HURLING
Munster
Defending champions Tipperary booked their place the oneills.com Munster U20 hurling final, while Cork's victory over Limerick ensured there is a huge battle for the two semi-finals spots on offer.
Tipp made it three wins from four despite the absence of senior stars Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell in a 1-24 to 2-14 victory over Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium.
Paddy McCormack hit 1-04 from the Premier County while Adam Daly shone from the middle of the field with 0-05.
Tipp's win, combined with Cork’s over Limerick, mean they advance to the final. Who will join them in the decider is very much up for grabs as Cork, Clare and Limerick now all have three points from as many games.
Barry Walsh - pictured above - notched 0-12 (10 from frees) for the Rebels while defender Timmy Wilk registered 1-02, including a sublime sideline cut, but the hosts nearly staged a stunning comeback in the Gaelic Grounds.
Cork’s five-point interval lead was maintained going into the final quarter, but Mark O’Brien, Robert O’Farrell and Fintan Fitzgerald were instrumental as Limerick reeled off seven of the next eight points to edge 1-18 to 1-17 ahead.
Wilk’s sideline restored parity before the Rebels claimed two of the final three scores in a 1-22 to 1-20 win.
Limerick host Clare and Waterford travel to Cork in the final round next Wednesday.
Leinster
Dublin and Laois both sealed a place in the quarter-final stage in Leinster after respective victories over Antrim and Kildare.
The Dubs held off a spirited challenge from the Saffrons at Dowdallshill in their preliminary quarter-final to ensure they will face Offaly next time out in a repeat of last year’s provincial final.
Key to their victory was Daniel Kelly, who finished with 2-04 to his name. Shortly into the second half Antrim trailed by 11 points, but that deficit was whittled down to three by injury-time with Cormac McKeown and Jack McCloskey – who also goaled in the first half – raising green flags.
The men in blue however prevailed 2-19 to 4-10 to finish third in Group 1 to set up a clash with the Faithful County on 5 May.
Laois were victorious in the night’s other preliminary quarter-final, comfortable 1-29 to 2-16 winners against Kildare meaning they advance to take on Wexford next time out.
FOOTBALL
All-Ireland champions Tyrone will face Donegal in the Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 football final, while Roscommon, after victory over Sligo, have a date with Mayo in the Connacht decider.
Ulster
The Red Hand ran out 3-12 to 0-19 victors over Derry in Owenbeg. It was much easier for Donegal as they stormed to a 4-19 to 2-07 win against Cavan in Ballybofey.
Tyrone were second best for a lot of the opening half as the Oak Leafers, courtesy of scores from Sean Young, Eamon Young and Ruairi Forbes, edged four clear approaching the break, However, the visitors, by way of a Rúairi McCullagh two-pointer and the same player converting a close-in free, trailed by the minimum at the break - 0-09 to 0-08.
And then just seconds after the restart, Conan Devlin struck for a Tyrone goal, with Conor O'Neill and Eoin McElholm raising further green flags to leave seven points between the sides with time nearly up. Derry, however, finished strongly, with a Ruairi Forbes two-pointer and points from Conall Higgins and Conleth McGrogan leaving two in it at the final whistle.
Donegal netted three first-half goals on their way to dismantling the Breffni County.
Conor McCahill, Seanan Carr (penalty) and Cian McMenamin delivered the three-pointers as the hosts led 3-09 to 1-02 at the break.
Carr and McMenamin impressed throughout, with Dylan Mulholland putting the seal on the things with goal number four two minutes from time.
Connacht
In an entertaining contest at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Roscommon had three points to spare over Sligo, winning 4-12 to 1-18.
Rory Carthy, Eoin Collins, John McGuinness and Conor Grogan all found the way to goal for the Rossies who eventually found their groove after the Yeats County started well.
Points from Roland Niland, Eli Rooney, Gavin Lynch and an orange flag from from Eamon O'Mahony signalled Sligo's intent from the off. But the Rossies struck for two quickfire goals, Carthy and then Collins, after the latter lobbed Sligo 'keeper Donnchadh O'Brien, had Cian Smith's side in front - 2-01 to 0-06 - after 15 minutes.
The Yeatsmen responded with the next three points but John McGuinness cracked home a brilliant goal on 23 minutes. Roscommon were back in front and they would lead 3-03 to 0-11 at the interval.
That advantage was quickly pushed out to five on the resumption but Dara Mostyn goaled for Sligo five minutes in. Roscommon, however, from there to the finish always had enough of a cushion, with defender Conor Grogan grabbing their fourth goal on 48 minutes.
Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Waterford v Clare and Cork v Tipperary, on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
