Clare are primed for a serious assault on the Allianz NHL Division 1 title according to legendary Waterford figure Ken McGrath.

There was irony aplenty at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday as Aaron Cunningham, son of Offaly coach Alan, landed the decisive 70th minute winning point as Clare maintained their 100% record in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL.

LIMERICK’S unblemished record in their new environs of Division 2 of the Allianz NHL was maintained at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday and they remain on course for the lucrative rewards of promotion and a final placing.

NEWLY promoted Kerry stepped up in class against Antrim yesterday in the opening round of Division 2 of the Allianz NHL at Austin Stack Park Tralee, and only faded against more experienced rivals in the final 15 minutes.

KERRY boss Jack O’Connor will assess the fitness of defenders Marc and Tomás O Sé at training tonight and admits the current injury situation in his squad is ‘worrying’ as the Kingdom gear-up for the opening defence of their All-Ireland title in Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Tipperary in Semple Stadium.

DAVID CUNNINGHAM, Glen Rovers, takes over the full back slot left vacant by the injury to Eoin Cadogan for Cork’s last game in the preliminary rounds of the Allianz NHL against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

THE Derry County Board has branded comments made by Joe Brolly about an U21 footballer as “harmful and unmerited”.

DEFENDER Conor Dervan makes his first appearance for Galway since the 2008 championship when he starts against Tipperary in the Allianz NHL at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

LIMERICK chairman, Liam Lenihan, has described confirmation that the Gaelic Grounds will host the first test of the International Rules series on October 23 as ‘great news’.

TIPPERARY hurling boss Liam Sheedy yesterday warned GAA chiefs of the need ‘to beef up our game’ as Croke Park prepares to host the Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Leinster.

JOE JORDAN of Blarney makes his senior debut as Cork take on All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Allianz NHL at Nowlan Park in Denis Walsh’s first match in charge on Sunday.

A David Treacy hat-trick wasn’t enough to save Dublin from an agonising two points defeat by Tipperary in this riveting Allianz NHL Division One tie at Semple Stadium, Thurles yesterday.

VETERAN Tony Browne is set to return to action for Waterford hurlers in Sunday’s Allianz NHL with Galway in Dungarvan.

THE all-conquering Portumna hurlers could be back in action for Galway as early as next Sunday when John McIntyre’s men take on Limerick badly in need of league points.

Westmeath 1-17 Offaly 3-22

CLARE’S strong second-half showing in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday just fell short of redeeming a situation where they conceded three goals in a short period before the break.

A number of sporting fixtures have been affected by today's weather.

Following a meeting of the Central Competitions Control Committee this morning, the GAA have confirmed that Wexford will be relegated to Division 2 of the Allianz NHL.

Limerick and Tipperary renew their rivalry this Sunday in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL.

Dublin 2-13 Kilkenny 0-19

THERE’S no place for last year’s captain, Pat Mulcahy, after the Cork hurling selectors yesterday trimmed the panel to 30 players.

THERE is no getting away from this miserable weather but at least we have something we can look forward to with a bit of hope, with a bit of light.

FORMER Laois captain Kevin Fitzpatrick is expected to be fit in time for the county’s All-Ireland Championship campaign this summer after undergoing surgery on a groin injury last Monday.

Galway 0-10 Kilkenny 1-16

AFTER all the shadow-boxing of the qualifying stages, the Allianz NHL has thrown up a final of genuine competitive interest.

RULE 42 is not the sole issue for discussion at Croke Park this weekend. Unusually, motions on playing rules for the GAA congress are almost as noteworthy for omissions as for the variety of proposals.

IN a surprise move, the Cork selectors have named Pat Mulcahy at centre-forward on the team to meet Clare in the second phase of the Allianz NHL at Cusack Park on Sunday.

IN midweek they enjoyed the sunshine, and one another’s company, in the Algarve.

THE chairman of Limerick County Board Denis Holmes said last night that there was no immediate threat to Padjoe Whelahan’s role as manager of the county senior side.

GALWAY fans still shudder at the thought.

LIMERICK will be without team captain Tommy Stack for their make-or-break Allianz National Football League clash with Armagh at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

CONTINUING to experiment, the Cork selectors have made a number of changes on the team to play Tipperary in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday from that which stole a last-gasp victory over Offaly.

UNDER pressure Limerick hurling manager Dave Keane will learn his fate at tonight’s county board meeting.

THE Waterford hurlers had good reason to feel optimistic about their prospects when the draw for the Guinness Munster SHC was made.

IT’S hardly a coincidence that Kilkenny and Tipperary — generally perceived as the two sides best qualified to win out the championship — should be meeting in today’s final of the Allianz NHL.

Tipperary 3-15 Galway 2-18

David Tierney blasted home a goal in the fifth minute of injury-time to give Galway a sensational draw with Tipperary in the Allianz NHL at Thurles.