The 2016 All-Ireland club champions Na Piarsaigh made their mark on round two of the group phase of the Limerick SHC with a 3-18 to 1-15 win over champions Patrickswell.

Patrickswell, the champions, have begun their Limerick SHC title defence with a 0-16 to 0-14 win over Adare, on Sunday afternoon, in Kilmallock. They scored three late points.

All-Ireland Club hurling champions Na Piarsaigh were again defeated in the Limerick SHC over the weekend.

The absence of Shane Kingston is a major blow to Cork’s hopes of beating Limerick tonight (7.30pm, Gaelic Grounds) for the second time in this year’s Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling championship, manager Denis Ring has admitted.

Cork 2-20 Limerick 1-13: A blistering 12-minute spell either side of half-time – in which the home outfit hit 1-6 without reply – propelled Cork past the reigning Munster champions to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat.

Limerick and Munster club hurling champions Na Piarsaigh opened their title defence in fine style yesterday with a 2-20 to 1-11 win over Kilmallock in Bruff.

Sarsfields 2-14 UCC 0-9

Kilmallock 0-18 Knockainey 0-03

Sarsfields 1-21 UCC 5-09

UCC 2-20 Imokilly 3-10

After Kilkenny’s weekend demolition job on highly-rated Dublin in the Leinster SHC semi-final many hurling pundits wondered if that was it, if everyone else is now just playing for second place.

Kilmallock and divisional side Emmets are the only sides left with 100% records after round two of the Limerick SHC.

A FOUR goal blast from John Fitzgibbon saw Adare book their place in the Limerick SHC quarter-finals and lay down a marker to all contenders in the remaining eight.

THERE has been plenty of talk about managers from the top people in the GAA for the last number of months, and for all the wrong reasons.

2010 was a year to forget for Limerick hurling, the county convulsed by the controversy that saw its senior hurling team drastically diminished by cuts and withdrawals.

ANDREW O’SHAUGHNESSY isn’t too keen on dwelling on the latter end of 2009. And who could blame him. Twelve months ago he was one of the 12 Limerick hurlers sensationally dropped from the county panel with manager Justin McCarthy citing commitment and discipline issues as the chief reasons behind the axing.

SOUTH Limerick divisional outfit Emmetts will sample the grandeur of county final day for the first time since 1963 after triumphing in yesterday’s Limerick SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds.

THERE is an urgent requirement to put in place short-term strategies to survive the low milk price of 2009.

LIMERICK boss Ger Hegarty has made two changes for tonight’s crucial Munster MHC play-off with Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds, 6.30pm.

AFTER a lifetime of service on the playing fields, Brian Lohan has turned his attention to management.

KILMALLOCK held off a late Garryspillane fightback to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Limerick senior hurling championship.

TWO goals in the three minutes before half-time set Kilmallock on their way to a 3-16 to 2-16 win over Ahane in round one of the Limerick county senior hurling championship in Bruff yesterday.

THE Limerick team to play Clare in the ESB Munster MHC semi-final qualifier in Cusack Park tonight (6.30pm), shows six changes from the team trounced by Cork in the first round.

HOLDERS Cork will field seven of the squad which trounced Limerick in last year’s provincial final in tomorrow night’s opening round of the ESB Munster Minor Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds (6.30).

Bruree 1-9 Knockainey 1-7

TIPPERARY have named five members of last year’s Munster U21 HC winning side for tonight’s provincial semi-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.

CORK include only one senior panellist, Kevin Hartnett, on their U-21 team for tonight’s Munster’s hurling championship first round game against Waterford at Walsh Park.

SETANTA Ó hAILPÍN has been passed fit for next month’s International Compromise Rules Series against Australia.

Knockainey 4-10 Patrickswell 1-12

JOHN GARDINER could make a sensational return for tonight’s Erin Foods Munster under 21 championship against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

A LEADING GAA official has warned there can be no repeat of the infamous “Martin Johnson snub”, if Croke Park is opened up to other sports.

SETANTA Ó hAILPÍN has been cleared to play with Cork in tonight’s Munster U21 HC semi-final against Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30).

Knockainey 2-10

DEFENDING champions Tipperary have left a vacancy at corner forward for tonight’s Munster MHC semi-final against Limerick as they wait for fitness reports on two players who are in line for the position.