Clare’s Munster and All-Ireland hurling ambitions have been significantly compromised by the loss of a trio of players for what appears to be the entirety of the championship season.

Clare’s Jamie Shanahan has been ruled out of the Munster senior hurling championship after undergoing surgery to alleviate a long-standing back issue.

We are a week into Munster Championship Lent. The 40 days and 40 nights before the start of the Munster SHC on May 12 commenced last Tuesday.

While soccer, courtesy of Croatia, is no longer winging home, hurling truths are dropping towards a roost.

Stephen Barry picks out three talking points from yesterday's Munster final in Thurles...

The Munster crown weighed heavy on Cork’s head last year but it shouldn’t be a burden this time around.

Yesterday was a day for hurling referees to step up to the mark and both James McGrath and Fergal Horgan did just that, in Semple Stadium and Croke Park.

Let’s get the moany bits, all the more relevant after the week that was in it, out of the way quickly.

David Reidy is also named to start having had his controversial red card from the Limerick game rescinded.

There’s a touch of the 2013 momentum building behind Clare and Cork will need to thread extremely carefully in Semple Stadium next Sunday as they attempt to retain the Munster SHC title.

CLARE 0-26 LIMERICK 0-15: Sometime before the final whistle here, neutrals’ attentions turned to the more dramatic developments in Thurles but the more Clare supporters see of this team of theirs, the more they are convinced of their virtues.

Of all the days I have been with RTÉ, yesterday was definitely the toughest, writes Anthony Daly.

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.

Bandon 15 Skibbereen 13: Underage rugby in West Cork is going from strength to strength and will continue to do so for years to come if the quality of the football in yesterday’s Bank of Ireland Munster Under-18 Club Cup final proves a reliable yardstick.

Limerick 4-21 Clare 0-33 (Limerick win 7-6 on frees AET)

The Tipperary team to face Wexford in tomorrow’s Allianz Hurling League shows five changes from the side which overcame Waterford the weekend before last.

Sixmilebridge captured their 13th Clare senior hurling title on Sunday, emphatically beating Clooney-Quin in Sunday's replay.

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.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

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.

Here’s the lowdown on today’s seven games...

Clare SHC final

Group A: DCU v Cork IT, DCU Sportsgrounds (B Gavin), 2pm.

Waterford 1-22 Limerick IT 0-18: On a glum January afternoon at Carriganore, Brian O’Halloran’s vibrant performance gave the two packed stands something to raise the spirits.

Seven Clare hurlers have been selected on the Bord Gáis U21 team of the year, with Seadna Morey, Tony Kelly and Colm Galvin honoured for a second year in succession.

Six-time All-Ireland winning minor hurling boss Mattie Murphy has joined the managerial ticket seeking to replace outgoing Galway senior manager Anthony Cunningham.

They haven’t gone away, you know. Clare’s exit from the senior championship may have been premature, but the county’s younger band of hurlers did not lie down after that disappointment and ended the year in spectacular fashion on Saturday night. 

Clare 2-20 Wexford 3-11

Clare 2-20 Wexford 3-11

Is there a Bubbles O’Dwyer or Richie Hogan among the 30 young men to march behind the band this evening?

Clare 5-19 Tipperary 1-25

Wexford 2-25 Clare 2-22 (after extra-time)

The turnstiles were clicking merrily at the Gaelic Grounds last night for this Munster hurling U21 opening round match, so much so that throw-in was delayed 15 minutes, to 7.45pm, as 6,000 fans made their way in .

Ardscoil Ris 2-13 Scoil na Trionóide Doon 0-04

Goalkeeper: Eddie Lynch (Passage)

“Centre stage ...

Sixmilebridge coach Brian Culbert had a choice when former team-mate John O’Meara was appointed manager of the club’s senior hurling team for the landmark 2013 campaign.