The forthcoming hurling season will, yet again, take place on terms of Limerick’s choosing. It will, yet again, unfold at their pleasure and at their leisure.

As they close the book on another sporting year, where are we at? What is the state, the future, for mainstream, reliable journalism and the businesses that sustain it. Surely better to enjoy the sublime than roll our eyes at the ridiculous?

So four years after the departure of He Who Must Not Be Named, the FAI still can’t be left to their own devices. Who’da thunk it, eh? Even Jonathan Hill, appointed as the next CEO and general new broom, wound up getting sucked into the hellmouth.

It's the same old story at the same World Cup stage but the memories will last forever. 

The TV review as the Rugby World Cup starts on Friday and Ireland's Euro 2024 qualification all but ended on Sunday night.

Ciara Mageean went to the world championships and overperformed. Now she knows, as she declared, that she belongs in that company. Roll on Paris 

If hurling has never had enough newcomers dining at the top table and never will, it is always good to see ancient and noble houses reclaim their heritage

On the evidence of the past fortnight the pack is farther back than it was a year ago. Limerick's greatness was already undoubted. Now their immortality is assured

The afternoon will come when Limerick, like many a great team before them, grow old together and die. But that is not this day.

Can Galway keep losing to Limerick in white-knuckle All-Ireland semi-finals by a puck of a ball? Scarcely. Meanwhile the Cats retain their Kilkennyness