Antrim 1-22 DIT 2-12: Antrim hurlers had a deserved win over DIT in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup at stormy St Paul’s Park in Belfast yesterday.

Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-15 Ballyea 1-07

There was irony aplenty at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday as Aaron Cunningham, son of Offaly coach Alan, landed the decisive 70th minute winning point as Clare maintained their 100% record in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL.

Clare had just too much power and speed for Laois at Portlaoise yesterday, but when one recalls the dreadful championship humiliation suffered by the Moores at the hands of Cork in the same venue last summer, there was plenty to be positive about formanager, Teddy McCarthy.

Clare 2-22 Laois 2-13

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.

IT Carlow just prevailed in this Fitzgibbon Cup group tie at the IT grounds in Carlow yesterday after a competitive contest which featured a shootout between the respective centre-forwards – the home side’s TJ Reid and NUIG’s Niall Burke.

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.

A virtuoso display from teenage star Declan Hannon denied Clare a merited home win in Sixmilebridge in a marathon Waterford Crystal quarter-final on Saturday evening.

A winning debut for Davy Fitzgerald in his first competitive game at the helm of his native county as a far fitter, faster and fired-up Clare destroyed WIT in Sixmilebridge yesterday in this Waterford Crystal SH Tournament preliminary game.

LAOIS began life under Cork legend Teddy McCarthy with a battling extra-time victory over DIT in Rathdowney on Saturday.

SIX unanswered points in the final 10 minutes steered St Kieran’s to another Leinster trophy after they came from behind to deny a gallant St Brendan’s, Birr at Balinakill yesterday.

ALTHOUGH Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) and Alastair Fisher (Ford Fiesta S2000) each shared three fastest times over yesterday’s six stages of the opening leg of the Topaz Donegal International Rally, the former will take a 28.6 second lead in to today’s second leg of the Letterkenny-based rally, the fourth round of the Irish Tarmac Championship.

ST BRENDAN’S CS, Birr were the convincing inaugural winners of the All-Ireland Community and& Comprehensive Schools U-17½ hurling championship title after they overwhelmed Blackwater CS of Waterford at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny yesterday.

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.

A LORCAN DOLAN goal two minutes from time secured a semi-final spot for Moate CS at Stillorgan yesterday.

CHARLEVILLE CBS won this Harty Cup quarter-final tie at Clarina yesterday far more convincingly than the score line suggests.

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.

Clare 0-15 Kilkenny 0-14

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.