding a full-back and scoring more goals should be the county’s key objectives in the upcoming Allianz Hurling League Division 1A campaign.

Austin Gleeson is a doubt for Waterford’s Division 1B opener away to Limerick on Saturday. 

Considering how vested he is in the situation right now, it’s little surprise TJ Ryan supports the motion to fit all GAA fixtures into the calendar year.

Though Cork’s Waterford Crystal Cup campaign ended in defeat to Limerick, selector Johnny Crowley is satisfied the competition served its primary purpose of providing new players for the Allianz Hurling League campaign.

Richie McCarthy believes Saturday’s Waterford Crystal Cup triumph over Cork was crucial in maintaining the positivity surrounding Limerick hurling.

It escaped the attention of the press box in Killarney at the time but Michael Conroy was indeed a temporary replacement (ie, a blood substitute) for Evan Regan on Sunday, writes John Fogarty.

Limerick scored all of their 3-20 tally from play, as they claimed the Waterford Crystal Cup for the first time since 2006, at Mallow GAA Club tonight.

Mallow’s GAA Sports Complex is capable of hosting several provincial fixtures, according to its general manager Liz Foley.

While reflecting on Tuesday’s first round Sigerson Cup rout of Cork IT, Billy Morgan revealed the UCC management had spent several hours the night previous deliberating over a starting XV.

Group A: DCU v Cork IT, DCU Sportsgrounds (B Gavin), 2pm.

Limerick 0-22 UCC 1-17: Waterford Crystal Cup SHC semi-final: Limerick ensured an early season repeat of the last two Munster SHC finals in next weekend’s Waterford Crystal Cup decider with this two point semi-final win over UCC.

Cork and Limerick advanced to next weekend's Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling Final, following wins over Clare and UCC respectively this afternoon.

Waterford Crystal Cup

UCC have the possibility of making history tomorrow night when they face Waterford in the McGrath Cup final (Fraher Field, 6pm), but it’s arguably a distraction they could have done without.

Not since 2012 has Cork hurler Paudie O’Sullivan had a full year free of injury interruptions.

Kerry 2-14 UCC 2-23

Waterford Crystal Cup

Clare will meet Cork in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-finals next weekend, following a slender 0-16 to 0-15 win over Tipperary at Sixmilebridge.

UCC, Limerick and Cork all advanced to the semi-finals of the Waterford Crystal Cup after victories this afternoon.

Dan Shanahan has no problem with people classing Waterford as "the fifth team in Munster" but admits the label is a motivating factor.

Kerry hurling manager Eamon Kelly has pulled off a double coup with the additions of Tipperary goalkeeper James Logue and Clare’s former All-Ireland SHC medallist Patrick Kelly for the 2015 season.

Cork make changes from the team that beat UL last weekend for Saturday’s Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final hurling clash with CIT at the CIT grounds in Bishopstown (2pm).

Tipperary boss Eamon O’Shea is adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach on the new proposals put forward by the Hurling 2020 review committee.

Brian O’Halloran netted Waterford’s only goal, as they began 2015 on a winning note, while there were wins also for Cork and Tipperary over the weekend.

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

Waterford Crystal Cup

Kevin Hennessy can’t see Cork winning the All-Ireland title this year due to the seismic impact of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath believes goalkeepers will still retain an advantage from penalties — even when the proposal from the Hurling 2020 report to have a one-against-one situation is on trial during pre-season competition.

An automatic substitution for a second yellow card is expected to be among the Hurling 2020 recommendations released later today.

Cork hurler Patrick Horgan believes the pain of their All-Ireland semi-final collapse to Tipperary will act as a driving force for the Rebels in 2015.

Cork 6-13 Limerick 2-18

Dubs Stars 3-18 Dublin 2-13

The GAA is set to trial one-on-one penalties in hurling - in the Waterford Crystal Cup and Walsh Cup competitions in Munster and Leinster respectively.

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy believes new coach Mark Landers will inject a new freshness to the county’s set-up.

Tipperary senior hurling team manager Eamon O’Shea is "delighted" Michael Ryan will succeed him in the Premier County hot-seat after the conclusion of the 2015 campaign.

Lar Corbett has handed Tipperary a massive pre-championship boost by returning to action with the Premier County.

Tipperary 3-25 Cork 4-19

Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald refused to elaborate on his controversial midweek comments when quizzed by reporters after yesterday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A victory over Tipperary.

FITZGIBBON CUP SEMI-FINAL:

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald was admittedly 'shocked' at the early season fitness levels which helped his side see out a narrow win over Kilkenny in yesterday's Allianz Hurling League opener.

Cork and Tipperary have named their teams ahead of Saturday's Allianz National League openers.

Aidan Walsh has been handed his first start for the Cork senior hurlers as they face Limerick in tomorrow night’s Division 1B league opener at Páirc Uí Rinn.