It’s not that Clare’s opening salvo in this year’s National League was a box-ticking exercise, but as soon as the final whistle sounded to signal this facile 16-point victory it’s safe to say that everyone of a saffron and blue hue was moving towards next Sunday’s mouth-watering clash with Wexford.

As expected Clare opened their National League campaign under new manager Brian Lohan in impressive fashion as they eased to a comprehensive 16-point victory over Colm Bonnar’s Carlow in Ennis.

Thirteen man Limerick maintained their unbeaten start to the season on a damp and dreary Saturday night in Dungarvan.

Gavin Cooney hit two goals for the Banner.

St Senan’s retained their North Kerry SFC title, thanks to two final quarter goals. Brosna were attempting to win their first North Kerry senior title but the more experienced side won after a well contested final at a packed Ballylongford on Sunday.

The Irish Examiner broadcast its first-ever inter-county match live today, with the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League meeting of Tipperary and Clare.

That 2020 campaign will officially begin this Sunday with the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League game against Clare at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, which will be broadcast live on the Irish Examiner Sport Facebook page.

The Green Machine were already celebrating their ticket as their Canadian hosts seemingly had run out of time in their bid to reel in a two-goal deficit.

Rathmore lost their 20-year senior club championship status after a surprising no show in the second half against neighbours Kilcummin.

Man of the match Sean O’Shea provided 1-6 (four frees) but Kenmare Shamrocks needed a point from Stephen O’Brien to force extra-time, before they advanced to Round 3 of the Kerry SFC at the expense of a dogged and determined Rathmore.

Dr Crokes were in devastating form as they consigned their Croke Park nightmare of last March to the dustbin with a crushing victory over local East Kerry rivals, Rathmore, at Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday evening.

Ballincollig booked their place in the Cork SFC quarter-final on Saturday after a hard-fought but fully deserved victory over Kiskeam in Ballyclough.

All-Ireland champions Limerick are all but guaranteed of a top-three finish in Munster after this 18-point thumping of Clare.

This was Westmeath’s first victory in the qualifiers since 2012 and they were impressive in victory with Jack Cooney’s side leading from start to finish.

Ryan O’Rourke scored 0-7 as Leitrim advanced to Round 2 of the qualifiers with victory over Wicklow at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon.

A Shane O’Donnell and Tony Kelly-led Clare spoiled Waterford’s Munster championship homecoming to leave the Déise playing a dangerous game of catch-up in the coming weeks.

There was late drama as Wicklow footballers gave red-hot favourites Kildare a real fright at Netwatch Cullen Park this evening as the Leinster senior football championship got under way before an attendance of 3,800.

Clare secured safe passage to a fifth Munster semi-final meeting with Kerry in six years, but what they produced in this desperately poor provincial quarter-final fixture won’t be anywhere near sufficient to even remotely trouble Kerry.

That Kiskeam walked off the Glantane pitch last night to a huge applause said it all.

Aaron Gillane pointed a free in the fifth minute of injury-time to snatch a draw for All-Ireland champions Limerick against the only team to beat them in last year’s championship.

UCD were indebted to a brace of late frees from Ronan Hayes as they recued a share of the spoils with NUIG after their entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup Group A encounter at David Billings Park.

Shane O’Donoghue equalled the Irish goalscoring record with a glorious 13th-minute volley but was left wishing the effort would have had much greater significance in yesterday’s Men’s Hockey World Cup opener against Australia in Bhubaneswar.

Cork Con scored a last-gasp try to beat rivals UCC 18-20 last night at the Mardyke in the second round of the All-Ireland League.

Down will be without their free-taker Donal O’Hare for their round 2 Qualifier against Cavan on Saturday.

Day Four. I started it with €110.51 in the kitty and a cunning plan. 

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

The honours went to Waterford in this Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash at Walsh Park yesterday, but it is important to note Clare were already guaranteed a quarter-final (pitted against Limerick).

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

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.

Fitzgibbon Cup Group B: University of Limerick 3-29 - Dublin Institute of Technology 4-17: It proved all too easy for the hurlers of University Limerick in this Fitzgibbon Cup clash.

Clare 4-17 Cork 0-18: The Munster Council have brought forward the Munster SHL final between Clare and Limerick by one week to avoid the counties meeting on successive weekends.

An Gaeltacht (Kerry) 3-21 St Senan’s (Limerick) 0-8: Much like last year, when it was also a Kerry v Limerick pairing in the Munster Intermediate Club final, An Ghaeltacht showed little mercy to St Senan’s in becoming the fourth consecutive Kerry side to win this title and the 10th from the Kingdom to do so in the last 11 years.

Limerick 1-28 Clare 1-15 

Laois withstood a stubborn Wicklow fightback to claim a Round 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Qualifier win at a sunny Aughrim this evening.

Clare 3-18 Dublin 0-19

Clare took a massive step away from the relegation zone in Div 1A with this narrow victory over Dublin.

IT Carlow 4-16

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.

Cork 0-19 Clare 0-15: Cork’s fourth win of the Co-Op Superstores.ie Munster SHL denied Clare a place in this Sunday’s decider.