A near-perfect day for hurling at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday for this Munster SHC semi-final, and a near-perfect game plan by Sixmilebridge.

Sixmilebridge 1-10 Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-11

I was in Cork last Sunday at their county final, Midleton beating holders Sarsfields; I was in Ennis then yesterday as Sixmilebridge took the title from Newmarket-on-Fergus in the Clare final. In both games the teams did their absolute best, but I have to say I’m really annoyed.

Wolfe Tones na Sionna made it two wins out of two when they defeated St Breckan’s at Corofin in the Clare SFC yesterday.

Waterford defenders Liam Lawlor, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh and Kevin Moran expect a busy afternoon in Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final against Clare.

Clare recorded their second win of the Allianz Division 1B campaign with a hard fought victory over Antrim at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Clare 0-20 Antrim 0-12

A bright start and a driving finish ensured Tipperary took the Waterford Crystal Cup home with them from Sixmilebridge yesterday, beating Clare by six points in the end thanks to their greater accuracy.

Last year they had nine points to spare in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final triumph over Dublin IT and yesterday Cork IT replicated that commanding performance at the same stage against NUIG in Bishopstown.

The round robin format of the Fitzgibbon Cup has robbed it of a lot traditional drama but these twoproduced a finale at Dangan yesterday which was a throwback to former days in the competition.

The hurlers of Galway, Laois and Kilkenny all claimed victories in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup quarter-finals this afternoon.

Galway 4-25 Clare 0-20

Caimin Morey has been brought into the Clare team for tonight's All-Ireland SHC second phase qualifier against Galway in Salthill (throw-in 7pm).

Clare will field a team containing three Championship newcomers when they clash with Tipperary in Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

CLARE manager Ger O’Loughlin bemoaned the imbalance in the second tier of the hurling league after Saturday’s mismatch at Cusack Park, Ennis.

CORK boss Denis Walsh placed several of the county’s upcoming talents under the microscope in Passage West yesterday and was rewarded with a thoroughly convincing victory in a senior hurling challenge against Clare.

CLARE had no problem at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday in dismissing the challenge of Down in the Allianz HL Division 2.

Clare 5-22 Down 0-06

ANTRIM:

Cork IT 2-12 NUI Galway0-17

Timmy Hammersley got one over on his native county Tipperary as Waterford IT handed the reigning All-Ireland champions their first defeat of 2011.

The College sides were most impressive in this afternoon's GAA action as Queen's University beat Monaghan in the McKenna Cup, and there were hurling wins for NUI Galway, Cork IT and Roscommon.

THEIR senior hurling fortunes may reside at a low ebb after the All-Ireland senior qualifier mauling at the hands of Dublin, but Clare U-21 star John Conlon has pleaded with the Banner supporters to be patient with the streams of underage talent that the county are producing.

REIGNING Munster and All-Ireland U21 champions Clare stay on course to retain their titles, but only after a hugely entertaining battle against Limerick in this Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds last evening.

CHAMPIONS Clare begin the first defence of their Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21HC crown in tonight’s Munster semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds and manager John Minogue is hoping his charges can lift hurling in the county after the senior side’s disappointing All-Ireland championship exit last Saturday.

THIRTY years of failures and disappointment in the Fitzgibbon Cup were washed away as NUI Galway swept to success on their home turf in Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

NUI Galway 1-17 Waterford IT 1-16

NUI Galway 1-24 Limerick IT 1-23

UNIVERSITY of Limerick are sweating on the fitness of leading attacker Willie Ryan ahead oftomorrow’s Ulster Bank Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final against Waterford IT (Dangan, 2pm).

ALL-IRELAND winner Niall Gilligan has turned down an initial approach to link up with the Clare senior hurling panel for the 2010 campaign.

CLARE’S All-Ireland U-21 winning manager John Minogue claims some of the gloss has been taken off a landmark season because of the bitter dispute that led to Mike McNamara’s resignation as senior boss.

WHEN the action drew to a close in Croke Park yesterday, the Big House reeked of sights and sounds from another era.

Clare 0-15 Kilkenny 0-14

AH, friends, after a match such as this – nay, after living, breathing life theatre such as this, pity us poor scribes!

IT HAS been a year filled with shattering lows for Clare hurling, but last night in Fraher Field Dungarvan their fortunes enjoyed a soaring high.

TONIGHT it’s a Munster U21 hurling decider with a twist. The heavyweights of Cork and Tipperary are both marked absent ensuring the first final without either of the Old Firm in fifteen years. It promises to be a unique evening in Dungarvan.

AFTER the trauma of their senior team’s championship exit last Saturday, Clare hurling received a badly-needed tonic from their U21 camp last night in Cusack Park.

Clare cantered through to the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under-21 Hurling final with a superb display against Limerick in tonight's semi-final at Cusack Park.

AFTER the dejection of Saturday night’s All-Ireland qualifier loss, Clare hurling looks to get back on track at Cusack Park, Ennis tonight (7.30pm) with the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 HC semi-final against Limerick.

GER CUNNINGHAM has said that he would still be interested in managing the Cork hurlers if the opportunity arises.

Dublin 0-15 Clare 0-15

ALL-IRELAND champions Kilkenny have close to their strongest team for tomorrow’s Allianz NHL clash with Cork at Nowlan Park. P. J. Ryan takes over in goal from David Herity; T J Reid comes in at right half forward for Martin Comerford; Henry Shefflin is at centre-forward, with Eoin Larkin on his left. Eddie Brennan is back in the right corner, linking up with Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty.

LIMERICK manager Justin McCarthy introduces James Ryan and Paul Browne for his side’s NHL clash against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow.

Tipperary 0-23 Clare 0-16