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.

A 70th minute Keelan Sexton goal preserved Clare’s Division 2 status and, in the process, condemned both Cork and Tipperary to Division 3 football next spring.

Rory Gallagher isn’t shying away from it. Five games into a division they were favourites to be relegated from, unbeaten Fermanagh took another big step towards a fairytale promotion at Brewster Park yesterday and their manager isn’t blinking at the bright lights ahead.

Relegation favourites at the start of the campaign, unbeaten Fermanagh have taken another big step towards a fairytale promotion to the top flight with another low-scoring victory at Brewster Park.

Colm Collins blamed a frozen pitch in Páirc Esler for the horrific ankle injury sustained by Dermot Coughlan, while Kieran McGeeney was unhappy three key decisions went against Armagh in an action-packed Division Two draw in Newry.

Dr Crokes eased to an eighth Munster club SFC crown this afternoon, the destination of the O’Connor Cup never in doubt after a powerful opening burst from the Kerry champions.

CLARE 3-12 LOUTH 1-11: Clare maintained their Allianz Football League Division 2 status, with a merited win over bottom side Louth at Cusack Park Ennis yesterday.

Clare 1-12 Cavan 2-9: A pointed free by Cavan full-forward Bryan Magee two minutes into extr- time shared the spoils on league opening day. But Clare will feel they left this Division 2 tie behind them.

Following their 12-point McGrath Cup win over Waterford in Meelick on Saturday, Clare manager Colm Collins says it would make sense to double up their January 14 tie with Cork, rather than play each other on successive weeks.

Galway 3-13 Clare 1-11: It’s six years since Galway lost their top flight status and while they are now in the driving seat to make a return, manager Kevin Walsh is not getting too excited just yet.

McGrath Cup - Clare 0-12 Kerry 0-9: Paul Galvin will not be returning to the Kerry football set-up for the season ahead, manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice confirmed yesterday evening.

Clare 1-10 Tipperary 1-9: A late goal by local star Kieran Malone earned Clare victory over Tipperary in the opening round of the McGrath Cup yesterday.

Clonmel Commercials 1-13 St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay 0-3, Clonmel

St. Joseph’s, Miltown 0-13 Cooraclare 0-9: St. Joseph’s, Miltown bridged a 25 gap when capturing the Clare senior football championship title, defeating Cooraclare by four points at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Kerry advanced to the Munster JFC final against Cork following an easy victory over Clare yesterday.

Clyda Rovers 0-10 Miltown-Malbay 0-7

St Joseph’s (Clare) 3-11 Seán Finns, Rathkeale (Limerick) 0-07

Hamilton High School, Bandon 2-16 St Flannan’s College 2-11

A strong second half performance from Kerry earned them the Munster JFC title at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay last evening against a Clare side that led at half-time but had to play with 14 men for much of the time after the break.

Almost 12 months on from the night of one of Kerry’s lowest moments in the Munster MFC, the Kingdom survived a late onslaught from Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis last evening to book their place in this year’s final.

High School, Clonmel, despite playing with 14 men for the majority of the second-half, held off St Flannan’s at Lattin yesterday to reach the Munster Colleges Frewen Cup (U16½ AFC) final.

WITH less than two minutes remaining in normal time in the floodlit Gaelic Grounds last night, Clare had this Munster championship U21 first-round game all but won.

Carrigaline 2-8 St Michael’s 1-11