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

Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Gearoid Hegarty, and Graeme Mulcahy have been restored to the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster hurling final.

Despite holding a six point lead, Clare were made sweat till the final seconds to secure their place in the provincial final

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.

A traditional rivalry exists between both these counties but it was not on display in what turned out to be a rather tame affair with neither outfit setting the world alight.

Late points from Conner Hegarty, Dylan Downes and Keith Smyth saw Clare over the line in a tight and tense curtain raiser in Walsh Park that was level seven times.

There was drama aplenty in Castlemartyr yesterday evening as Aghada saw off the challenge of their neighbours from Cloyne in a gripping first round encounter of the Cork PIHC.

St Flannan's are into the quarter finals of the Corn Ui Mhuiri after a comprehensive 6-12 to 1-8 victory over High School Clonmel in Cappamore.

Midleton CBS are into the knockout stages of this season’s Harty Cup after a convincing 2-19 to 1-10 victory over St Flannan’s at Hospital.

Bishopstown 1-20 Killeagh 1-11: Bishopstown retained their Cork senior hurling status in style at Riverstown on Saturday. One wondered how they were ever in this relegation decider such was their assertive and forceful play.

Mallow 0-18 Cloyne 2-9: Goal-hungry Cloyne came close but Mallow held on in a rousing finish to last night’s exciting Cork Premier IHC quarter final at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Imokilly 2-28 Ballyhea 3-11: A strong showing from Imokilly at Kilworth last evening in the Cork SHC, classy in all sectors, they defeated last year’s Premier intermediate champions Ballyhea by 14 points to book their quarter-final place against titleholders Sarsfields in Cobh on Saturday week.

Cork SHC: Carrigtwohill 2-27 Killeagh 0-18

Imokilly 0-20 UCC 0-17: Imokilly’s greater balance in attack proved vital in returning the divisional outfit to the Cork SHC fourth round after a six-year hiatus.

C & S UCC Demons 99 Neptune 65

Premier IHC semi-final

Cork SHC: Na Piarsaigh 1-22 Killeagh 2-15

Dublin captain Johnny McCaffrey said his team are relishing the prospect of going to Thurles to face Tipperary for an All-Ireland semi-final berth on Sunday week.

Midleton 3-18 Killeagh 1-13

Kilkenny 1-21 Laois 0-16

Mitchelstown 0-11 Glenbower Rovers 0-08

Glenbower Rovers 1-06 Lisgoold 1-06 (aet)

Inniscarra 0-20 Kilworth 0-16

Youghal 2-14 Cloyne 2-09

Cloyne 3-15 Carrigaline 3-11

Killeagh 1-14 Ballinhassig 0-14

UCC 2-20 Imokilly 3-10

Kilbrittain 0-17 Cloyne 1-12

Kilworth have been knocking on the Cork IHC door for a few years now and yesterday in Páirc Uí Rinn they finally knocked it down.

Kilworth 2-14 Argideen Rangers 0-16

Bride Rovers 2-13 Cloyne 2-12

Given how Glen Rovers had fared in front of goal in this year’s Cork senior hurling championship, a 16-point win over Cloyne at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday would not have been high on the list of expectations.

A man-of-the-match display by Eoghan Murphy helped Erin’s Own to a comfortable eight-point victory over fellow East Cork side Killeagh in a lacklustre county SHC fourth round tie at Midleton on Saturday night.

Kilworth are the first team into the Cork IHC semi-finals after easily beating Fermoy in Ballygiblin last evening.

After that opening round Newtownshandrum heartbreaker a few short weeks ago, Killeagh were in no mood to squander a second Cork SHC chance in Castlemartyr on Saturday.

Huge relief for Newtownshandrum at Kilworth on Saturday, heartache though for Killeagh, their Trojan effort to cause a huge Cork SHC upset thwarted in extra-time by two cracking Cathal Naughton goals, leaving them with a tricky backdoor clash with Cloyne.

Sarsfields illustrated why they are regarded as one of the front-runners for this year’s Cork SHC after carving out a deserved, but hard-fought victory over Cloyne in their opening bout on Saturday evening.

Huge relief for Newtownshandrum at Kilworth on Saturday, heartache though for Killeagh, their Trojan effort to cause a huge Cork SHC upset thwarted in extra-time by two cracking Cathal Naughton goals, leaving them with a tricky backdoor clash with Cloyne.

FAI Intermediate Cup winners Avondale United progressed to the third round proper of the FAI Cup thanks to a 3-1 win over Kildrum Tigers in Donegal yesterday.

Clare’s ambitions to claim a third consecutive Munster minor hurling crown remain intact after they swept past Cork in last night’s play-off tie in Ennis to set up a semi-final date with Limerick on June 29.

Munster MHC champions Clare face a strong test from Cork in Cusack Park, Ennis this evening (7pm) in a backdoor play-off that will determine who faces Limerick in the Jun 29 semi-final.

There are two changes to the Cork side for tomorrow night’s Munster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final second play-off with Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis (7pm).