Cathal Malone was in marvellous form as he helped guide Sixmilebridge to their fourth Clare SHC title this decade, their third in five seasons.

Cork’s two-time All-Ireland midfielder Tom Kenny has joined John Meyler’s management team ahead of their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final the weekend after next.

Clare restored pride with a battling performance but exited the Munster championship yesterday despite beating Cork in Ennis.

Clare were a shadow of themselves as a rampant Tipperary made a mockery of the Banner’s proud home record in Cusack Park.

Castlelyons’ Niall O’Leary is the new face in the named Cork team to take on Tipperary in Sunday’s Munster SHC Round 1 clash as John Meyler goes with 13 of the team that were defeated by Limerick in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Waterford cruised to a win in this NHL quarter-final, with the 2,753 in attendance rewarded with an entertaining first half that gave way to a second-half stroll for the home side.

Clare will face Tipperary in the Co-Op Superstores Munster SHL final, having beaten Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan in front of 3,039 spectators.

It started as a puck-around and ended with managers tangling on the sideline, the kind of pre-season game that picks up momentum before a breathless finish.

An excellent second-half display saw Clare move into the last 12 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship following their seven-point defeat of an overpowered Sligo at Markievicz Park today.

Midleton 2-16 Bishopstown 0-12: There was only going to be one winner from this first-round Cork SHC clash in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday and yet it wasn’t so much a case of 2013 champions Midleton being comfortably in control all through, more an issue of how closer Bishopstown might have been had they not accumulated 17 wides.

Glasgow Warriors 12 Leinster 6: Connacht can sleep easily this weekend after Leinster failed to knock the Galway men off their top perch in the Guinness Pro12 last night at Scotstoun with defeat to Glasgow in a match that produced not a single try.

Mountrath Community School 3-22 Calasanctius College, Oranmore 1-9

Castres 16 Leinster 21

Munster 2-14 Leinster 4-15

Ospreys 11 Munster 25

Midleton 2-21 Na Piarsaigh 1-06

Midleton 2-18 Bishopstown 0-08

Leitrim were crushed in this Lory Meagher Cup tie at Ballinamore on Saturday by a rampant Tyrone led by Damien Casey.

JOY unconfined for Drom & Inch yesterday in Semple Stadium as they won their first Tipperary senior hurling title, edging out Clonoulty Rossmore by two points to get their hands on the Dan Breen Cup.

AFTER Cathal McCrann’s 61st minute levelling free for Gortletteragh extra-time couldn’t separate Manorhamilton and Gortletteragh in Saturday’s thrilling Leitrim SHC final in Carrick-on-Shannon.

THEIR winning performance was almost dwarfed by the massive achievement in ending a 74 year wait for a place in the Cork SHC final, but it took an outstanding team display from Carrigtwohill, highlighted by inspirational play from Niall McCarthy and superb defending, to thwart Midleton in Páirc Uí Chaoimhy esterday.

THE scoreline at the end flattered Midleton at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday, yet, there was never any real doubt that they would be the team to face Ballymartle in next Sunday’s Cork SHC quarter-final.

GOALS from Dean Bennett, Johnny Breen, Mark Quigley and Daniel Kearns saw Dundalk come from behind to record a comfortable 4-1 win over 10-man Galway United in the FAI Ford Cup third round.

AN IMPRESSIVE Cork cruised past Clare in this Munster JFC clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

THERE’S plenty speculation, but it’s most unlikely Paul O’Connell will return for Saturday’s Amlin Cup semi-final clash with Harlequins at Thomond Park.

Munster travel to the Stade Municipal to take on Brive in the Amlin Challenge Cup looking to book a place in the last four of European rugby’s ‘second tier’ competition.

MUNSTER’S injury crisis has been well documented, but there were no histrionics from coach Tony McGahan yesterday as he announced a 27-man squad to prepare for Saturday’s Magners League derby with Leinster at Thomond Park (7.30).

LEINSTER powered through their last Heineken Cup Pool 2 battle with a thrilling victory over Racing Metro at Stade Yves du Manoir last night to secure a coveted home draw in the quarter-finals in April.

THE FIRST part of the challenge has been overcome and Leinster move forward to Paris on Friday with sights firmly set on securing a home Heineken Cup quarter-final draw.

A POWERFUL second-half display from Tipperary against University of Limerick yesterday saw the Premier County book a McGrath Cup quarter-final date with Waterford next Sunday.

A WIN is a win, but neither players, supporters or coach were much pleased with Leinster’s performance in last night’s Magners league clash with old rivals the Ospreys at the RDS.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan sounded almost like Finance Minister Brian Lenihan when describing the selection of his squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Ospreys as his toughest task of the year.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood was left to reflect on what might have been at the Sportsground on Saturday night after his side threw away what could ultimately prove a crucial Magners League point in the final minutes of their 18-6 defeat by Leinster.

Munster A 13 Llanelli 15

THE availability of centre Sam Tuitupou hinges on the outcome of today’s ERC disciplinary meeting in Dublin, but Munster have been boosted by the availability of hooker Jerry Flannery for Saturday’s must-win Heineken Cup clash with Toulon at Thomond Park.