A Shane O’Donnell and Tony Kelly-led Clare spoiled Waterford’s Munster championship homecoming to leave the Déise playing a dangerous game of catch-up in the coming weeks.

Waterford cruised to a win in this NHL quarter-final, with the 2,753 in attendance rewarded with an entertaining first half that gave way to a second-half stroll for the home side.

Clare legend Anthony Daly says the decision to grant Waterford home advantage for their Munster SHC games this summer has blown the provincial championship “wide open”.

Clare will face Tipperary in the Co-Op Superstores Munster SHL final, having beaten Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan in front of 3,039 spectators.

It started as a puck-around and ended with managers tangling on the sideline, the kind of pre-season game that picks up momentum before a breathless finish.

"If you don’t win, you’re not remembered" — Andrew O’Shaughnessy

At the end of the match yesterday, I shook hands with Michael Lyster. It may be my last time doing a live TV game with Michael, who retires from RTÉ at the end of this year, and I wanted to acknowledge his help to me, and his absolute professionalism, over the years.

Éamonn Fitzmaurice shipped some criticism last week when he reintroduced Paul Geaney against Monaghan after a disappointing initial foray for the Dingle man.

If a hurler of the year was picked today, John Conlon would be edging Galway’s Pádraic Mannion for the title and his co-manager Donal Moloney has commended the leadership shown by the Clonlara man.

A valuable tool in coping with modern life, a psychologist believes the early introduction of mindfulness can be hugely beneficial, writes Marjorie Brennan.

It was 2013 when people began to realise how much of a young man’s game hurling had become. 

Clare 2-19 - Kilkenny 0-12: You know things aren’t going Kilkenny’s way when Richie Hogan makes way. The sight of the 2014 hurler of the year being called ashore in the 49th minute was a grimacing one for the player as much as the travelling support.

Cork were too lively for visitors Clare in this entertaining Division 1A hurling clash at a freezing Pairc Ui Rinn.

GAA Interprovincial hurling final

Clare 2-13 Tipperary 0-18: Are Clare 2016’s version of Waterford 2015 or a model closer to their 2013 selves? They’ll be praying it’s the latter but now 10 from 10 this year they have generated the sort of league momentum that carried their June 5 Munster semi-final opponents last season.

I came in early yesterday morning to watch the Clare U21s play Dublin in a challenge game in Clare-abbey, our old pitch in Clarecastle. 

Tipperary were made to regret an awful display of free-taking as a 67th minute goal by substitute Aaron Shanagher sealed a Division 1 semi-final date with Kilkenny.

Clare 2-28 Kerry 1-9: Sometimes you wonder if things happen by design or default in Clare but the unveiling of their €2.1m stand could not come at a better time next Sunday when a bumper crowd is expected at their Cusack Park HQ when the host rivals Limerick in a battle for promotion to the top flight of the Allianz Hurling League.

Clare 2-21 Offaly 0-15: Davy Fitzgerald’s Bannermen, similar to the under-construction main stand which provided an appropriate backdrop to this Division 1B contest, are very much a work in progress.

Pobalscoil chorca Dhuibhne  1-12 Roscommon CBS 2-5: Patience, then enterprise. One without the other and Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne’s stay at the summit of schools football was at an end.

Waterford 2-13 Clare 2-12

Clare 1-23 Tipperary 0-12

Waterford 1-13 Clare 0-11