Winner of eight All-Ireland medals, part of a famed hurling dynasty, Eoin Larkin has been one of the finest forwards of his generation. He spoke with PM O'Sullivan.

A week on from the spectre and inspiration of Colm Cooper hovering over Cillian O’Connor in Gooch’s own backyard of Killarney, Mayo and Kerry return to another beloved playground of the Dr Crokes genius — Croke Park.

A Tallaght man arrested following the looting of a Centra during Storm Emma last year has been sentenced to two years in prison with the final year suspended.

To mark World Book Day, we asked Irish sports stars for their favourite reads.

Sigerson Cup: UCD 2-15 - NUI Maynooth 1-6: UCD manager John Divilly praised his side’s composure as last year’s beaten finalists saw off an erratic NUI Maynooth to open their Sigerson Cup campaign with a win.

Kevin Markham looks at four young food companies with a sweet spot for golf.

Daniel Flynn spoke openly and honestly at a media event earlier this week about all things Kildare; from their woeful Croke Park record to his costly missed goal chance against Dublin in the Leinster final.

A talented young sportsman has died during his Leaving Certificate examinations.

Legendary Tipperary hurler Michael Maher, whose death has occurred, was the last surviving member of the fearsome full-back line famously known as ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, having been predeceased by Kieran Carey and John Doyle.

The last time Kilkenny retained the All Ireland, Enda Kenny was Taoiseach. The last time Cork retained the All Ireland, Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach. The last time Galway retained the All Ireland, CJ Haughey was Taoiseach. The last time Tipperary retained the All- Ireland, Brian Boru was Taoiseach.

John Doyle, not long before he passed away in December 2010, made an intriguing remark about 21st-century hurling.

We’ll call him Pat, not least because that’s his name. He’s a young man from Tipperary (some of my best friends, etc), who likes his sport and adores his hurling, and various Munster final days have seen sightings of him in that garb beloved of Tipp hipsters, a Boca Juniors jersey.

The only way they win is if they succeed in deepening the wedge that already exists between the West and Islam, writes Fergus Finlay

Almost nothing leaks out of the Hoover Dam that is the Kilkenny senior hurling panel.

Munster SHC final

Kevin Fennelly said it was a regret of his he didn’t produce Henry Shefflin when he was Kilkenny manager in 1998.

HE MAY have been 72 by the time it hit the record stores, but Gerry Quinn says musician Andy Irvine is justifiably proud of the CD and DVD of his 70th birthday concerts in Dublin’s Vicar St.

The organisation tasked with facilitating the restructuring of the country’s credit unions, including through providing financial support, was first able to forward monies to credit unions just a fortnight ago, 23 months after being set up.

Glen Rovers are looking to bridge a generational gap as they bid for another Cork title tomorrow at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

As the 64,246 paying spectators made their way to Croke Park that blustery day nearly half a century ago, there was not one burning question of the day but two.

Fifty years ago Tipperary and Kilkenny clashed in the All-Ireland final with the Cats warmly fancied to retain their title.

Tommy Buggy is on the phone for much of the All-Ireland U16 hurling decider, his wife requiring an update on the state of play with every passing minute.

Old scores were never fully settled because off the field the players rarely met socially.

Cork, it can be said, have better rapport with other Munster counties. The same for Tipperary as much as geography means every game is a rivalry. This particular relationship on Sunday thrives on lashings of respect but a smattering of contempt too.

Cork and Tipperary face each other in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday. Calm down, there are a few sleeps to go yet. To get you in the mood, we examine, in quotations, the relationship between the counties.

Championship matches between Cork and Tipperary have always been explosive affairs, but none more so than the 1950 Munster final.

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 2B:

Speaking at the History of Hurling one-day seminar held at The Schoolhouse venue at Muckross House in Killarney last Saturday, one of the most stylish forwards of his era reflected on a 19-year senior inter-county career.

They haven’t come up with a term for it yet. Maybe they’ve developed an aversion for such things in Kilkenny since the ‘Drive for Five’ didn’t work out as they wanted.

Kildare 1-22 Westmeath 0-9

Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle has announced his retirement from inter-county football after a 15 year playing career.

Kildare 1-22 Westmeath 0-8

With 70 minutes on the clock in Newbridge eight days ago, Kildare were five points up on Tyrone and heading close to the summit of the league after three rounds.

Carlow 1-16 Westmeath 1-07

Kildare star John Doyle is uncertain about his inter-county future.

Late August 1997 and Ger Loughnane is talking about life, the universe and hurling in a hotel in Ennis.

Davy Fitzgerald is set to remain as Clare senior hurling manager for another three years following last night’s county board meeting.

A total of 15 counties are represented in the 29-man squad today announced by Ireland team manager Paul Earley for the upcoming International Rules series against Australia.