The increased number of championship games brought about by the provincial round-robin format makes it harder to successfully defend the Liam MacCarthy Cup, according to Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes.

In years to come, when the memory of this game sparks a grimace on the outskirts of Waterford city and warm smiles in northern Tipperary, one name will dominate discussion of this Munster club final.

“Preparations have gone well and we’re happy with the performances we’ve given so far. But we have to reach the level again on Sunday."

Both sides struggled to find their range early on, with Ballygunner’s Pauric Mahony (free) the only scorer in the opening ten minutes.

Sunday afternoon Ballygunner host Patrickswell in the Munster Club SHC semi-final in Walsh Park (throw-in 1.30pm).

Kerry GAA officials decided not to allow TV coverage of their County SFC final over concerns about the impact on the attendance.

There was a time for Ballygunner when playing Clare opposition in Munster competition was always one match too far, but those days of serial defeat to the best of the Banner have been well and truly ended these past three years.

Aaron Gillane revealed that he lined out for Patrickswell in Sunday’s Limerick SHC final against medical advice.

A Cian Lynch-inspired Patrickswell denied Na Piarsaigh the three-in-a-row to win their first senior county title since 2016 and a record 20th in total.

Cian Lynch’s last two All-Ireland final weekends couldn’t have been more different.

Sixty minutes is all that separates Kildimo-Pallaskenry from senior hurling, 60 years after the club were almost lost to the game for good.

Ballinkillen will go before the Leinster Council hearings committee to contest their expulsion from the Carlow SHC.

NA PIARSAIGH overcame the second-half sending off of Ronan Lynch to see off Kilmallock

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Na Piarsaigh came through to face Patrickswell in the Limerick SHC final with a tough win over Kilmallock.

Patrickswell are through to the Limerick SHC final after an impressive win over Doon in the Gaelic Grounds.

The 23-year-old will undergo an operation tomorrow, club manager and former Limerick star Ciarán Carey telling sportinglimerick.com the forward had sustained two fractures in the draw in the LIT Gaelic Grounds.

Reigning Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch has admitted he was ‘distraught’ following the incorrect decision not to award Limerick a late ‘65 in their defeat to Kilkenny.

There’s a blissful ignorance to Aaron Gillane’s hurling that he is loathe to surrender.

A strong finish to both halves propelled Limerick to a first Munster MHC title since 2014 in today’s curtain-raiser.

Cian Lynch, Declan Hannon, Gearoid Hegarty, and Graeme Mulcahy have been restored to the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster hurling final.

All-Ireland champions Limerick are all but guaranteed of a top-three finish in Munster after this 18-point thumping of Clare.

The father of Limerick hurling star Cian Lynch has launched an astonishing attack on his home parish, the GAA and Fianna Fáil.

In the first of a Championship series, hurlers chat about their hands and the injuries sustained in the service of club and county. First up is Waterford legend, Ken McGrath.

Patrickswell hold the only 100% record after two rounds of the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.

Na Piarsiagh showed that they have every intent in holding onto their title after they swept aside South Liberties by 4-20 to 0-10 in Mungret.

There was more than one reason for Alby Mathewson to welcome Johann van Graan’s decision to extend his term at Munster to June 2022.

Aaron Gillane has rubbished the suggestion that All-Ireland holders Limerick are going too well, too early in 2019, describing the notion as “stupid”.

Aaron Gillane was the hero as Mary Immaculate College booked their place in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final when they held off the NUIG challenge at Cusack Park in Ennis..

Far more satisfying for Limerick than the two points banked was the manner in which they ground out the county’s first top-flight league win since 2009.

Reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions UL have a job on their hands to emerge from the group of death after losing their opening fixture to UCC this afternoon.

Nenagh CBS bounced back from an opening round loss to hand defending champions Ardscoil Ris a significant defeat in this group A Dr Harty Cup tie in Newport.

You have to appreciate and respect a person that marches to their own beat, one that really understands what makes them tick.

Tributes were paid to Patrickswell and Limerick legend Leonard Enright who passed away on Friday at the age of 65.

Club GAA has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons.

There was high drama in the Gaelic Grounds as wing back Denis Moloney popped up in additional time to send over Doon’s first score in 12 minutes to secure their first Limerick SHC final appearance in 18 years.

Patrickswell 1-26 South Liberties 1-13

Limerick were behind by eight points at half-time in their league game with Galway earlier in the season. They won’t want to be in a similar situation at any time tomorrow. They will be looking for a good start and their go-to man from puckouts, particularly early in the game, is Gearóid Hegarty.

If there’s one bit of advice Gary Kirby would give John Kiely from Limerick’s last All-Ireland final appearance it would be to shelve any ideas about a fans’ night.

If you’ve recovered, you may find time to place yesterday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Limerick and Cork in the pantheon of great games.

Cork’s side for tonight’s Munster U21HC semi-final against Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm) will feature five players who have played in this year’s provincial senior championship while none of the Déise side saw action.

Mike Casey is named at full-back on the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster SHC clash with Cork, the sole change to the side which overcame Tipperary.

Limerick U21 manager Pat Donnelly was correct to say this performance won’t be sufficient to overcome Tipperary in the Munster semi-final on June 21.

Clare’s Jason McCarthy expects tonight’s Banner crowd “will be going mad” for the county’s U21 clash with All-Ireland champions Limerick in Cusack Park.

Champions Na Piarsaigh remain unbeaten after two rounds of the Limerick SHC.