Waterford 1-17 Clare 0-8, Ballyduff Upper

CHAMPIONS Clare scored a notable early season victory with a hard-fought two-point win over Tipperary in the Waterford Crystal Trophy under lights in Borrisoleigh last night.

Clare 0-17 Tipperary 1-12

Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin got his managerial career with Clare off to a good start at Meelick when his side carved out a hard-earned 0-15 to 1-9 win over Waterford IT in the Waterford Crystal Cup.

Clare 2-24 Wexford 2-18

ANOTHER loss for Clare in the 2009 Allianz Hurling League and, though their relegation to Division 2 was already decided, this one still hurt, and a decent-sized home crowd trundled away from sunny Cusack Park with spirits low.

CLARE 0-19 GALWAY 4-16

Clare 0-13 Limerick IT 0-12, Meelick

Clare 2-18 IT Tralee 2-13, Meelick

Cork 2-19 Clare 2-17

Clare manager Mike McNamara has opted to make two changes to his team for Sunday's GAA Hurling All-Ireland quarter-final encounter with Cork in Thurles (throw-in 4pm).

WATERFORD coach Davy Fitzgerald has made two changes from the side that defeated Offaly last Saturday for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford in Semple Stadium.

Munster SHC Final: Tipperary 2-21 Clare 0-19

Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16, Semple Stadium

IF THIS were both Clare and Limerick’s first championship outing of the season, I’d be going for Limerick here, with very little hesitation.

THE promised torrential thunder-showers didn’t hit Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds until about an hour after the final whistle, long after the disappointing crowd of 17,365 had headed for home.

Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23

A YEAR ago there would have been only one verdict here. Of the two sides, Waterford are the team with the big-game experience, the big-name players and the talent. A number of significant factors, however, have combined to change the picture.

Three players will make their championship debuts for Clare in Sunday's Munster SHC opener against Waterford (Gaelic Grounds, throw-in 2pm).

Relegated Offaly suffered their fourth defeat in NHL Division 1B as Clare came from behind to take the spoils at O'Connor Park.

A slight knee injury has ruled team captain Brian O'Connell out of Clare's must-win NHL Division 1B showdown with fellow strugglers Offaly at Tullamore on Sunday.

ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION 1B: Clare 0-17 Tipperary 1-14

Limerick 2-15 Clare 0-12

Despite only scoring two points in the second half, reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions Limerick IT held out to book a place in their fourth final in five years this afternoon.

Clare 1-25 Laois 1-15, Scariff

CLARE manager Mike McNamara has praised the character of his side despite losing their NHL opener to Galway (2-24 to 3-17) on Sunday.

Galway 2-24 Clare 3-17

Frank Lohan, the Clare hurlers' new captain, is expected to miss their National Hurling League opener away to Down on Sunday.