Aaron Gillane was the hero as Mary Immaculate College booked their place in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final when they held off the NUIG challenge at Cusack Park in Ennis..

The Allianz Hurling League concluded yesterday with a resurgent Kilkenny upsetting the odds against favourites Tipperary, writes Donal O’Grady.

The current college-county fixtures clashes are not sustainable, says Nicky English, and it is threatening the very existence of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Hurling in DCU wasn’t always the picture of such rude health.

UL manager Gary Kirby has described as “a disaster” this weekend’s clash that will see the Fitzgibbon Cup final played less than 24 hours before the penultimate round of the Allianz Hurling Leagues.

The pressures placed on GAA players juggling county and third level commitments may be generating plenty of debate in recent weeks but Tipperary’s Jason Forde believes the dual mandate has an upside.

Limerick remain on course for a winner take all final league game with Galway on March 4 after John Kiely’s side made it three from three with a comfortable win over Dublin at the Gaelic Grounds.

Davy Fitzgerald admits he still feels sorry Jason Forde was suspended after an on-field exchange with the Wexford manager in last year’s Division 1 quarter-final.

DCU were always in control of this all-Dublin clash between two colleges hoping to reach their first Fitzgibbon Cup final and they will now hope to bring the trophy back to the capital for the first time since 2001.

Two goals in little over two minutes midway through the second-half advanced UL to the Fitzgibbon Cup final.

IT Carlow 2-20 UCC 1-20: IT Carlow manager DJ Carey has no clue what shape his bruised and battered team will be in for today’s Fitzgibbon Cup final, but says whatever happens they’re in bonus territory now.

IT Carlow 2-20 UCC 1-20 (AET): Stephen Maher hit 11 points as IT Carlow reached their first Fitzgibbon Cup final at the expense of UCC in Dangan.

Here's your evening update.

Eamonn Cregan has called on Limerick to “stop bloody hand-passing the ball out of defence” and operate a more direct style of hurling ahead of Saturday’s Division 1 quarter-final against Dublin.

Two of the men linked with the vacant Cork hurling manager’s post have ruled themselves out of contention to succeed Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

Ballyshale Shamrocks(Kilkenny)v Kilmallock(Limerick):

The results of a scan on Austin Gleeson’s hamstring this morning will determine if the Waterford IT full-forward plays any role in this evening’s Fitzgibbon Cup final replay at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Offaly 1-14, Waterfrord 2-18: The previous four league meetings between these two counties were evenly shared, the latter three decided by a goal or less.

The replay of the Fitzgibbon Cup final will take place in Páirc Úi Rinn on Wednesday March 11.

Corner-back Tom Fox's point on 80 minutes ensured this dramtic Fitzgibbon Cup final would require a second day out.

Corner-back Tom Fox’s point on 80 minutes ensured this dramtic Fitzgibbon Cup final would require a second day out.

TIPPERARY’S Denis Maher has confirmed that he suffered a dislocated shoulder in Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A victory over Galway at Semple Stadium.

Mary I 2-19 Waterford IT 0-10: Jamie Wall was the final speaker in the Mary I dressing room before Eamonn Cregan’s charges emerged onto the field.

Waterford IT 0-17 Cork IT 0-12

Stephen White always believed this could be Cork’s year, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn

Limerick legend Eamonn Cregan has delivered a damning verdict on the county’s senior hurling team — insisting no progress is being made.

SATURDAY

Damien Cahalane will make his senior league debut for Cork in Sunday’s Division 1 clash with Galway in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy makes four changes from the team that defeated Dublin in Croke Park last Sunday.

UCC, the hosts and favourites, booked their place in today’s Fitzgibbon Cup final and in the process set up the first all-Cork college decider in the history of the event.

UCC and Cork IT will face off in an all-Cork centenary Fitzgibbon Cup final at the Mardyke tomorrow afternoon (throw-in 3pm) after semi-final wins over Limerick sides UL and LIT respectively.

RAILWAY Cups patron Martin Donnelly is awaiting a call from the GAA about again becoming involved in the sponsorship of the competitions.

LIMERICK will contest the Munster IHC final on July 6 against either Cork or Clare after beating Waterford in yesterday’s semi-final in Semple Stadium.

2010 was a year to forget for Limerick hurling, the county convulsed by the controversy that saw its senior hurling team drastically diminished by cuts and withdrawals.

THIS year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final will be a battle between two Limerick institutions after LIT edged out UCC in an enthralling semi-final at the Waterford IT Sports Campus in Carriganore yesterday.

UL and Limerick IT have ensured that tomorrow's Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup final will be an all-Limerick affair for the second time in seven years after the completion of today's semi-finals at Waterford IT.

HENRY SHEFFLIN will end his eight-month break from the inter-county game when he returns to the Kilkenny team for his first match since last year’s All-Ireland final when the Cats entertain Waterford in a senior hurling challenge in Mooncoin on Sunday night (throw-in 7pm).

Down boss Ross Carr has made two changes to his side for this evening's National Football League Division Three clash with Cavan.

THE chief bone of contention in last month’s Vodafone All Stars selection was the omission of John Mullane but the Waterford man received some compensation yesterday by being included in the GPA’s Opel Hurling team of the year.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is ready to unleash some of the club’s promising youngsters against Crewe in the Carling Cup – but not at the expense of a place in the next round of the competition.

DONEGAL football manager Brian McIvor has refused to confirm that two of his most senior players, Brendan Devenney and Adrian Sweeney, have been axed from the panel ahead of the upcoming Ulster championship clash with Derry.