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?).

IMPLACABLE November, an exaggeration?

ANYONE who has ever held a hurley in his hand has had the dream, or some variant of the dream.

YESTERDAY’S defeat at the hands of Tipperary brought more pain and frustration for Cork supporters, who only 12 months ago enjoyed a double-digit hammering of the same opposition.

TIPPERARY defender Paddy Stapleton says the Premier County’s preparation for last year’s Munster SHC clash with Cork wasn’t at the required level. The bad news for Cork fans is his belief they have remedied it this time.