How much has the victory over Tipperary taken out of Kilkenny?

What a weekend of sport!

This was real championship fare in Nowlan Park on Saturday and the first man I want to congratulate for that is referee Brian Gavin, along with his team of officials.

Even the people in the stands in Nowlan Park should be wearing helmets this evening, such is the ferocity in store.

How does a team deal with loss of two outstanding leaders?

Jimmy Barry-Murphy has had some stick since he got the Cork management job, unfair criticism; this was an answer for a lot of people.

I can’t understand the negativity in Cork — and to a lesser extent in Clare — ahead of tomorrow’s provincial semi-final.

It was like old times in the Portlaoise yesterday, going back to the ’80s when Laois were challenging Offaly, and challenging everyone else too. In those days the only prisoners taken were down the road, in Portlaoise jail.

There’s a burning question which must be asked ahead of the Dublin v Wexford replay this evening: what the hell does Liam Dunne think he achieved last week with all the shenanigans around the naming of the team?

I want to start with a question — what is it about Limerick and fine sunny summer days, Munster championship, against big opposition?