Despite the best efforts of the outstanding Cian Darcy, University of Limerick suffered defeat at the hands of an impressive DCU side in a tense Fitzgibbon Cup Group A clash at St Clare’s.

The Kilkenny minor and senior hurlers were welcomed back to the Marble city by several thousands of members of the public despite their heavy losses to Galway and Tipperary.

Tipperary's victorious hurlers have visited Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin to start off the traditional All-Ireland winning celebrations.

The three most successful counties in the National Hurling League, historically, might be best served this year taking the competition as seriously as they possibly can, writes Peter McNamara.

Only the little people pay taxes.” — Leona Helmsley

Limerick hurling stars delivered a finale last night that University Concert Hall’s 25th Anniversary Gala Concert audience won’t forget.

The red wave is coming.

Michael Ryan will continue as the Tipperary Senior Hurling manager.

Sportsfile photographers Seb Daly and Brendan Moran captured a particularly wonderful moment for Galway manager Micheál Donoghue’s family in the moments after Fergal Horgan blew the full-time whistle at Croke Park last Sunday.

After a 29-year wait, Galway's victorious hurlers have brought the Liam McCarthy Cup back to the city of the tribes.

A unique collection of ex-Taoiseach and GAA legend Jack Lynch’s personal, political and sporting belongings is available for close inspection in his native Cork for the first time.

It’s game on for the newly refurbished Páirc Uí Chaoimh following confirmation that the Cork stadium will reopen for senior intercounty hurling, writes Joe Leogue.

It’s game on for the newly refurbished Páirc Uí Chaoimh following confirmation that the Cork stadium will reopen for senior intercounty hurling.

The mayor of Galway said the Connacht rugby team epitomises all that is good about the West of Ireland.

This week, Peter McNamara has his say on the annihilation of Kilkenny's minor footballers, considers the defeat of the county's senior hurlers to Clare, and praises the Banner County's midfielder Colm Galvin and Mayo's U21 footballers.

A relative of Liam MacCarthy, the man who designed and gave his name to hurling’s most famous trophy, has stepped up his mission to honour “the forgotten man of 1916”.

THERE were almost as many scrums at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska yesterday as there were during a game at the Rugby World Cup.

Cork-owned Mervue Laboratories is investing €2m into new manufacturing facilities and plans to increase its staff count by 25 to 75 people in Watergrasshill in the next three years as part of a huge expansion of its animal nutrition business.

Former Galway manager John McIntyre has predicted that his successor Anthony Cunningham is unlikely to remain in charge of the Tribesmen for much longer.

A large crowd is expected to pour into the parish of Clara, Co Kilkenny, tomorrow for the funeral Mass of Johnny Ryan, father of All-Ireland winning captain Lester Ryan, who died in a farm accident on Wednesday.

A farmer killed in a work place accident in Kilkenny has been named locally as the father of All-Ireland hurling winning captain Lester Ryan.

RTÉ Sport celebrate the battles for the Liam McCarthy cup in this rousing video narrated by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

And… Breathe. The neutrals may welcome another shot at an All-Ireland hurling final after that stunning draw but can the locals in Kilkenny and Tipperary bear it? Will their hearts be able for that sort of tension again?

Tony Considine, holds his hands up. He predicted a Cork victory and a classic. On both counts he was way off the mark.

Clare and Cork will meet again to decide the destiny of the Liam McCarthy Cup after a momentous decider finished level at Croke Park.

The buildup to Sunday’s All Ireland is reaching fever pitch in Clare with a fan invasion of Ennis town centre expected for the match.

Alex Ferguson leaves Manchester United in an era very different to the one in which he started the job.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan was booed by crowds in his home constituency last night as he took to the stage to welcome home the Kilkenny senior hurlers.

Galway boss Anthony Cunningham was a relieved man after Joe Canning's last-gasp point earned a 0-19 to 2-13 draw for his side in yesterday's All-Ireland SHC final against Kilkenny.

If Galway manage to capture the Liam McCarthy Cup in three weeks' time, they will surely look back on yesterday's superb save by goalkeeper James Skehill as a key moment over the two games.

OLD hands they may be at this triumphant homecoming lark, but Kilkenny supporters turned out in their thousands last night to welcome their hurling heroes from another glorious weekend in Dublin.

A TIPPERARY village’s All Ireland hurling celebrations turned to tragedy when fire swept through the home of a well-known brother and sister, an inquest heard yesterday.

WEXFORD manager Colm Bonnar has backed Kilkenny to win back the All-Ireland senior hurling championship crown in 2011.

LAST weekend’s Hennerty Sales Laurels winner Tyrur Enda will be returning to Munster for his final outings of the season after owner PJ Fahy decided to run the champion in the Red Mills Masters, which commences at Kilcohan Park on Saturday week.

Tipperary 5-22 Galway 0-12

IT took a diplomatic Kerryman to send thousands of Kilkenny and Tipperary hurling followers home happy from Iverk Show.

IF Queen Elizabeth deigns to come to Cork during her State visit to Ireland, they may have to do a bit of heavy lifting at UCC. A statue of her predecessor, Queen Victoria, once held pride of place on the roof of the college’s Aula Maxima when it was Queen’s University Cork.

LEINSTER COUNCIL chairman Seamus Howlin has warned of disastrous consequences for the winners of this year’s Christy Ring Cup should they decide to accept promotion to hurling’s top tier in 2011.

THE GAA’s top administrator, Páraic Duffy, has declared his full backing for the provincial championships – as well as the All-Ireland qualifier series which has done so much to undermine them.

There are no injury worries in either the Kilkenny or Tipperary camps ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland decider at Croke Park.

TWENTY-THREE hurling counties will be deprived of a shot at gaining promotion to a higher championship tier next summer if a motion proposed by the GAA’s Central Council for October’s Special Congress is adopted.

The Central Referees Appointments Committee of the GAA has announced the referees for the forthcoming All-Ireland Senior and Minor Hurling Championship finals.

Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-07

Deise sharpshooter John Mullane is hoping to take another step this weekend in ending Waterford's record of 50 years without lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup.

GAA Director General Pauric Duffy expects that neither Antrim nor Wexford will be relegated from the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Dominic McKinley has rubbished reports that he is set to relinquish his role as joint-manager of the Antrim senior hurlers, insisting that a decision on his future has yet to be made.