LAST Friday morning the Irish nation awoke to the news of the €600,000 advertisement by Fás that was never aired and the €35,000 car for a raffle that was never held.

WHAT a fantastic, deserved and historic win for Clare in the All-Ireland U21 final on Sunday.

WE are counting down the days to the eagerly anticipated All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Cork.

IT WAS the best All-Ireland in many years. In fact both minor and senior deciders on Sunday were hugely entertaining and did much to showcase what a truly brilliant game hurling is.

ALL-IRELAND final day is always a special occasion, with many elements featured outside the games themselves.

LAST October, when a special congress was held to change the format for the All-Ireland Hurling Championship adopted at the previous annual congress, I expressed the view here that such a decision was out of order.

AMID all the recession and depression, bad weather and doom and gloom, would you like to hear some good news?

SO we have a dream all Munster All-Ireland SFC final.

THE Gaelic Athletic Association went back to its roots on Sunday.

WHEN GAA administrators are making fixtures, especially championship fixtures, they usually think in terms of two games or a double bill as it is usually referred to.