UCC stuttered at times but Tom Kingston’s side got their Fitzgibbon Cup defence off to a winning start with this Group C win over NUI Galway at Dangan.

St Thomas have won all three county finals they have played in — having only made it to their first decider in 2012 — and they will go into a repeat of last year’s Galway SHC showdown against Liam Mellows as favourites in two weeks’time to retain the title for the first time.

There has been no wielding of the axe by the Clare management in the wake of last weekend’s 13-point hammering at the hands of Tipperary, with the team named for tomorrow’s game against Limerick showing just one change in personnel.

Martin Kavanagh fired 11 points for Carlow, but he was unable to get them over the line for victory as Galway claimed the win in their Leinster SHC opener at Pearse Stadium.

This was a convincing and routine win for Galway as they easily bettered Dublin to claim both the league points on offer at Pearse Stadium.

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..

A storming first-half helped UCC secure a home quarter-final in the Fitzgibbon Cup, following their seven-point victory over NUIG at the 4G pitch in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday afternoon. Unbeaten after three games, they topped Group A.

Galway split their squad at the weekend, with half of them playing Ballygunner in a challenge match in Claregalway and the remainder brushing Laois aside in their opening game in Division 1B yesterday at Pearse Stadium.

UCD were indebted to a brace of late frees from Ronan Hayes as they recued a share of the spoils with NUIG after their entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup Group A encounter at David Billings Park.

GOALS win games and Emmet Óg’s four majors were the difference as the Monaghan and Ulster champions booked their place in next month’s All-Ireland intermediate club final.

The visit of Pope Francis to Knock at the end of August has impacted on club championship matches in Mayo.

Galway 0-26 Dublin 2-19

Dublin nearly stunned the All-Ireland champions in Salthill but Paul Winters two second-half goals were not enough to edge victory for Pat Gilroy’s side in Pearse Stadium.

Jason Flynn's 1-9 haul eased All-Ireland title holders Galway to an anticipated victory at Parnell Park, setting up an Allianz hurling league promotion shoot-out with Limerick next weekend.

Galway 1-19 Antrim 1-16: After an hour of average hurling Micheál Donoghue’s Galway finally showed their class to launch the defence of their league and championship titles with victory over Antrim at Pearse Stadium.

Neal Peden’s Antrim almost landed the first major knock-out blow of the season, but the All-Ireland and league champions Galway finally found their form in the closing minutes to take the points at Pearse Stadium.

For the first time this summer, Limerick’s U21 hurlers were made to sweat.

Joe Canning and Conor Cooney weighed in with 0-18 between them at Croke Park as Galway came good with a storming second-half performance to claim the Leinster SHC title.

No surprises here. Not even the hint of any.

Galway 3-31 Laois 1-11: Galway thrashed Laois by 36 points the last time these sides met in the league back in 2008, and for a good while yesterday it seemed they might even surpass that margin.

Galway 1-19 Laois 0-16: A first-half goal from Joseph Cooney proved crucial as Galway advanced to the semi-finals of the Walsh Cup.

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).

A powerful first-half showing delivered Waterford a first All-Ireland U21 hurling title since 1992.

Galway 0-21 Dublin 0-19 (after extra time): On many levels Galway required this win. There was last week’s senior disappointment, last week’s minor disappointment and the disappointment suffered at this very juncture for the last four Augusts.

Galway 3-10 Kilkenny 0-17: Galway boss Jeffrey Lynskey refused to apologise for Cian Salmon’s controversial late goal that stole a dramatic All-Ireland semi-final victory.

Kilkenny 0-26 Galway 2-20 (AET): Drama at the death in the opener at HQ yesterday — both after the 70 minutes and extra-time — but the sum of this first All-Ireland minor semi-final added up to significantly less than its parts and, in that, it was no different to the senior contest that followed.

Galway 1-14 Limerick 0-13: Galway boss Jeffrey Lynskey is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Kilkenny in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final on August 16.

St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 0-19 Presentation Athenry (Galway )0-17

Allianz Hurling League Division 3A relegation play-off

If perseverance and commitment count for anything, then Pat Murray will win the West Coast Hotels-sponsored South of Ireland at Lahinch today.

Donegal booked their place in the Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final with three points in injury-time but they were pushed all the way by a resurgent Monaghan in an entertaining game in Clones on Saturday.

London 3-16 Monaghan 1-15

Portstewart's Paul Cutler gave his Walker Cup hopes a boost when he captured the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs took advantage of perfect early morning conditions to scorch to a six-under par 66 and a two stroke lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Louth.

Hurling great Davy Fitzgerald grabbed a shock win over Newlands’ Cian Curley in the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Lahinch today.

Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell made it a birthday to remember, finishing joint top at the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close at Cork yesterday.

Walker Cup hopeful Jonathan Caldwell staked a strong claim for selection in yesterday's Irish Amatuer Close Championship at Cork, where he shot a five under par 67 to lead the field after day one.

Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick fired a sensational six-under par 66 to scorch into an impressive six-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth.

Limerick's Pat Murray fired a three under par 69 to share the first round lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Scrabo's Andrew McCormick put a poor start behind him to grab the early lead in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth.