Economist Jim Power is a proud Waterford hurling fan who believes sport can lift the mood of a nation

EVENTUALLY it sank in, the significance of the array of cars parked at the curve of the Ballinlough Road, their tucked-in queue following the line of the footpath so closely.

SPARE a thought for Conal Keaney today.

AS EXPECTED, mental frailty was exposed ruthlessly in Thurles yesterday.

THERE are five top-flight senior intercounty hurling games left in the season — next weekend’s two quarter-finals, the two semi-finals and the final — and now is as good a time as any to take a quick look at what 2011 has brought so far.

THE texts and mails weren’t long in beeping themselves into consciousness on Saturday evening, an hour after teatime.

Waterford face one of the most potent attacks in the modern game in tomorrow’s Munster hurling final. Déise selector Pádraig Fanning answers three key questions

THE perils of writing about women in sport are easily delineated, yet hard to avoid.

THERE is a reason for the grey hair you see in the accompanying picture.

HERE IN this corner of the paper we don’t claim to have a monopoly of wisdom on any subject, apart from what is now an uncomfortable level of expertise on Martin Amis’ sex life (has anyone who ever met this man NOT written a book about his “legendary” intimacies?).