“His actual words were: ‘Would yourself and JP (McManus) turn things around for Limerick senior hurling? I wanna see Limerick win an All-Ireland before I die’.”

Dublin's lack of self-awareness in their Blue Wave strategic plan when they called for financial and administrative provincial status reopened the argument

For Waterford or Limerick to come home victorious but empty-handed would be preposterous if we weren’t living in such bizarre times

Dublin and Tipperary winning their respective semi-finals is not beyond the realms of possibility. But a fifth All-Ireland for Tipp? Stranger things haven’t just happened; they’re happening

There will be nine Championship games played this Bloody Sunday weekend

The victorious Cork players leaving Páirc Uí Chaoimh were greeted with car horns and waving flags

While Kieran Kingston publicly insisted his players are better than they showed at Thurles, he must privately be furious over Cork’s lack of aggression against Waterford

For now, Championship hurling actually being played will do. It will more than do.

Nobody wanted a Championship more than Mayo

Put asterisks beside these All-Irelands if you want, they will still count