Kilkenny full-back Joey Holden has rejected the idea of a black card in hurling, saying a yellow card is enough sanction for a cynical pull-down of an attacking player.

It’s a career that has produced five All-Ireland titles between club and county but Joey Holden would be the first to admit it hasn’t run smoothly.

Ballyhale Shamrocks’ Joey Holden admits he is getting to grips with the scheduling of their AIB All-Ireland club semi-final with Slaughtneil.

A routine day for Ballyhale. Only the opposition was novel.

It is too early to rule out a criminal element in the death of Nóra Quoirin, her family’s lawyer has insisted.

Playstival is the latest family festival to be launched this summer. Ciara McDonnell rounds up the child-focused events worth travelling for.

From family meditation sessions to discos especially for small people, festivals designed for families have become supercharged, writes Ciara McDonnell.

Four Irishmen have rowed and sailed a Kerry naomhóg across Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island in Canada.

It all proved to be too much for the judge who was taken by surprise and shouted “F**k!” before covering her mouth.

Mattie Kenny’s reputation as a man who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “no” reached new heights in recent months.

“Whatever it was, I wish we could have bottled it,” Liam Fennelly says.

Ballyhale Shamrocks weren’t exactly listing dangerously when Henry Shefflin took control of the bridge.

Three years now since Liam MacCarthy last wintered in Noreside but Joey Holden insists Kilkenny remain within touching distance of those seeking to provide a home for hurling’s Holy Grail.

A cold night in Thurles twisted decisively with one goal, Eoin Cody’s calm second-half finish for Ballyhale Shamrocks proving the difference in their All-Ireland club semi-final clash with Ballygunner.

Ballyhale Shamrocks may be one of hurling’s most decorated clubs, but tradition counts for little in the quest to build, develop and grow. A five-year fundraising drive was launched last week with TJ Reid and Joey Holden amongst those working to secure the future for the next generation of young talents. writes PM O’Sullivan

Thousands of firefighters tried to shield coastal communities from one of the biggest wildfires in California's history as a funeral procession was held in honour of one of their colleagues who was killed battling the flames.

New Netflix series Mindhunter may deal with serial killers, but the realistic show is careful to portray them as sick rather than suave, writes Ed Power

There was a huge crowd at Cork Racecourse for a bumper, eight-race programme on Easter Sunday, and the feature race, the Vincent O’Brien Centenary Chase, went, in great style, to Val De Ferbet.

Brian Cody has tended to treat the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup like an old college friend, a show of interest every now and then, enough to keep the relationship from crumbling entirely.

Gordon Elliott proved yet again he is the man to follow in the big handicaps when Ball D'Arc ran out an easy winner of the valuable Bar One Racing Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

Derry City 2 Bohemians 1: Derry City bagged a Europa League spot with a deserved victory over Bohemians at the Brandywell last night.

These three contests could decide the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup...

An All-Ireland hurling final... scratch that, a Kilkenny- Tipperary All-Ireland final not selling out?

Kilkenny 1-15 Kildare 0-7

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is poised to conquer the box office in the US for the third straight weekend.

All-Ireland winning Kilkenny manager Brian Cody said yesterday he never played with a sweeper, but said nothing was “cast in stone” when it comes to setting up his teams.

There will be a sense in Kilkenny that order has been restored after they claimed the largest share of this year’s GAA-GPA Opel hurling All Stars with seven accolades.

The estimable voices of BBC and RTÉ are on the outside looking in this time, with TV3 and ITV exclusive television rights holders. What type of armchair experience awaits us then? Brendan O’Brien finds out

Kilkenny 1-22 Galway 1-18: A story of two halves and a familiar ending.

If Galway’s management is concerned about their inside defence, Brian Cody may have similar concerns about his own, writes Donal O’Grady.

A couple went "beyond the bounds of public decency" by allegedly indulging in a sex act during a crowded BBC Radio 2 concert in Hyde Park, an Old Bailey jury has been told.

Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 0-18: Maybe now people will stop saying the best time to face Kilkenny is in an All-Ireland semi-final.

TV3 could bid against RTÉ for Irish TV rights to the Olympic Games if, as expected, free-to-air rights are sub-licensed to an Irish broadcaster.

It’s been the ultimate case of necessity being the mother of invention but Henry Shefflin reckons Joey Holden’s transition to full-back for Kilkenny couldn’t have worked out much better.

In Nowlan Park two weeks ago, there was a sense in the air that you could nearly touch, that Kilkennyism, that fireproof security in themselves and their team, an attitude that said, ‘Ah, they’re all on about Tipperary, Galway and Waterford, it doesn’t matter who we’ve lost, we’ll take down any one of them’.

The funeral of a Westmeath couple shot dead in last week’s Tunisian beach massacre took place today, single mothers have spoken of the hardship they will face over cuts to lone parent payments this week, Conor McGregor has called out Floyd Mayweather and 100 jobs have been announced for Dublin. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

It was only weeks after JJ Delaney’s retirement at a function in Kilkenny’s Cíllin Hill that Brian Cody was approached by a supporter about replacing what the manager himself has described as the greatest defender he has ever seen.

JJ Delaney anticipates Joey Holden will be tasked with replacing him as Kilkenny’s full-back when they begin the defence of their Leinster and All-Ireland titles this weekend.

Whether it’s Paul Murphy or Joey Holden, JJ Delaney believes his successor as Kilkenny full-back will nail down the position for as long as he held it.

As they bid to avoid relegation, Clare travel to Kilkenny for the second time in the space of seven days with as many as five players unavailable. 

They finally found a national treasure in Spain yesterday, the long-hidden resting place of the poet Cervantes. Contrast with Croke Park yesterday, where a national treasure was on open display.

Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 1-18 v Kilmallock (Limerick) 1-18:

So much for pre-match expectations. Kilmallock had shown great resolve and commitment to win Munster.

Recently retired Kilkenny defender JJ Delaney believes Paul Murphy is in a strong position to become the county’s next great full-back.