Hurling

Top counties to support NHL change 

Most of the top nine hurling counties will support a move to change the format of the Allianz Hurling League in 2020.

Limerick finish with a flourish 

Limerick qualified for the Munster MHC semi-final when they started, and finished, stronger at the Gaelic Grounds last night.

Cody set to be approved for 19th season as Cats manager 

Brian Cody looks set to be ratified for a 19th season as Kilkenny hurling manager when the county board convenes on Monday night next.

Tipp draw Cork as Deise await 

Tipperary will open the defence of their provincial and All-Ireland crowns against Cork in the Munster SHC quarter-final as the Premier are set with the difficult task of negotiating a similar path to 2016.

Clare defender O'Brien had to have emergency op in Austria 

Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has revealed how rookie defender Oisin O'Brien had to have emergency surgery in Austria in the days after the league final replay win over Waterford.

Ryan supplies spark for Dubs to burn off wasteful Limerick 

Dublin came from eight points adrift to fire up their championship summer as Limerick lost their way in an All-Ireland qualifier clash at Semple Stadium where they looked to be coasting to victory at one stage.

Outfighting a slick Waterford won't be easy 

In the early days, the plan was centred on plugging holes in a leaky rearguard. Now, however, the mechanics of Waterford's hurling has become much more sophisticated.

Horgan on fire as storming Cork finish sees off Clare 

REVENGE for 2013. Cork served a cold dish to Clare in last night's All-Ireland senior hurling qualifier at Semple Stadium. A run of five uananswered points down the home stretch transformed a two-point deficit into a three-point lead.

Building the right platform to deliver a county's dream 

'There's a few big players just not performing for us and I don't know why or what's wrong. You need your big players to perform if you're going to deliver. When you're seeing the likes of young Killian Daly as probably one of your best players, you're expecting poor...

Bridesmaids can take another step up the aisle 

You could call it the Richard Johnson problem. Take Tony McCoy out of the equation and Johnson might well be regarded as the finest National Hunt jockey of them all. No-one but McCoy has ridden more winners than Johnson and the Englishman finished runner-up to the Irishman in the jockeys' championship on 16 occasions. Just one man stood between him and immortality.

Five key lessons we've learned so far 

1 The Waterford renaissance: Waterford have been a breath of fresh air in championship 2015. This is a new, young team ready to challenge for honours. They're playing to a system, they're well-drilled, well-organised and boast some really talented players. After the league final success, people waited to see how the team would react in the heat of championship and they got their answer in...

Cork can regroup in Wexford before bigger tests 

Limerick, Dublin, Clare and Cork are my tips to make it through next weekend's All-Ireland hurling qualifiers. The Cork-Wexford clash is the one that should be most keenly contested and while I wouldn't rule out the draw, the Rebels get a tentative nod to edge it. It's a massive game for both counties who are coming in low on confidence.

Nothing to lose and everything to gain in Thurles decider 

The vast majority of Waterford hurling folk are delighted that next month's Munster hurling final has been fixed for Thurles. Once the Waterford players indicated that they wanted to play at Semple Stadium, this was the nod for Derek McGrath and his...

Now we'll see what Dublin hurling is made of - Carton 

The thick fog that descended on the Dublin hurlers over the weekend is only starting to lift but the view ahead isn't pretty. Both Dublin and Galway knew the consequences of defeat when they met in Tullamore last Saturday night.

Majestic Mynes shines on Croke Park finals day 

The Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Áth Cliath hurling and camogie finals in Croke Park once again provided a wealth of optimism for followers of the small ball in the capital.

Chronic bleeding problem costing Tribesmen dear 

It's the poser Galway hurlers have been unable to solve in recent seasons, but unless they find a way to stop the bleeding, their chances of advancing to the Leinster semi-final next Sunday will be greatly diminished.

Super Mac sees off plucky Lilywhites 

Kildare put up a bold show in their first appearance in the U-21 A championship but in the end, they had no answer to the magnificence of Conor McDonald.

Cleary puts Faithful in control 

Offaly cruised into the next round of the Leinster U-21 championship as they accounted for a spirited Westmeath under failing daylight in Tullamore.

McDonald turns tide for Carlow 

Carlow booked their place in the semi-finals of the Leinster U-21 HC thanks to this two-point win over Laois last night.

Tribesmen relief as Canning gets green light to face Dubs 

Galway have been handed a massive boost, with manager Anthony Cunningham confirming that Joe Canning will be fit to face Dublin in their Leinster Championship opener in Croke Park on Sunday fortnight.

Ryan believes penalties now a 'guessing game' 

Paul Ryan reckons that the GAA's new rule which only allows goalkeepers to face penalties in hurling could have been changed in a far more simplistic manner.