DUBLIN football defender Kevin Nolan says he and his team-mates train as hard as Premier League footballers.

LIMERICK’S unblemished record in their new environs of Division 2 of the Allianz NHL was maintained at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday and they remain on course for the lucrative rewards of promotion and a final placing.

DÓNAL ÓG CUSACK returns to the Cork team for the first time this year when Galway visit Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

THE FIRST job Donal O’Grady had to complete when appointed Limerick hurling manager was to dim the public’s horizon and minimise the expectation within the squad, and anyone who attended Saturday’s Allianz National league Division Two encounter with Westmeath won’t need much more convincing that O’Grady’s ‘Limerick project’ is very much in its foetal stages.

Limerick 1-20 Westmeath 0-15

FORMER senior kingpins Carrick Davins were crowned Tipperary IHC champions for the first time yesterday.

IN defiance of the dire weather predictions, a large crowd made their way to Castletownroche on Saturday evening for this senior hurling challenge, anticipating perhaps that with time running out to the championship, they would see a real contest between two sides that would be coming close to full strength.

TIPPERARY and Limerick received massive pre-championship boosts last night as cousins Eoin Kelly and Ollie Moran made their first appearances of the 2009 season for their respective counties in a senior hurling challenge.

HENRY SHEFFLIN returns to the Kilkenny side for his first appearance of the year in tomorrow’s NHL showdown against Tipperary. Shefflin comes in at centre-forward in place of Willie O’Dwyer, while Ballyhale Shamrocks clubmates TJ Reid and Michael Fennelly are also drafted into the team.

Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16, Semple Stadium

Limerick 3-15 Laois 1-13, Nenagh

Garryspillane 2-15 Kilmallock 2-12

Garryspillane 4-16 Croom 1-20

Garryspillane 1-16 Patrickswell 0-14

Monaleen 1-12 Na Piarsaigh 1-12

Paudie O'Dwyer and Pat Tobin have been called upon by Limerick for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Antrim - Limerick's first championship date with the Saffrons since 1996.

Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 2-14

Limerick 2-18 Waterford 1-18

New Limerick boss Joe McKenna has made three changes from the team that trounced Down last weekend for Sunday's National Hurling League visit to Wexford.

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.

Former captain and regular half-back Mark Foley has been named at full-forward for Limerick ahead of their opening National Hurling League clash with All-Ireland champions Cork on Sunday at Pairc Uí Rinn.

NEMO RANGERS won the permanent tsb Cork County IFC title for the second time in two years at floodlit Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

DEFENDING champions Kilkenny have named an unchanged team from the side which beat Clare for Sunday's Allianz NHL clash with Dublin at Nowlan Park.

THE Longford team to play Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night shows two changes in personnel and a number of positional switches from the team which lost to Mayo in their previous outing.

COLM BONNAR liked the idea of putting his feet up, relaxing and spending more time with his family.

Limerick boss Pat Joe Whelahan has named three newcomers as he takes charge of his first ever competitive game in charge.

JOE DEANE will miss Cork’s NHL opener after he hobbled out of this highly competitive challenge with Galway at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.

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).

Peter Lawlor returns to captain the Limerick U21s ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland final against Galway.

Limerick 1-20