HAVING visited Carton House in recent weeks, where the Ireland rugby team has been stationed for its pre-World Cup training, I can say this.

JOHN Kennedy Toole has a lot to answer for.

IN the end the only nosebleed was suffered by the referee, not the favourites.

THERE’S no point in beating around the bush: the stand-out flashes of genius in the hurling and football championships have come in the last couple of weekends.

FORGET the talk of a two-tier Europe.

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.