A frenetic weekend's action saw the cream of the country's Celtic Challenge teams fight it out for a place in the tournament semi-finals.

A series of preliminaries and quarter-final clashes were held in Abbotstown last Saturday, and, around Ireland, county under-17 teams went toe-to-toe to see who could claim semi-final places.

This year's competition has been a huge success with superb quality games, signs of massive development from emerging counties and a higher profile across the land too.

The clearest sign of this was a win for Cork native Ronan Sheehan's Down side against Cork City at the weekend - the reaction of the Down camp to the final whistle showed exactly what this historic win meant to them.

A mouth-watering catalogue of semi-finals this weekend will set us up for the finals which will be staged at Carlow's Dr Cullen Park on June 24.

Here is a flavour of the action from last weekend's round of play-offs.

Celtic Challenge Division 1 - Corn Michael Hogan

South Tipperary 1-16 Kilkenny Amber 2-12

By Fergus McGrath

It was edge of the seat stuff in Waterford on Saturday as South Tipperary and Kilkenny Amber produced a thrilling finish to a game that was heavily influenced by wind conditions.

With a stiff wind at their backs in the first half, South Tipperary were two points ahead after the first quarter with Tomas Vaughan reliable from frees and from play. This lead was stretched to nine at half-time to leave the scoreline 1-12 to 0-6 with the South Tipperary goal coming from Stephen Grogan and one particular point of note from the stick of Mark Downey.

Although South Tipperary opened the scoring in the second half with an early point they were to experience a lengthy period of sustained pressure from Kilkenny Amber. The South Tipperary defence marshalled well by Eoghan Connolly and with strong performances from Brian Barlow, Josh Ryan and Mark Stokes was severely tested. A turning point in the game was a well struck penalty for Kilkenny Amber mid-way through the second half which was deflected over the bar by Jack Downey in the South Tipperary goal.

Kilkenny Amber continued to chip away at South Tipperary’s lead throughout the second half and scored 1-05 in a row before Vaughan got his and his side’s second point of the second half to leave South Tipperary five points to the good as the game moved towards its conclusion. Kilkenny Amber however replied with 1-02 to level the game with just minutes remaining. With both sides giving it their all Tomas Vaughan managed to find space in a very tight marking Kilkenny Amber defence to score what ultimately proved to be the winning point.

Both sets of players are to be complimented on their efforts and whereas South Tipperary happened to come out on top on this occasion, Kilkenny Amber lost nothing in defeat. Eoghan Connolly was the South Tipperary recipient of the Best and Fairest award - they face Kilkenny Black in next Saturday's semi-final.

Galway McDonagh 0-15 Cork East 0-14

By Sean Walsh

Galway McDonagh dug deep to overcome Cork East in an absorbing contest in the Celtic Challenge U17 quarter Final in Ennis on Saturday. A physically imposing Cork side provided the Galway outfit with a stern examination which the Tribesmen will be delighted to have come through.

Cork East had the significant wind advantage in the opening but failed to make a telling impact with it as a tendency to use route one high ball deliveries were capably dealt with by the Galway McDonagh defence. Two good Dara Conneely saves coupled with five Conor Molloy frees and a neat Cillian Lawless point ensured that the Galway side only trailed by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Cork East hurled with purpose in the second half and led by 0-11 to 0-8 on 48 minutes as the Galway resolve was tested. But they responded well and showed resilience when needed. 4 excellent points from play from Conor Molloy allied to 2 frees from the Kilnadeema Leitrim star in that second half did much to get Galway McDonagh home.

Neil Conneely, Cillian Lawless and Isaac DeHora added chipped in with vital scores to ensure Galway McDonagh got the decision in a tight finish (0-15 to 0-14) which saw Cork’s Cillian Murphy hit a late free go wide and thus Galway McDonagh set up an all Galway semi final.

Best and Fairest Award: TJ Brennan Galway McDonagh

Galway Maroon 2-17 Cork West 3-11

By Sean Walsh

Galway Maroon withstood a second half rally to secure their place in the Celtic Challenge U17 Semi final in Ennis on Saturday. Playing with the aid of a strong wind in the opening period, Galway Maroon produced a fine 30 minutes of hurling liberally sprinkled with good scores. Goals from Enda Egan and Niall Coen in the opening 11 minutes did much to help build an interval lead of 2-12 to 1-6.

Indeed that lead could have been more had a defensive slip not led to Cork’s Owen McCarthy getting a goal with the last puck of the half, while Galway did spurn some further chances.

Mark Cummins got Cork’s second goal within a minute of the resumption, and with the wind now behind the Leesiders, it was game on. Cork brought the margin back to five on two occasions, but good points from Paul Creaven, Enda Egan and Eoin Caulfield helped Galway Maroon to lead by 2-16 to 2-9 with 10 minutes left.

But Cork finished strongly and 2 Luke O’Callaghan frees either side of a Brian O’Donovan goal had Cork within three on 54 minutes, but some stout defending saw Galway close out the deal with keeper Darach Fahy also producing some good stops to ensure Galway West held out for a 2-17 to 3-11 win.

Best and Fairest Award: Enda Egan of Galway Maroon.

Celtic Challenge Division 2 - Corn John Scott

North/Mid Tipperary 1-22  South East Clare 0-12

By David Minogue

North/Mid Tipperary defeated South East Clare in the quarter final of the Celtic Challenge in Birr on Saturday last.

Despite opting to play against a strong breeze in the first half the North/Mid side led by five points at the break (1-10 to 0-8).

In the first half, the hard work and movement of Tipperary’s two man inside forward line Luke Cashin and Stephen Kirwin carved opportunities for Shane Doyle and Gearoid O’Connor to convert before Kirwin split open the Clare defence to raise Tipperary’s green flag.

Eanna McBride, Darragh Tynan and Kevin McCarthy repeatedly worked the ball through the lines to deliver the forwards with quality supply. Conor Grace came to the North/mid sides rescue as the half drew to a close to get down low to his right a save a well struck penalty.

In the second half, Tipperary led by the impressive Kevin McCarthy at midfield and the busy Darragh Tynan in the forward line continued to work scoring opportunities. Sean Ryan and Darragh Flannery marshalled the defence well and remained cool and calm throughout when dealing with the Clare attack.

The North/Mid Tipperary side will now prepare for an All-Ireland Semi-final where North Cork will provide the opposition.

Offaly 4-22 Galway Tribesmen 4-17 (AET)

In a game filled with drama and incident, Offaly prevailed over Galway Tribesmen after extra time in Birr. The Galway side played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half and led by four points at half time thanks to a Fionn McDonagh goal and some well taken points from Dylan Carroll.

Offaly had the wind advantage in the second half but goals from Sean O'Brien and Adrian Prendergast put the Tribesmen in a commanding position entering the final quarter. In fact the Galway side could have been out of site were it not for some superb goalkeeping from the Offaly net minder Stephen Loughnane.

The Offaly team showed tremendous spirit and  continued to push forward with time running out. Some excellent defending from Peter Martin, Jack McCullagh and Conor Larkin kept the Offaly running game at bay. A late surge by the Offaly side saw them score two goals and grab an equalising point in the 4th minute of injury time. When referee Simon Whelehan blew the full time whistle the sides were level 3-14 to 2-17.

The Tribesmen made the running in extra time with another Sean O'Brien goal putting them 2-19 to 4-14 ahead at half time in extra time. Wind assisted the Offaly side dominated the second half and they outscored Galway 2-3 to 0-3 to leave the final score 4-22 to 4-17 and players, management and supporters drained from the excitement.

Celtic Challenge Division 3 - Corn William Robinson

Down 3-14  Cork City 2-8

By Dermot Donnelly

The pivotal moment of this thrilling encounter came less than one minute into the second half. Leading by four points, 1-9 to 1-5, and having had the benefit of a strong, forceful wind, Down desperately needed some breathing space in preparation of the expected Rebel fight back.

Then Stuart Martin pounced on a saved rebound and flashed the sliotar past a helpless Donal Maher in the Cork City goals for his second major of the day.

At times, this contest got a bit feisty, but with All-Ireland semi-final berth the prize for the winner, this was championship hurling worthy of any Munster or Leinster clash.

Down got the dream start they wanted in the opening seconds of the second half through Stuart Martin and before Cork City had time to adjust themselves, Down had grabbed two further scores, as Blair and Hanrahan increased the lead to nine points.

Blake Murphy once again pointed for Cork City, when just as things looked rosy for the Ulster lads, disaster struck. Ronan Blair, who’d been having an excellent day on the park and was also helping to sweep up in defence took a bad injury to his left knee when he landed awkwardly having contested a high ball on Down’s 45 metre line.

The game saw a 10-minute delay until he was stretchered off the field. Everyone involved with the Celtic Challenge would like to wish Ronan a speedy recovery.

Tim Prenter and Stuart Martin steadied the ship as Down added another two points. Down had a momentary lapse on fourteen minutes when a high floated ball from Derek Feeney dropped in to the goalmouth and the unsighted McCrickard desperately tried to defend the sliotar as it made its way into the net.

Three minutes later saw Wayne Flood loft over a close in free for Cork City. But almost straight from the puck out the sliotar was being picked out of the Cork City net as Ronan Costelloe had found himself with just Donal Maher to beat.. he made no mistake, goal!

Down even had the luxury of having a Ciaran Watson penalty saved after Tim Prenter had been pulled back with just the keeper to beat a minute later. Down managed one last score, as Prenter’s hard work to shake off the shackles of his opponent was rewarded with a sweet point.

When Antoin Keating blew the full time whistle the delight in the Down camp was clear to see as they had achieved what no other Down team as managed, to beat a Rebel county side for the first time. Down now progress to the All-Ireland semi-final of the Corn William Robinson next week with East Waterford.

Ronan Costelloe of Down and Blake Murphy of Cork City were awarded the Best and Fairest Players.

East Waterford 3-15 2-15 North Clare

By Eoin Breathanch

Some heroic defending from corner forward right back to goalkeeper ensured East Waterford qualified for the Semi-final of Division 3 Corn William Robinson with a three point victory over a North Clare side that threw everything at the Déise lads in the last 10 minutes.

East Waterford played with a strong breeze but the game was nip and tuck in opening 15 minutes with scores tied at 0-3 apiece. North were awarded a penalty which was cracked off the crossbar. From the rebound Waterford went down the field and Dylan Fitzgerald buried the ball in the top corner of the Clare net.

This was the start of East Waterford scoring 2-5 without reply in a devastating eight minute spell including a wonderful long range point from corner back Matthew Kiely, who had an excellent game throughout. A Clare goal before and a few Waterford points left East Waterford ahead 2-12 to 1-4 with North Clare to have the advantage of a strong breeze.

The second half saw the Banner boys use the wind well but some great defending kept them at bay. East Waterford half forward line were a great outlet with Dylan Finn, back from injury, winning plenty possession and distributing well into full forward line. A Seaghan Walsh goal opened up a cushion which try as they might North Clare could not close and it was East Waterford celebrating the final whistle of Referee Simon Stokes.

East Waterford are through to the semi-final next Saturday 17th June where they will play Down.

Best and fairest award for East Waterford on the day was Roanmore’s Harry White who was excellent throughout getting hook and blocks in and winning plenty contests.

Celtic Challenge Division 5 - Corn Michael Feery

Armagh 2-13 - Sligo 1-12

By Frances Hanley

Armagh played with a strong breeze in the first half of this clash at Abbotstown and made the most of this advantage, leading 1-8 to 0-5 halfway through the first half.

Sligo fought back and got their only goal of the match shortly before half time. At the break Armagh led by 2 points, 1-9 to 1-7.

Sligo levelled matters after the break with two points from Andrew  Kilcullen.

But then disaster struck for the Sligo team who lose two players to a red card, while Armagh lost one, and despite the Connacht side's best efforts they failed to reduce the deficit.

Overall it was a highly competitive  and tough game with Armagh doing enough to advance to the next round. Tony Healy received  the award for Best and Fairest for Sligo.

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