A record ninth Leinster SFC title in a row for Dublin but one that came in slightly unusual circumstances.

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

Dublin breezed into a ninth Leinster SFC final as Cormac Costello yet again dazzled with nine points.

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

Fourteen-man Dublin extended their winning run to 25 games in the Leinster senior football championship with this facile victory in O’Moore 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.

Despite playing the last 25 minutes with 14 men, Tyrone picked up their first win over Dublin in six years as the All-Ireland lost three round games for the first time in Jim Gavin’s reign.

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.

Jim Gavin dug deep into his all-conquering Dublin panel with impressive consequences as the three-in-a-row All-Ireland winners signed off on their Super 8s campaign in style.

Dublin 1-25 Laois 0-10

A Stephen Cluxton-less Dublin turned in a fine second-half showing to easily see off Laois to claim the county’s eighth Leinster SFC title in a row.

An effective second-half by Clare ensured they will face Cork in a second successive Munster final as they easily dismissed a flat Limerick in Ennis.

Dublin 2-17 Kildare 2-10: All-Ireland champions Dublin shrugged off a sluggish first half to make a winning start to their Division 1 campaign in Croke Park this evening.

Dean Rock was Dublin’s hero as his additional-time free kick won the county their third consecutive All-Ireland SFC title.

Tipp’s experience was vital in Páirc Uí Chaoimh today as they showed all their nous to edge out Clare in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, hitting five points in the closing stages for a three-point win, writes Michael Moynihan.

A superior Clare qualified for their first Munster final in nine years but not without difficulty as a combination of poor shooting and Limerick’s tenacity made them sweat until the end.

DUBLIN 0-19 ... CARLOW 0-7: Dublin made a sticky start to their Leinster campaign in O’Moore Park even if their margin of victory over Carlow was convincing.

Cork were too lively for visitors Clare in this entertaining Division 1A hurling clash at a freezing Pairc Ui Rinn.

Mayo’s misery will extend to a 66th year after Dublin’s excellent bench scored them a second successive All-Ireland title this evening, their hero in the drawn final Cillian O’Connor widing a last gasp free to force extra-time.

As expected, for Dublin it was a comfortable first championship day away from Croke Park in 10 days but not without its faults.

Mid Kerry 3-12 Kilcummin 1-13: A devastating 10-minute second half spell sealed Mid Kerry’s victory over Kilcummin in this SFC first round tie in Killorglin yesterday.

Cork 1-26 Clare 1-13: A comfortable win for Cork in this senior hurling challenge game against Clare was marred by a concussion injury suffered by defender Cormac Murphy in the second half. 

Cork 1-14 Tipperary 1-11: A sharper Cork side, spearheaded by the impressive Damien Gore and Mark Buckley up front, had a touch too much class for Tipperary in this Munster MFC quarter-final last night in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Dungourney (Cork) 1-17 Fenor (Waterford) 0-8: A classy second-half goal from Dungourney corner-forward Jack Griffin was the spark the East Cork club needed to claim control of this Munster junior club hurling final yesterday in Mallow.

There were upsets in the featured Rakes of Mallow Stake, the all-aged stake and the Derby Trial Stake at Mallow yesterday.

Cloughduv 1-19 Clonakilty 0-10: Cloughduv had little difficulty in seeing off Clonakilty in the Cork JHC quarter-final tie at Brinny yesterday.

St. Nicholas 1-5 Dohenys 0-7 (Cork SFC Replay): Fortunate to earn a replay last week, St. Nicholas made no mistake this time when beating Dohenys by the narrowest of margins in Bandon yesterday to reach the last eight of the county SFC.

St Nicholas 2-9 Dohenys 0-15: A point by Evan Kearney in the 62nd minute earned St Nicholas a second bite of the cherry in this highly entertaining Cork SFC fourth-round tie at Bandon on Saturday night.

Bandon 1-13 Kilworth 0-11: Victory for Bandon in this Premier Cork IHC, Round three clash, the men from west Cork proving too smooth and accomplished for a game Kilworth outfit in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Ballyhea 1-19 Blackrock 0-11: A great day for Ballyhea yesterday in Fermoy, as the men in black and white enjoyed a comprehensive win over Blackrock in this first round Cork county senior hurling championship game.

Dohenys 1-11 Aghada 0-10: Daniel O’Donovan’s opportunist goal at the three-quarters stage helped power Dohenys to a deserved victory over Aghada in the opening round of the Cork senior football championship at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Limerick 1-6 Armagh 2-16

Kilworth 0-16 Ballyhea 0-11

Bishopstown 2-14 Dohenys 2-12 (aet)

Finuge 1-05 St Vincent’s 0-05

Kildorrery 2-08 Brian Dillon’s 0-13

Kildorrery 2-15 Brian Dillons 1-18

Midleton 3-17 Ballyhea 0-12

Coláiste na nDéise cruised into the Dr Harty Cup final with victory in the all-Waterford affair which started bizarrely at Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Saturday.

DCU took the first step in defence of their O’Byrne Cup title at Baltinglass yesterday.

ARD SCOIL RÍS won their first White Cup with an impressive finish at Cahir yesterday.

WATERFORD bounced back from their opening day defeat to Wexford to claim a historic first Division Three victory at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.