The summer game always looks strange when the players’ breath is visible in small clouds at every facemask.

Meanwhile, Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan has handed a first league start to corner-forward Cian Darcy.

The Tipperary team to face Wexford in tomorrow’s Allianz Hurling League shows five changes from the side which overcame Waterford the weekend before last.

Offaly’s devastating performance against Dublin at Croke Park in the first round of the Allianz Hurling League was a distant memory yesterday as they were swatted aside by Limerick at Bórd na Móna O’Connor Park.

Limerick 3-19 Kerry 1-15: For the second time in three years, Limerick and Clare will contest the final of the Munster Hurling League.

Mary I 3-24 IT Carlow 1-19: DJ Carey said that Mary I manager Jamie Wall is an inspirational figure who could enjoy a successful career in charge of county teams.

Mary Immaculate 0-19 Limerick IT 0-14: Mary Immaculate manager Jamie Wall played down the favourite’s tag that has been thrust upon his side, but after Aaron Gillane fired them to a Fitzgibbon Cup derby win over LIT, the manager is confident his side can cope with any pressure that comes their way against IT Carlow.

Mary Immaculate College 2-31 GMIT 0-16: Former Cork underage prospect Jamie Wall was pleased to see his Mary Immaculate College side run out 21-point winners over GMIT in yesterday’s Fitzgibbon Cup clash.

Munster Hurling League - Limerick 4-28 Kerry 0-16: Former underage star Peter Casey marked his Limerick senior debut with a fine display as the Shannonsiders spanked Kerry by 24 points at the Gaelic Grounds.

The returning David Moran is one of five changes to the Kerry side for today’s McGrath Cup final clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds (3pm).

Jackie Tyrrell makes his first since last year’s Leinster final as one of five changes to the Kilkenny side for tomorrow’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Galway at Nowlan Park tomorrow (2pm).

Mary I 1-30 UL 3-22: Eamonn Cregan fought back the tears. After 23 years of service, Saturday was his final afternoon in the Mary I corner.

Mary I 0-11 LIT 0-9: The Mary I management cut a somewhat perplexed bunch at the final whistle.

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).

University of Limerick 5-15  Mary Immaculate College 3-14 Fitzgibbon Cup Mary Immaculate College

Limerick scored a six-point win over Galway to progress to a first All-Ireland U21 hurling final since 2002.

Brian Herlihy has been appointed as the Cork minor football manager and his backroom team will feature a strong influence from the county’s 2010 All-Ireland-winning team.

Dictaphones switched off, Cian Lynch stands up from the huddle of print journalists he’s spent the past nine minutes entertaining.

Tipperary U21 boss TJ Connolly is relishing the opportunity to complete a clean sweep of Munster hurling titles for the Premier County.

“You can do one of two things when you lose,” says Waterford U21 hurling manager Derek Lyons, “you can go into a corner and hide or come out fighting.”

Cork 0-20 Limerick 0-18: The Cork intermediate team last night ensured at least one Munster hurling crown would reside on Leeside this summer – Ronan Dwane’s charges scoring a deserved two-point win over favourites Limerick.

Mary I 2-19 Waterford IT 0-10: Jamie Wall was the final speaker in the Mary I dressing room before Eamonn Cregan’s charges emerged onto the field.

The turnstiles were clicking merrily at the Gaelic Grounds last night for this Munster hurling U21 opening round match, so much so that throw-in was delayed 15 minutes, to 7.45pm, as 6,000 fans made their way in .

Clare 1-14 Limerick 0-11

Adare 2-17 Doon 2-15

Doon 1-18 South Liberties 0-09

Limerick 1-20 Waterford 4-8

While the drawn Munster minor final nine days ago took place in the Gaelic Grounds, Waterford manager Seán Power never expected his side to have home advantage for tonight’s replay with Limerick (Semple Stadium, 7.30pm).

Cork have made two changes in personnel and several positional switches for Sunday’s Munster SHC final clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds from the side that beat Clare in the semi-final.

Tipperary 0-17 Limerick 1-17

Dungarvan Colleges 3-13 Doon CBS 1-13

After Kilkenny’s weekend demolition job on highly-rated Dublin in the Leinster SHC semi-final many hurling pundits wondered if that was it, if everyone else is now just playing for second place.

As expected, Meath full-back Kevin Reilly has been ruled out of Sunday’s Leinster semi-final against Kildare.

Substitute Liam O’Sullivan was the scoring hero in the finale and wing-forward Ronan Lynch, still eligible for the U16 grade, was the scoring hero for the majority of the game as Limerick enjoyed a successful trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night by claiming a victory over Cork in the opening round of the Munster MHC.