A crowd of 3,224 is not what you expect for a first-round Munster SHL fixture on a cold and, at times, wet evening in mid-December. Then again, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill pre-season blowout.

Meanwhile, Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan has handed a first league start to corner-forward Cian Darcy.

A sixth Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup title for University of Limerick at Mallow today following victory over first-time finalists Dublin City University.

Wexford’s unbeaten start in 2018 came to at Semple Stadium on Saturday night, but Davy Fitzgerald remained upbeat with a patchy performance that might have brought more reward with greater cutting edge in front of goal.

Tipperary 3-21 Wexford 1-21: Tipperary were forced to withstand a late Wexford rally as Patrick Maher’s injury time goal sealed victory for the home side.

The Tipperary team to face Wexford in tomorrow’s Allianz Hurling League shows five changes from the side which overcame Waterford the weekend before last.

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

UL 4-18 UCC 0-8: Hard to know which camp held greater disbelief at the final whistle.

UL 4-18 - UCC 0-8: The hammering was complete when Barry Murphy dispatched a second UL penalty.

IT Carlow 4-16

They started without over half of their All-Ireland winning team but victory still came easily for Tipperary at Croke Park where they streaked to a 16-point opening round Allianz Hurling League win.

University of Limerick 2-21, NUI Galway 2-12: The hurlers of UL booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup with this second comprehensive victory on home turf.

Tipperary were made to regret an awful display of free-taking as a 67th minute goal by substitute Aaron Shanagher sealed a Division 1 semi-final date with Kilkenny.

Tipperary 2-27 Cork 2-15: Seamus Callanan’s arrival at half-time briefly threatened to ignite this lacklustre collision of the old rivals. In case there was any danger his first appearance of the campaign went unnoticed by the 7,251-strong crowd, a welcome-back shemozzle immediately broke out in the Cork goalmouth, and Semple lungs opened in unison for the first time in the afternoon.

Jackie Tyrrell makes his first since last year’s Leinster final as one of five changes to the Kilkenny side for tomorrow’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Galway at Nowlan Park tomorrow (2pm).

Cork IT 3-11 University of Limerick 2-19: UL’s greater balance in front of goal took them past Cork IT last night and into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

NUI Galway 0-16 University of Limerick 0-15: University of Limerick’s Fitzgibbon Cup title defence remains on track despite a narrow defeat to NUIG at Rhebogue in Limerick.

Limerick 3-16 Tipperary 3-14

Tipperary U21 boss TJ Connolly is relishing the opportunity to complete a clean sweep of Munster hurling titles for the Premier County.

UL 1-24 UCC 1-18 (after extra-time)

UCC claimed the Higher Education Fresher Hurling League Division 1 title in Mallow last night, seeing off a dogged and talented University of Limerick side 4-15 to 4-11. that just didn’t know when to give up

Tipperary 0-17 Limerick 1-17

Tipperary 2-18 Waterford 1-15

Reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary can call upon just three starters from last year’s All-Ireland final replay win over Dublin as they begin their Munster MHC campaign with a quarter-final against Waterford at Walsh Park tonight (throw-in 7pm).

Kilkenny and Galway have both made one change from their respective semi-final wins for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC final.

Sure, there was a huge degree of personal satisfaction involved in watching Galway’s march to an All-Ireland senior hurling final but Mattie Murphy is not one to go shouting about his contribution from the rooftops.

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.

History is in the making at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow as Tipperary target a first Electric Ireland Munster MHC success since 2007.

As a player, William Maher captained Tipperary to All-Ireland minor glory in 1996 and now the current team boss is hoping to mastermind the Premier County’s first provincial success in this grade since 2007.

LIGHT winds and glorious blue skies have marked the first few days of Calves Week in Schull this year.

TONY KELLY played a captain’s part at soggy Semple Stadium last night as holders Clare advanced to a Munster MHC final meeting with Limerick or Waterford on July 10.

Tipperary 2-16 Cork 1-09

AN injury-time goal by substitute Michéal Harney put the seal on Waterford’s win over Tipperary in a frantic finish to last night’s Munster MHC quarter-final in Walsh Park.