Limerick 3-14 Clare 2-15: Willie Griffin played a captain’s part in Thurles as Limerick’s intermediate hurlers got a memorable day off to a winning start.

Cork IT 0-19 NUI Galway 0-10: Cork IT are just one more win away from a third Fitzgibbon Cup final in four years after they advanced past NUI Galway at the CIT Sports Stadium yesterday.

Eight points from John O’Dwyer helped last year’s beaten finalists Cork IT into the semi-finals of this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup as they saw off NUI Galway this afternoon.

UI Galway 0-21 UCC 0-19: An impressive NUI Galway side shocked UCC in Dangan to keep their Fitzgibbon Cup hopes alive.

UL 2-24 NUI Galway 0-9: UL manager Brian Lohan was delighted with his side’s display in their big Fitzgibbon Cup win over NUI Galway at Dangan yesterday.

Carlow 1-13 NUIG 2-10: Carlow hurlers recovered from a disastrous start to carve out a commendable draw against NUIG in this Walsh Cup first-round tie at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

Martin O’Neill thinks Shane Long will take the pressure associated with his €15 million move to Southampton in his stride but believes setting a target for the season would help the Tipperary man bridge the gap from being a scorer of great goals to a great scorer of goals.

Martin O’Neill insisted yesterday he would not feel left down if Roy Keane were to return to club football.

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 .

Martin O’Neill will seek a clear declaration of Stephen Ireland’s willingness to return to international duty before he considers recalling him to the Ireland squad.

Robbie Keane has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Serbia in a friendly in Dublin on March 5.

Waterford 4-18 Clare 1-10

Theoretically, the postponement of a game can be seen as a help as it allows both sides more time to prepare.

Cork 3-15 Clare 2-14

Reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary can call upon just three starters from last year’s All-Ireland final replay win over Dublin as they begin their Munster MHC campaign with a quarter-final against Waterford at Walsh Park tonight (throw-in 7pm).

Clare boss, Eamonn Fennessy described the dramatic conclusion to this pulsating tie as “heartbreaking”, after his young charges saw two massive decisions go against them, enabling Dublin to snatch the honours.

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

Connacht, who bridged a 28 year gap when capturing the title at Rosses Point last year, begin their defence of the Interprovincial Championship this morning with a difficult match against Munster at Royal Co Down.

Not since 1955 have Tipperary won both Munster minor titles in the same year, but yesterday’s hurling win over Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh completed a double following the football victory against Kerry.

By Brendan O'Brien

Hungary 0 Republic of Ireland 0

Clare’s ambitions to claim a third consecutive Munster minor hurling crown remain intact after they swept past Cork in last night’s play-off tie in Ennis to set up a semi-final date with Limerick on June 29.

It was a polished Diamond — one Harry Diamond from the Belvoir Park club in Belfast — who shone brightest at scenic Rosses Point to take the title in the final of the Radisson Blu West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship yesterday.

Stephen Healy (Claremorris) will represent the home province on the final day of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point today after a clear-cut 4 and 3 triumph over Nicholas Grant (Knock) in their quarter-final yesterday.

Alex Ferguson’s players unleashed their frustration on Wolves the last time they were embarrassed in Europe.

After a late switch of venue from Abbeyfeale to Rathkeale due to the weather, last year’s beaten finalists Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne advanced to an all-Kerry semi-final meeting with Tralee CBS.

DESPITE playing the entire game with 14 men, Coláiste na nDéise still managed to keep their noses ahead of hurling bluebloods St Flannan’s and claim the spoils in this Harty Cup quarter-final in Tipperary town.

ST FLANNAN’S College, Ennis were forced to dig deep against a gallant Intermediate School Killorglin side at a rain-lashed Croagh pitch, before garnering the draw they needed to advance to the knockout stages of this year’s Corn Ui Mhuiri.

HE began the game on the bench but by the full-time whistle, Joseph Barry had made a defining contribution in tipping yesterday’s Dr Harty Cup Group C encounter in Charleville, in the direction of St Flannan’s.

ROCHESTOWN COLLEGE’S Gary Hartnett showed a cool head to slot an injury time penalty past St. Flannan’s keeper Killian Normoile to earn his team the narrowest of victories in their Corn Uí Mhuirí Group A meeting at Charleville yesterday.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI believes that pressure from Russia has resulted in Ireland having to play their next European Championship qualifier in Andorra’s tiny Communal d’Andorra Stadium.

TRALEE CBS withstood a fierce challenge from St Flannan’s to capture honours in an exciting Frewen Cup (Munster Colleges U16½ AFC) final at the Limerick venue of Croagh yesterday afternoon.

SUPERIOR firepower was the key to victory for St Flannan’s College as they claimed the Dean Ryan Cup at Cashel yesterday.

TRALEE CBS’s penchant for striking goals was instrumental in a comfortable success against St Flannan’s in yesterday afternoon’s Munster Colleges Frewen Cup quarter-final in Glin.

FROM champions to wooden spoonists in the space of 12 months — that was the story for Ireland yesterday as the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals ended at Hillside on the Lancashire coast.

DANIELLE MCVEIGH produced a dramatic rearguard action to snatch the Ladies British Open Amateur stroke-play title at Royal Aberdeen yesterday.

THIS will be a big weekend on and off the course for several of our leading golfers.

Defending South of Ireland Championship champion Niall Kearney suffered a shock defeat in the third round of the 2009 event today at Lahinch.

YOU know it is a night for the diehards when a soon-to-be 37-year-old Andrew Cole is the most famous face on show, but Giovanni Trapattoni’s ‘B’ boys did their best to raise their own profiles with a comfortable win over the English visitors.

LEINSTER include the three outstanding players of the amateur season so far — Shane Lowry, Niall Kearney and Paul O’Hanlon — in their side for the Interprovincial Championship getting under way at Athlone tomorrow.

Shane Lowry's bid for a hat-trick of provincial titles ended in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.

Defending champion Darren Crowe crashed out of the weather-delayed South of Ireland championship at Lahinch.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs romped to a four-stroke win in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth today.

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.