The Morning Sports Briefing

Munster championship off to whirlwind start

The Munster hurling championship started in typically frenetic, whirlwind fashion yesterday as Limerick pipped Clare 1-19 to 2-15 at Semple Stadium.

It was an unsurprisingly tempestuous and full blooded affair, with two red cards, confusion over the amount of stoppage time to be played and Shane Downling's 62nd-minute point incorrectly given when it should have been waved wide, writes Keith Duggan.

Sean Moran witnessed an encounter in which Limerick emphasised their Championship credentials and Clare showed their inability to gain the upper hand in tight finishes.

Limerick's TJ Ryan was pleased with his side's start to the summer after an indifferent league campaign, while Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald insisted he was proud of his charges despite their opening defeat.

Monaghan scraped past Cavan by a point in the latest instalment of their rivalry at Breffni Park, the second time in a row a single score has separated the two sides.

In the end it was Monaghan's experience off the bench saw them sneak an absorbing, bruising encounter, and manager Malachy O'Rourke was quick to praise the impact of his senior players.

Elsewhere Roscommon got their Connacht campaign off to a solid start with a comfortable 1-14 to 0-10 win away at London.

Newcastle beat drop on final day

Newcastle United live to fight another day after their 2-0 win over West Ham at St James's Park, a first victory since February, helped them avoid Premier League relegation on the final day of the season.

It will be Hull City who join QPR and Burnley in the Championship next season after they could only muster a 0-0 draw against Manchester United, who had Marouane Fellaini sent off for an ugly second half tackle.

Meanwhile Steven Gerrard's final appearance in a Liverpool shirt came in a 6-1 evisceration at the hands of Stoke City, a defeat which has raised serious questions over the future of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Elsewhere Didier Drogba bowed out for Chelsea in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal warmed up for next weekend's FA Cup final by beating West Brom 4-1 at the Emirates.

Connacht’s dreams dashed by ref

Connacht's dream of playing Champions Cup rugby next season came to an agonising end in extra time against Gloucester at Kingsholm yesterday.

With Connacht leading heading into the final minutes of normal time, a horrendous decision by referee Romain Poite forced the game into an extra 20 minutes where a yellow card for David Heffernan gave the hosts the space to carve out two scores and finish 40-32 winners.

Following their semi-final victory over Ospreys on Saturday Munster turn their attentions to next weekend's Pro 12 final against Glasgow at Ravenhill, with Conor Murray Anthony Foley's main injury concern.

Lowry returns to form at right time

A scintillating final round 65 from Korean Byeong-Hun An helped him become the first Asian to win the PGA Championship at Wentworth. An began the day sharing the lead with Francesco Molinari however he soon tore ahead, winning by six strokes from runners-up Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thongchai Jaidee.

Shane Lowry finished 11 under par for the tournament but he was pleased with his timely return to form ahead of this week's Irish Open, while Padraig Harrington faces a race to be fit to play at Royal County Down.

What to watch out for:

Tennis

The first round of the French Open is in full swing at Roland Garros. Eurosport 9.30am-11.15pm, ITV4 9.30am-9am, Setanta 10am-8pm.

Football

Middlesbrough play Norwich at Wembley in the Championship play-off final. Sky Sports 1 from 3pm.

Cricket

The first Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s goes down to the wire on the final day. Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am.