Father and son, Jimmy and Paddy Mangan, teamed up to take the most-valuable race, the Graun Hill Suite Beginners’ Chase, on yesterday’s national hunt card on a well-attended inaugural student race-day at Tramore.

A determined performance from Limerick saw them crowned All-Ireland U21 hurling champions for the second time in three years.

Limerick U21 hurling boss Pat Donnelly believes the county should be in a position to challenge for a senior All- Ireland by 2020.

Clara made a winning start to the defence of their Kilkenny senior hurling league and championship crowns when they overcame the tough test of Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Brian Cody has made four changes to the Kilkenny side for today’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary in Nowlan Park (throw-in 2pm).

A barrage of first half goals saw Ballyhale Shamrocks roar their way into the semi-finals of the Kilkenny senior hurling championship.

Dean Raftery is ready to make his mark in the World Rally Championship after being honoured at the Irish Motorsport Awards yesterday.

Kilkenny 1-23 Waterford 1-14

Knives sharpened, the critics emerged in their droves from the long grass.

AIB All-Ireland club camogie champions Milford kept their hopes of a two-in-a-row alive but only just, as they edged a very tight encounter with Eoghan Rua at Donaghmore Ashbourne by 1-10 to 0-8.

Galway 1-9 Kilkenny 0-7

Muckalee 2-10 James Stephens 1-09

It has been a case of learning on the job for the Cork minor camogie side this year, but the pressure-cooker environment has paid off for the team and management.

Tipperary have made five changes for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-final clash with Dublin in Semple Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Bryan Sheehan, Anthony Maher and Aidan O’Mahony make their first starts of the year for Kerry in tomorrow’s McGrath Cup semi-final against Limerick at Fitzgerald Stadium.

KILKENNY senior panellists Richie Doyle and Kieran Joyce have both been named in the starting 15 for the county’s intermediate team that do battle with Wexford in the Leinster IHC final in Nowlan Park tonight at 7.30pm.

THEY have neither the high profile nor the heavy-hitting personnel of the big guns, but CIT maintained their interest in the Fitzgibbon Cup with a narrow quarter-final win at their impressive Bishopstown complex yesterday.

My Flirtation with International Socialism

A SUPERB 239/1 treble by Davy Russell, on Instinctive, Playboy Luke and Meadows Thyne, proved the highlight of yesterday’s action at Gowran Park.

GAA chiefs yesterday announced that the country’s lesser lights are set to take centre stage in Croke Park on July 4th, with the fixing of the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup deciders.

CORK’S Tony Healy cemented his place as top seed when defeating Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy to take his third consecutive senior men’s crown at the Envirogreen Resource Nationals in Kilkenny yesterday.

Former Kilkenny forward John Power has returned to the inter-county fold as a selector for the Cats' intermediate hurlers.

THE struggle between club and county continues in Antrim. With the county U21 hurlers due to play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in Navan on Saturday, several clubs are reluctant to release their players because of county championship matches the following day.

WATERFORD’S lone Allstar of 2003, John Mullane, has been named the Decies Hurler Of The Year.

KILKENNY’S failure to win the Leinster minor title three years ago had been a powerful motivating force behind their All-Ireland Under-21 success in Thurles on Sunday, believes selector Mick Dempsey.

CIARAN CAREY has returned to the Limerick senior hurling panel for tomorrow night’s All Ireland qualifier against Offaly at Semple Stadium in Thurles (7pm).

WATERFORD hurler John Mullane considered quitting the sport and emigrating following a controversial incident in which an opponent was seriously injured.

Youngster Willie O'Dwyer will make his senior debut for Kilkenny on Sunday alongside Hurler of the Year Henry Shefflin in the half-forward line.

RAGE swept through Waterford Gaeldom yesterday at the 12-week suspension handed down to county hurling star John Mullane by the Games Administration Committee.

DUNSHAUGHLIN captain Aidan Kealy has been given a last minute reprieve by Croke Park’s GAC to play in Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland club SFC semi final against Crossmolina.

WEXFORD’S Allstar defender Darragh Ryan is to undergo surgery for cruciate ligament damage to his left knee.