WHAT a disappointment in Semple Stadium yesterday.

EXPERIENCE, that was the major difference between these sides in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday as Crusheen advanced to the Munster Club SHC final against Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh on Sunday week.

IT won’t bother Crusheen today, their title retained, but the question has to be asked: should this Clare SHC final have been allowed go ahead?

CHAMPIONS Crusheen booked a date against Sixmilebridge in the Clare SHC final following an impressive semi-final display at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Dr Crokes and Nemo Rangers will contest the 2010 AIB Munster Club SFC final, following their respective semi-final wins over Aherlow and Stradbally this afternoon.

THE Cratloe-Crusheen clash in tomorrow’s Clare SHC final (Cusack Park, Ennis, 3.30pm) reinforces the sense of a power shift in Banner hurling, from traditional powerhouses to newer forces.

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.

Clare 0-13 Waterford 0-20

DUBLIN will have to plan without full-back Kevin Ryan — out with a hamstring injury — for their Allianz NHL league clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday. But the Dubs are hopeful centre-back Tomás Brady and midfielder Johnny McCaffrey will have recovered from knocks sustained when, respectively, assisting Na Fianna and winners Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin U-21HC final last Saturday.

LIMERICK bid to salvage something from a season that has gone horribly wrong when their intermediate hurlers clash with Tipperary in the Munster final at Thurles tonight.

Tipperary 1-21 Cork 0-17

OCCASIONALLY I get an e-mail or a letter which should be read by a wider audience, or more pertinently by someone with some real authority. The following is one such e-mail.

There were wins for the hurlers of Clare, Limerick IT and Tipperary in today's preliminary round of the 2007 Waterford Crystal Cup.