“It is becoming an elite association and they are just catering for inter-county, while and clubs, third-level, and second-level are all suffering.”

“You just can’t beat games.”

An experimental Dublin side got their Walsh Cup campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable eight-point win over Westmeath.

Westmeath great Dessie Dolan pulled down the shutters on his playing career on a bittersweet afternoon in Mullingar as Garrycastle exited the AIB Leinster club championship.

St Mullin's produced the shock of the club championship weekend as the Carlow representatives stunned former All-Ireland champions, Cuala, at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Meath produced an impressive display against Down at Croke Park to secure their second Christy Ring Cup crown in the space of four seasons.

It wasn't always pretty from Dublin at rain-drenched Parnell Park but Mattie Kenny's men dug deep to secure the win and top spot in Division 1B of the Allianz NHL.

UCC are through to play St Mary’s University College, Belfast in the Sigerson Cup final in Parnell Park next Wednesday.

Kate Hannon scored 0-11 and scooped the Player of the Match award as Cork’s Glanmire won their first ever All-Ireland junior club title with victory over Tourlestrane at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe.

Under-17 European Championship finals (Group C)

David Treacy's 12th point of an epic All-Ireland club hurling final ensured that holders Cuala live to fight another day.

NUI Galway 2-12 Dublin IT 0-15

NUI Galway manager Maurice Sheridan is hopeful that his side can now go all the way and claim their 23rd Sigerson Cup crown after qualifying for the final after a tough contest at the St Loman’s club in Mullingar.

DCU were always in control of this all-Dublin clash between two colleges hoping to reach their first Fitzgibbon Cup final and they will now hope to bring the trophy back to the capital for the first time since 2001.

Cuala (Dublin) 1-17 Liam Mellows (Galway) 0-11: The champions of the last two years will meet in the All-Ireland club hurling final, but it will take a monumental performance from Na Piarsaigh to deny this Cuala team a two-in-a-row.

David Treacy scored seven points for Cuala who overwhelmed Liam Mellows and advanced to another All-Ireland final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Well now, this was a turn up for the books. The NUIG celebrations, after five drama-filled minutes of second-half injury-time, told as much.

NUI Galway will play wither UCC or Garda College in Round 2 of the Sigerson Cup as first-half goals from Damien Comer and Brian Donovan set them on the road to an easy win over IT Sligo.

Fitzgibbon Cup Group B: University of Limerick 3-29 - Dublin Institute of Technology 4-17: It proved all too easy for the hurlers of University Limerick in this Fitzgibbon Cup clash.

Dundalk 3 Drogheda United 0: Dundalk are refusing to give up on their title.

Fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers moved four points ahead of Derry and built up to Thursday’s Europa League test against Icelandic Stjarnan in style by hammering Drogheda last night.

Drogheda United 0 - Dundalk 6: Dundalk remain on course for a second-place finish behind champions-elect Cork City following this derby rout of 10-man Drogheda at United Park.

Cork City FC 5 Drogheda United 0: Cork City provided emphatic proof that the end of their winning run was merely a blip as Drogheda United were shrugged aside with ease at Turner’s Cross last night.

A goal in the 51st minute from corner forward Killian Doyle proved to be the decisive score as Westmeath survived the handicap of playing the entire second half with just 14 men to eke out a crucial win against neighbours Meath in the third and final round robin series of the Leinster senior hurling championship, in ideal conditions at Mullingar yesterday afternoon.

Laois 3-25 Meath 2-13: Laois manager Eamonn Kelly admitted he couldn’t recall a better midfield display than Paddy Purcell’s in Navan.

Dundalk’s bid to retain their title may have taken a dent last week but their status as top dogs in Louth was assured with victory over neighbours Drogheda Utd in Oriel Park last night.

Galway 3-13 Clare 1-11: It’s six years since Galway lost their top flight status and while they are now in the driving seat to make a return, manager Kevin Walsh is not getting too excited just yet.

Tyrone chairperson Roisin Jordan has insisted the county executive is fully behind Mickey Harte and his team, and fully supportive of their efforts to win a first All-Ireland title since 2008.

Allianz FL Division 2

DIT 3-15, GMIT 0-11: DIT manager Derek Brennan was delighted that his side gave themselves a fighting chance of making the knockout stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup after they scored an emphatic at Carnmore in Galway.

St Mary’s 1-9

Alan and Donncha O’Connor have committed to the Cork football squad for 2017, selector Eoin O’Neill has confirmed.