Ryan edges Russell in Munster opener

All-Ireland senior women’s champion Carmel Ryan secured a hard-fought victory over Sharon Russell in the first round of the Munster championship at Ballinacurra.

There were no top-flight men’s championship scores in possibly the busiest week of the year, as hundreds of regional and provincial ties were decided. The Munster Junior B championship stepped out of the shadows with wins for Jimmy O’Driscoll, Olan Noonan, Wayne Kingston and Thomas Boyle.

At senior men’s level, James Buckley defeated Edmund Sexton in the opening round of the Mick Barry Cup at Ballincurrig in the race for King of the Roads. At Shannonvale, Christy Mullins finished strongly to beat Thomas Mackle in the last shot of the Focus Ireland benefit.