In the pursuit of excellence, sportspeople make extraordinary sacrifices.

Tipperary have named an unchanged starting side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final clash with Kilkenny, but the major talking point is the inclusion of Toomevara’s John O’Brien at full-forward. O’Brien’s brother Thomas passed away earlier this week.

Clare senior football manager Micheal McDermott has spoken out against proposals to resume seeding the Munster SFC.

Two late goals for Waterford United sealed a victory they deserved, but one they were far from certain to secure throughout the last 15 minutes of this Airtricity clash.

A physically stronger Westmeath progressed to the Leinster MFC semi-finals on Saturday but were made work for their three-point victory by battling Wicklow at Aughrim.

A magnificent 16-point haul by full-forward Joe Bergin helped Ollie Baker’s Offaly retain their grip on the Bord na Mona Walsh Shield following a hard-earned extra-time victory over the students of DIT at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

It took them time to warm to the task, but a clinical second-half performance was enough to secure the expected victory for a fancied Carlow IT team in this Fitzgibbon Cup game against Dublin IT yesterday.

Waterford United 5 Athlone Town 1

THEY may have been safely ensconced in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals before throw-in, but that did not impinge on Cork IT’s focus against Dublin IT yesterday.

The team lineups for this weekend’s AIB League fixtures have been announced.

THE AIB League Division One play-offs lie tantalisingly in sight for Dolphin, after this win built on discipline and character at Musgrave Park.

Team news for this weekend's AIB League games.

Team news ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland League clashes.

A MASTER class in free-taking from Dave Bennett saw Lismore safely to victory in an exciting Waterford Senior Hurling Championship opener at Cappoquin on Saturday.

Ballincollig's Brian Cotter will start for champions Cork in tomorrow night's Cadbury's Munster Under-21 football final against Waterford (Pairc Ui Rinn, throw-in 7.00pm).

The following is the Connacht A side which will take on Munster A in Thomond Park on Monday (2:00):

Mount Sion 1-19 Abbeyside 0-11

Limerick 1-13 Waterford 0-10

BOHERBUE'S KEVIN Murphy replaces regular goalkeeper Kevin O’Dwyer on the Cork team to play Tyrone in the Allianz NFL at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday.

Abbeyside 1-11 Mount Sion 1-9

THE Irish U19's begin their preparations for the World Cup in South Africa against Wales at Musgrave Park tonight, (7.30pm).

Coláistí Na nDeise 2-10 De La Salle (Waterford)1-7