Of all the rows ‘The Sunday Game’ programmes generated during the last 40 years, perhaps changing the theme tune 15 years ago was the greatest of them. Here our GAA correspondent John Fogarty lists 10 of the controversies prompted by comments and quotes.

Refereeing Kilkenny-Tipperary Championship games this decade were like walking on a cliff edge.

A mass brawl overshadowed Causeway’s nine-point win over Kilmoyley in an ill-tempered Kerry senior hurling championship first round tie in Austin Stack Park, Tralee, yesterday.

Summer is almost upon us but forgive me if I’m not of a sunny disposition. The standard of hurling refereeing is slipping and I fear it could have a major bearing on what we see in the coming weeks.

The GAA are set to return to naming a panel of 14 referees across their top two hurling championships.

Galway 0-26 Dublin 2-19

Dublin nearly stunned the All-Ireland champions in Salthill but Paul Winters two second-half goals were not enough to edge victory for Pat Gilroy’s side in Pearse Stadium.

The Munster Council have yet to come to an agreement about the televising of the Tipperary-Cork Munster SHC round two game in Semple Stadium on May 27.

Newcestown 1-13 St. Finbarr’s 0-14: It was 14 scores each yesterday in Ballygarvan, but in the end, it was Trevor Horgan’s first-half goal for Newcestown that was the difference in the first round of the Cork SHC.

In-form Tipperary forward Jason Forde has described his build-up to this year’s Munster championship as poles apart from the chaos of 12 months ago.

In-form Tipperary forward Jason Forde has described his build-up to this year’s Munster championship as poles apart from the chaos of 12 months ago.

Galway football captain Damien Comer has credited Paddy Tally with bringing greater directness to the county’s attacking play.

Tipperary GAA secretary Tim Floyd has claimed that Jason Forde was found “guilty by association” earlier this year when he served a one-match suspension for his infamous clash with Davy Fitzgerald.

John Coleman on the pressure facing All-Ireland final referee Fergal Horgan.

What does it say when yet again a match official is unable to take matters into his own hands during a game, asks John Fogarty.

Tipperary legend Michael ‘Babs’ Keating has called on the GAA to take referee Diarmuid Kirwan to task for his role in last month’s Nowlan Park suspension saga.

Tipperary County Board chairman Michael Bourke has described a proposed two-match suspension for Jason Forde as a “severe injustice”.

Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley has suggested that Davy Fitzgerald may view his eight-week suspension as a ‘blessing in disguise’ come the championship.

Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin believes Davy Fitzgerald set a “bad example” with his “silly act” last weekend.

Whatever the rest of the country thought of Davy Fitzgerald’s intervention on Sunday, the vast majority of the Wexford following are fully behind their new general. That much was evident by the reaction of their fans in Nowlan Park to the first-half incident.

Allianz HL Division 1B

Dr O’Callaghan Cup final

Blackrock 2-18 Newtownshandrum 2-9: Blackrock swept past Newtownshandrum in the second half of Saturday’s RedFM SHL final at Páirc Uí Rinn to capture the title for the first time since 2008.

Michael Moynihan looks at the old and new factors in today’s meeting of these storied rivals...

Former Tipperary star James Woodlock has appealed for “fairness” from referee Brian Gavin in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final against Kilkenny.

Waterford hurling boss Derek McGrath said yesterday that he and his squad had “parked” referee Diarmuid Kirwan’s controversial late call in Sunday’s league final immediately after the game.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

While expressing disappointment with referee Diarmuid Kirwan’s decision to award Tony Kelly an equalising free deep in stoppage time, Waterford boss Derek McGrath hailed the resilience of three men who carried personal grief into yesterday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final.

Clare 1-23 Waterford 2-19: Domhnall O’Donovan may no longer be part of the panel but it’s fair to state Clare have lost none of their never-say-die virtues.

Dan Shanahan admitted Diarmuid Kirwan’s decision not to award Jamie Barron a free in injury-time was “tough to take”.

I came in early yesterday morning to watch the Clare U21s play Dublin in a challenge game in Clare-abbey, our old pitch in Clarecastle. 

Tipperary were made to regret an awful display of free-taking as a 67th minute goal by substitute Aaron Shanagher sealed a Division 1 semi-final date with Kilkenny.

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has sounded a pragmatic note ahead of this weekend’s NHL clash with Dublin.

Mary I 0-11 LIT 0-9: The Mary I management cut a somewhat perplexed bunch at the final whistle.

Limerick got their latest drive for promotion from Division 1B off to an encouraging start as they led from pillar to post in wet and cold conditions at the Gaelic Grounds.

St Francis College, Rochestown 0-23 Charleville CBS 2-12: St Francis College turned on the power in the second half of this crucial Harty Cup tie at Mourneabbey yesterday to qualify for the knockout stages in the new year. 

Midleton CBS 3-15 Hamilton High School Bandon 1-6: Midleton CBS proved too strong for Hamilton High School Bandon in the Harty Cup at Ballincollig yesterday, recording their first win following an opening round defeat by Ardscoil Rís.

CBS Charleville 1-15 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG 0-15: A tale of two halves in Fermoy yesterday as CBS Charleville held off a tenacious fightback from Gaelcholáiste Mhuire to claim their first set of points in the Harty Cup. 

Confess it: when Dónal Óg Cusack criticised the decision to award Limerick a goal against Westmeath this summer you couldn’t have agreed more. Neither could we.