Champions Thurles Sarsfields set down a marker for those aspiring to take their title from them when they romped to a 5-32 to 0-7 win over Carrick Swans in their opening game in defence of the Tipperary senior hurling title at Cashel.

Martin Coppinger won the Noel Phair Cup at Shannonvale, ending James O’Donovan’s fantastic run of wins.

Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 0-17 Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-16: Yesterday’s Munster Club SHC quarter-final came down to one play in injury time, when Thurles Sarsfields’ free-taker, Pa Bourke, stood over a 65 that would nudge his side one ahead against Waterford champions Ballygunner.

Clare have been hit by a double body blow ahead of Sunday’s Division 1 semi-final against Kilkenny as Shane O’Donnell and David McInerney have been ruled out.

Eoghan Cormican says Cian O'Neill will deliver promotion for the Lilywhites.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Nenagh Éire Óg 3-11 (Tipperary SHC final): Thurles will wake up alongside a familiar bedfellow in the Dan Breen Cup this morning but boy did they cut this one fine.

Tyrone 1-14 Limerick 0-8: Tyrone may well travel far through the Qualifiers, but they have a longer road to negotiate before they can be considered the force they were in the glorious noughties.

Clare 0-15 Limerick 0-13: THERE were but fleeting mentions of Cork.

Limerick’s hurlers will not be seeking to atone for their flat performance and accompanying defeat to Clare in the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final when they face the Banner again in a Munster opener on Sunday.

Limerick centre-forward Darragh Treacy says it is high time the Treaty County’s emerging footballers stand out from the shadow of former stalwarts.

Match of the day in a busy weekend of divisional senior hurling championship games was the Mid Tipp clash of county champions, Thurles Sarsfields and divisional title-holders, Drom-Inch at Holycross yesterday.

Limerick 0-14 Sligo 1-9: Allianz Football League Division 3: Limerick secured their first set of points in the opening round of the Allianz NFL Division 3 tie at Kilmallock yesterday with a workmanlike performance that saw them quickly out of the blocks and then outscore Sligo six points to one in the closing quarter.

Next Sunday at Skibbereen, Michael Toal returns from retirement to play Christy Mullins in the feature score of a benefit weekend for CoAction.

Lar Corbett has praised Pa Bourke for the way he bounced back from his Tipperary axing, captaining newly-crowned champions Thurles Sarsfields to glory in last Sunday’s county SHC final.

Clare 5-19 Tipperary 1-25

Limerick manager Brian Ryan does not think his side will be affected by the long lay-off since their Munster final replay win over Waterford on July 23.

Limerick manager John Allen has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Clare at Croke Park.

Éire Óg, Nenagh 0-15 Thurles Sarsfields 0-12

Tipperary 2-18 Dublin 1-11

Despite trailing 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, Fr Casey’s booked the first place in the Limerick SFC semi-finals with a 2-11 to 2-8 win over St Kieran’s at Newcastlewest on Saturday on the back of second-half goals from Pádraig McEnery and Robert Browne.

In 1996 Tipperary minor hurling manager William Maher captained the Premier to All-Ireland minor glory.

Not since 1955 have Tipperary won both Munster minor titles in the same year, but yesterday’s hurling win over Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh completed a double following the football victory against Kerry.

Kilmallock and divisional side Emmets are the only sides left with 100% records after round two of the Limerick SHC.

THE last three Dr Harty Cup quarter-finalists will be determined today with crunch games in Ardmore, Clonmel, Tipperary Town and Cahir.

CASTLETROY College participated in the Dr Harty Cup for the first time yesterday afternoon and were left celebrating after an injury-time point by Ed Doyle secured a 1-14 to 2-10 victory over Kerry Colleges in their Group D clash in Feenagh.

JOHN McGRATH hit 11 points as the hosts retained the Tipperary Supporters club All-Ireland U16 hurling crown with a convincing victory at Semple Stadium yesterday.

A Kinsealy teenager who took part in a drunken unprovoked attack on a man who attempted to break up a group of youths fighting on their debs night has been given a two-and-a-half-year sentence.

A COUNTY Armagh equestrian buyer has made his second purchase of land in the south with this month’s acquisition of 80 acres at Cloneen, Dromcollogher, near the Cork-Limerick border.

Football fans in Cardiff were enjoying a carnival atmosphere today – as what is seen as the largest security operation surrounding an FA Cup Final was underway.

SCHOOLS around the country are to sue the Government for its failure to deliver promised new or refurbished school buildings.