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.

Ardscoil Ris set up a tie with St Munchin’s College in the second round of the Munster Schools Senior Cup after a comprehensive 27-10 victory over Glenstal Abbey at the Markets Field.

Jack O’Donoughe’s first-half try and a perfect kicking performance from JJ Hanrahan gave Munster the honours in this feisty inter-pro, which saw them stretch their lead at the top of the PRO14 Conference B standings.

World Cup demands deprive both Munster and Ospreys of the majority of their top players when they meet in the Guinness PRO14 at Musgrave Park tonight.

Kilworth will hope it can be a case of third time lucky against Fr O’Neills after they moved past Inniscarra in today’s Cork PIHC semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Despite all those stars jetting east to the Land of the Rising Sun, the absentee which generated the most debate was the one left at home.

A tour-de-force performance from full-forward Colm Casey has steered Inniscarra into the third round of the Cork PIHC.

A strong finish to both halves propelled Limerick to a first Munster MHC title since 2014 in today’s curtain-raiser.

Limerick led for most of the game and were thoroughly deserving of their winning margin over a Clare side that had Shane Meehan as their star performer.

Ireland head coach Noel McNamara has made two enforced changes to his starting line-up for today’s crunch World Rugby U20 Championship Pool B clash with Australia in Santa Fe, Argentina (2.30pm Irish time).

A late Darragh Flynn free earned Cork a 0-19 to 1-16 draw with Limerick at the end of a highly entertaining Munster MHC tie at LIT Gaelic Grounds.

In the end it, was their performance in the third quarter that laid the foundation for Watergrasshill’s victory over Inniscarra in the first round of the Cork PIHC in Páirc Uí Rinn tonight. The game was tied at the change of ends, as it had been on four other occasions in the opening period.

Limerick made it through to the Munster Minor hurling final defeating Clare by a single point, in a thriller at Cusack Park.

Limerick 1-17 Tipperary 2-12: Limerick drew first blood at the Gaelic Grounds with a 1-17 to 2-12 win against Tipperary in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship yesterday.

Courcey Rovers 3-18 Inniscarra 0-19: Ultimately, it was Seán Twomey’s first-half hat-trick that propelled Courcey Rovers into the third round of the Cork PIHC in this proverbial game of two halves played at the pristine Ballygarvan venue yesterday.

The Galway footballers have kept up their unbeaten start to the league, a first win on Kerry soil since 2000 handing Kevin Walsh's charges their fourth successive Division 1A victory.

St Clement’s College 20 Glenstal Abbey 17

Glenstal Abbey 21  Ardscoil Rís 20 Munster Schools Senior Cup, Thomond Park: Amid tremendous excitement and high drama at Thomond Park yesterday, Glenstal Abbey bridged a 47-year gap when they just survived a magnificent rally by Ardscoil Rís to qualify to meet PBC in the final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup on St Patrick’s Day.

CBC, Cork 7 Ardscoil Rís 9: This victory by rank outsiders Ardscoil Rís will go down as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup, when a penalty deep in stoppage time put holders Christian Brothers College to the sword at Musgrave Park yesterday.

Cahir (Tipperary) 0-14 Eyrecourt (Galway) 1-2: Cahir claimed the AIB All- Ireland intermediate club camogie title at Croke Park yesterday — less than four years after playing in the Tipperary junior B grade.

Ardscoil Rís 15 CBC 28: Christian Brothers College confirmed the favourable impression created in their opening round victory over Crescent with an emphatic 28-15 defeat of Ardscoil Rís in the quarter-final of the Munster Schools Senior Cup at UL yesterday.

Munster Schools Senior Cup

Cahir (Tipperary) 2-12 Milltown (Westmeath) 2-14: Ruth Kearney inspired Milltown to an historic All-Ireland Ladies Club IFC final success — but the Westmeath champions had to fend off a spirited late fightback from Cahir before landing the silverware.

Cork Premier IHC: Valley Rovers 3-20 Inniscarra 0-5

Crescent College Comprehensive’s stranglehold over the Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup continued after they routed Ursulines Thurles 5-1 in yesterday’s final at Villiers.

St Munchin’s 23 Ardscoil Rís 21

Valentia-Daribhre Young Islanders (Kerry) 0-12 Kildimo-Pallaskenry (Limerick) 1-8: Munster JBFC final:

Lismore (Waterford) 2-7 Sarsfields (Cork) 0-5

Rugby League: Ireland will be cast in the familiar role of underdogs as they launch their European Championship campaign against France in Dublin today, but this time they are not without hope.

Kilworth 2-13 Inniscarra 1-12

Cork 2-18 Wexford 2-12

Kilkenny’s Michael Fennelly returns at centre-forward for tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-final clash against Limerick.

Cork 4-15 Tipperary 2-08

Bandon 0-15 Inniscarra 1-11 After extra-time

The lot of a county intermediate manager can be a trying one.

Limerick manager TJ Ryan will pick from a full panel for Sunday week’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary, with Declan Hannon, Seamus Hickey and David Breen all available for selection.

Stradbally 3-18 An Rinn 1-03

Inniscarra 0-20 Kilworth 0-16

Eoghan Ruadh 0-14 Éire Óg 1-05

Inniscarra 0-17 Blarney 2-09

Adrigole 0-20 Mayfield 1-17 (aet)