Selector Mikey Sheehy and coach Pádraic Corcoran stood with Éamonn Fitzmaurice for all six of his years as Kerry senior football manager. In a turbulent last 12 months, they weren’t spared much rod but it’s the players they feel most for.

“It’s time for something new in Tipp. The group of players, we want to give them the best chance going forward. They just want to hear something new. I’ve been there a very long time and I’m certain sure those guys needed a break from me.”

In this era of marginal gains, the GAA has made its own with the implementation of HawkEye. There can be little doubt it had a valuable impact to the feast of hurling produced last weekend.

“We’re fighting for our lives and we’ll have to bring everything.”

Exactly 36 hours after Kildare became the final team through to final round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers, they and the seven others learned what lies between them and reaching the Super 8 yesterday morning.

Thirteen years ago, provincial finals were exactly that — finals. The cream came to the top in each quadrant, writes John Fogarty

Some of you may consider yourselves to have been spoiled by the amount of hurling in recent weeks.

With emotions running high, Tipperary manager Michael Ryan could be excused for the odd oversight following Sunday’s Championship exit. He claimed he saw no fatigue among his men, though players were starting to break down towards the end, some being treated for cramp and one or two others hobbling. After 21 tumultuous days, it was his players’ bodies that eventually gave in.

Hours after Sunday’s latest Munster SHC draw, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh thumbed a message on the Waterford WhatsApp players group. Nodding to his fumble that led to Patrick Maher’s first goal, he claimed responsibility for the draw but vowed to make amends against Limerick this Sunday and encouraged his team-mates to look ahead to the game.