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

Cahill’s team could yet be formidable. The outline of the jigsaw is on the table. One or two of the pieces in the middle remain to be fitted in the right way

Limerick are the great undead, Galway found substance in parody, but Tipp still hold secrets

What Clare don’t quite need from Tony Kelly is a repeat of last year’s Munster final when he hit 0-13 of their 0-29, 0-7 of it from play. Instead...

Sixteen of the 20 who featured for Limerick against Tipp, 13 of them starters, had featured against Galway in the 2018 All-Ireland final half a decade ago. Too many. Far too many

In his fourth season Brian Lohan continues to elicit high-class displays. A happy democracy with total buy-in from the players but no question as to the identity of the boss