All-Ireland Club hurling champions Ballyhale Shamrocks had to dig deep before registering a five points win over Carlow side Mount Leinster Rangers in their Leinster Championship opener at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow this afternoon.

THIRTEEN years on from the All-Ireland semi-final of 1993, when they failed to Galway after storming through Munster, Babs Keating returns to Croke Park as manager of the Tipperary hurling team.

Toomevara attacker Francis Devanney has been drafted into the Tipperary side for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Waterford at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

PEOPLE can talk all they like about Ring, Mackey, Doyle, about Tull Considine and Philly Grimes, all the great ghosts of hurling past, but be in no doubt about this; yesterday in Semple Stadium we witnessed one of the greatest ever individual displays in the long history of the Munster championship.

Offaly 3-14 Tipperary 2-21

FOUR sides head to Semple Stadium, Thurles tomorrow with differing hopes and ambitions.

A QUINTET of All-Ireland winning stars, Donal Óg Cusack, Wayne Sherlock, Brian Murphy, Tom Kenny and Timmy McCarthy return to the Cork team for Sunday's crucial Allianz NHL clash with Wexford at Wexford Park.

AFTER months of speculation, Ciaran McDonald has finally returned to the Mayo panel, but the enigmatic forward won’t be rushed back into wearing the county jersey in the foreseeable future.

THERE were two very different reactions in Limerick yesterday to this exciting opening round of the Allianz NHL.

ARDFINNAN produced a tremendous display of passion, pride and no little football at Cashel to take the Tipperary SFC title for the first time in 31 years.

PETER LAMBERT has been through it all before.

Cork are through to this year’s Munster SHC final on June 26, and the All-Ireland champions will discover today who they will face in the decider as Clare and Tipperary go head-to-head in the semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Tipperary manager Ken Hogan has made two changes from the side that narrowly overcame Limerick for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final clash against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds.

Michael Ellard and Brendan Larkin

Limerick and Tipperary do battle all over again following their pulsating Munster SHC first round draw last week in Thurles.

Tipperary boss Ken Hogan is sweating on the fitness of three key players ahead of Sunday's Munster hurling championship first round clash against Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

IT can never be a good sign for hurling when Tipperary are an afterthought, but that’s how many think of Ken Hogan’s side when the business end of the championship comes up for discussion.

Galway 0-17 Tipperary 3-15

Down 0-11 Cork 1-19

Wexford 2-19, Tipperary 2-15

TIPPERARY’S hurling management team know exactly what is required to re-invigorate the county’s fortunes.

Limerick 3-11 Tipperary 4-14

All-Ireland champions Cork take to the road today and face Wexford, the opposition they overcame in last year's semi-final, in their Division 1B second round clash at Wexford Park.

Tipperary have made two changes to the side that narrowly overcame Down last weekend for their visit to Limerick this weekend.

LAST SEASON’S ‘Young Player of the Year’, Brian Murphy, returns to the Cork team for Sunday’s Allianz National Hurling League tie with Wexford at Wexford Park.

Tipperary 3-17 Down 2-12

Today's glamour clash in Division 1B features the visit of Limerick to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to take on the might of All-Ireland champions Cork.

Tipperary manager Ken Hogan has named five newcomers for Sunday's opening National Hurling League clash against Down in Thurles.

CORK will be without five of their All-Ireland-winning starting fifteen - Wayne Sherlock, Brian Murphy, John Gardiner, Kieran Murphy and Brian Corcoran - for their opening Allianz National Hurling League game against Limerick at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Croke Park chiefs have confirmed Fermanagh will receive a bye into the second round of this year's All-Ireland qualifier system.

Tipperary have suffered a huge blow ahead of their All-Ireland qualifier against Fermanagh on Saturday.

The Tipperary Senior Football team to play Louth in the National Football League on Sunday has been named.

The Tipperary senior football team to play Kildare on Sunday shows two changes from the Waterford match last Sunday.

Waterford 1-11 Tipperary 1-7

Officials at Bangor have been forced to abandon Friday’s National Hunt meeting after an inspection this morning.

Prospects for Friday's meeting at Bangor are looking grim according to clerk of the course Michael Webster.