How do you measure heartache? Years spent in the doldrums, woeful win-loss ratios, and player unrest or disinterest are all useful, dependable, barometers.

A cold and calculated performance from Waterford on a perishing afternoon in Thurles.

The work permits system is in need of reform as it creates “indentured servitude” by tying some non-EU workers to their employees.

Most individual wage earners in Ireland would not meet the criteria to apply for a mortgage for a one-bed apartment anywhere in Dublin, while a full-time minimum wage earner would have “little chance” of getting a mortgage for the same type of property in Cork, Galway, or Limerick cities.

Offaly 3-11

The Revenue said it received information on €84m in offshore assets before a late spring deadline, and confirmed it will investigate the latest revelations made in the so-called Paradise Papers.

Revenue have confirmed that they are working to identify any taxpayers who are avoiding paying taxes by using offshore bank accounts.

Back-to-back All-Ireland champions Dublin will face old foes Westmeath next weekend after Tom Cribbin's side edged out Offaly at the second attempt in the Leinster quarter-finals.

Pat Rigney chose ‘remote and wild’ Drumshambo to distill gin and whiskey for world markets, writes Trish Dromey.

Ford collector Michael Rigney tells Jessica Casey about his passion for the brand and the one ultra-rare motor that is missing from his remarkable line-up of classics.

Caroline Rigney tells Valerie O’Connor about how she and husband Joe moved to a farm to make highly-prized pork products from rare-breed pigs.

Westmeath 2-22 Offaly 1-11: Offaly manager Eamonn Kelly shouldered the blame for “one of the low points” of his time in hurling as Westmeath romped to a deserved 14-point Leinster championship win over his side at Cusack Park in Mullingar.

Offaly 0-14 Limerick 1-19: Limerick’s Shannonside derby clash with Clare in a fortnight’s time will be a promotion showdown regardless of results next weekend after Limerick eased to an eight-point win over Offaly at O’Connor Park in Tullamore yesterday.

Good Counsel, New Ross 2-12 Dublin South 0-1: Leinster Post Primary Hurling: Good Counsel, New Ross laid the foundation for victory over Dublin South in the opening half of this Leinster Post Primary SHC A quarter-final at Pairc Ui Bhriain, Carlow, courtesy of two goals from Bob Whitty.

Chefs, childcare workers, and staff for the retail and ICT sectors could be trained through new apprenticeships as part of plans to widen their availability and appeal.

Kilkenny 5-32 Offaly 1-18

IF you don’t want your children to spend the mid-term break on their smartphones or iPads, you’d better get organised.

Two men from Blanchardstown in Dublin have been jailed after being caught with over €120,000 worth of cocaine.

Offaly 2-05 Clare 0-13 David Tubridy contributed six quality points as Mick O’Dwyer’s Clare kept their promotion push alive with a vital victory over Offaly, one that was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

So many questions, so few answers, as Lara Burns Gibbs, the 12-year-old who took her own life on Saturday, was yesterday laid to rest in Maynooth amid scenes of grief and bewilderment.

The prolonged process of appointing a new Laois senior hurling manager will trickle into next month.

Tipperary 1-12 Offaly 0-10

They were very tentative early on, but once Kildare got going they had way too many gears for a committed but outgunned Offaly.

Kildare 0-19 Offaly 0-6

Brian Cody welcomed John Tennyson back for his first game in a Kilkenny jersey since the 2010 All-Ireland final as they annihilated Offaly in a challenge last evening to mark the official opening of Clara’s impressive new facilities.

There was drama at the end of this high-scoring Allianz Hurling League game in the floodlit Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening with Shane Dooley converting a controversial late penalty to secure a share of spoils for Offaly.

Limerick 2-16 Offaly 4-10

Offaly cantered to a comprehensive 12 points victory in this lack lustre Allianz NHL Division 1B opening round encounter at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday as Laois never recovered from the dismissal of Michael McEvoy in the 21st minute.

One in four pensioners faces paying more tax this year following a blunder between Revenue and the Department of Social Protection.

LONDON footballer Paul Geraghty will discover his fate tonight when he attends ahearing at Ruislip related tohis proposed 96-week suspension.

FINES totalling €6,250 were imposed on a Meath footballer and his wife for failing to return statements of their financial affairs to the Revenue Commissioners.

JAMES STEPHENS collected the Kilkenny SHC title at a damp Nowlan Park yesterday, where 8,742 spectators saw an entertaining replay after last week’s draw disputed by two fully committed sides – sometimes too committed, as evidenced by the second-half sendings off of Jackie Tyrrell, captain of the new champions, and Ballyhale’s Colin Fennelly.

OFFALY defender James Rigney is considering an inter-county transfer to London after moving there for work.

NIALL RIGNEY managed a wry smile about Henry Shefflin’s late equaliser in yesterday’s Kilkenny county final.

Brendan Fennelly has resigned as Laois senior hurling manager, accoring to a report on Midlands 103.

Defenders Maurice O'Brien and Oisin Gough will start for Dublin in tomorrow's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Offaly at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

Offaly manager Joe Dooley has announced his team for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

OFFALY star James Rigney looks set to miss the championship after sustaining an arm injury in training.

A MAN who knows Finance Minister Michael Noonan better than most is set to join the ministerial team and over coming years will be closer to the minister than any adviser or civil servant.

THE All-Ireland Vocational SAFC trophy arrived in the West Offaly town of Ferbane for the first time on Saturday evening after a powerful late burst saw Gallen CS dethrone champions Clonakilty CC in Croke Park.

Cork 1-20 Offaly 1-15, Pairc Ui Chaoimh

FORMER Laois hurling boss Niall Rigney, will be involved with Kilkenny club James Stephens in 2011.

THE High Court has adjourned to later this month a Co Offaly businessman’s application to avoid returning to prison forbeing in contempt of court for failing to secure the return of leased machinery worth €2 million.

A Co Offaly businessman jailed for almost two weeks for contempt of court over failure to secure the return of leased machinery worth €2m has been temporarily freed by a High Court judge until later this week.

The High Court has ruled that a Co Offaly businessman must remain in prison over the weekend before he can make an application to purge his contempt for failing to comply with orders to hand over possession of machinery he had leased.

The High Court is demanding an explanation as to why a Co Offaly businessman has not been jailed for breaching a court order.

Laois boss Sean Dempsey has become the latest casualty in senior inter-county football management, following his failure to be reappointed for a third year.