International referee Andrew Brace goes into Six Nations action in ten days time when he handles the clash of Wales and Italy but after handling his first Clayton Hotels Munster Senior Schools Cup tie at Thomond Park readily admitted that he could hardly enjoy such an auspicious occasion any more than he did this clash of Limerick rivals St Munchins and Ardscoil Ris.

Defending champions CBC advanced to the semi-finals of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup with this 11-point win over Castletroy College.

Michael Houghton says he has hit upon a framework that will play a key role in building a long-lasting dividend from Irish hockey’s recent successes.

Champions, St Munchin’s, had to withstand a magnificent late rally from Castletroy to edge home 21-15 in the opening Clayton Hotels Munster Schools’ Junior Cup semi-final at Thomond Park yesterday.

Ardscoil Ris recovered in magnificent fashion from a dreadfully slow start to run in seven tries in a remarkable demolition of Castletroy in today’s quarter-final of the Munster Schools Senior Cup at Thomond Park.

He will only be released to play in the Eisenhower Trophy or the Olympic Games - that’s the understanding between John Murphy’s college in Louisville, Kentucky and Kinsale Golf Club where the availability of this year’s St Andrews Links champion is concerned.

Rockwell College have made it into the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior Cup with two first half tries enough to give them victory over a game Castletroy side.

PBC Cork 48 Ard Scoil Ris 3... Presentation Brothers College Cork will be included in the quarter-final draw of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools junior cup after a facile win over Ard Scoil Ris at Musgrave Park today.

PBC Cork 25 Castletroy 8: Two late tries helped power Presentation Brothers College Cork, the holders, into the quarter-finals of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup when they overcame a strong challenge from Castletroy College.

Presentation Brothers, Cork, will begin the defence of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup with a first-round game in Cork against Castletroy College, Limerick.

ARDSCOIL RÍS recorded a big victory over a young Charleville CBS side in the opening round of the Dr Harty Cup at Kilmallock today. 

The GUI’s annual AIG Cups and Shields All-Ireland finals look primed to get off to a blistering start this morning when Munster champions Tralee meet Connacht kingpins Galway in the first Barton Shield semi-final.

See how you fared with the weekend’s golf fixtures.

An early deluge didn’t prevent some outstanding performances at the Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Glengarriff’s Darragh McElhinney’s will be one of the stars at the Irish Life Health All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country Championships in Mallusk, Co Antrim, today.

Crescent Comprehensive 19, Castletroy College 5: Holders Crescent qualified for the St Patricks Day final at Thomond Park when they scored a well deserved 19-5 victory over Castletroy College in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup at  UL. 

Ireland has one realistic medal chance as 567 athletes from 49 countries line up for the 34th European Indoor Championships, which start tomorrow in Belgrade.

St Munchin’s 24 Castletroy 19: A try by their captain and second-row forward Keelan McDonagh three minutes into stoppage time gave St Munchin’s a dramatic 24-19 victory over Limerick rivals Castletroy in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup at Thomond Park yesterday. 

Bandon Grammar School 24 Castletroy College 17: Bandon Grammar School produced a sensational comeback to defeat Castletroy College in yesterday’s pulsating Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup tie at Bandon RFC.

Jake Morris finished with eight points as Nenagh CBS pulled away in the second-half to beat Castletroy College 1-20 to 1-13 in Newport.

Despite Skibbereen CS’s win, they exit the competition as St Flannan’s College triumphed against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in the other Group D game.

Monkstown closed the book on 12 months of heartbreak as they claimed their provincial pennant with victory in the AIG Munster Senior Cup final at Cork Golf Club.

Tie hole drama was the order of the day when the finals of three Munster inter-club competitions were decided over the weekend.

Sexton still shining in Lahinch.

The Irish Ladies Close Championship began yesterday around the Old Course at Lahinch, Co Clare, where competitors played 36 holes strokeplay. The championship course, measuring 5,968 yards, was in immaculate condition and good scores were there for the taking.

Crescent 33 - Castletroy 12 

Crescent 29 Castletroy 3

Castletroy 15 St Clement’s 0: Castletroy fully deserved their 15-point victory over Limerick rivals St Clement’s in the Munster Schools Senior Cup at Rosbrien yesterday but if anything, it was the losing side that emerged with their reputation considerably enhanced after a serious competitive encounter.

Flannan Cleary can still picture the sliotar flying past the Castletroy post. The umpire raised his arms to signal wide, the hurlers of St Colman’s, Fermoy dropping to their knees in despair.

Thurles CBS have twice won back- to-back Dr Harty Cup titles.