RARELY does league fare take centre stage in the imagination of hurling folk, especially not outside the top tier, but such was the interest in this crucial Allianz Hurling League Division Two final that Ennis on Saturday evening bore all the hallmarks of a championship encounter.

MIDWAY through the Allianz Hurling League, Offaly manager Joe Dooley reeled off the players unavailable to him due to injury. It sounded like a trauma unit.

TRIUMPH for Donal O’Grady’s Limerick in this Allianz Hurling League Division Two opener in Ennis yesterday, disaster for Clare and their manager, Ger O’Loughlin.