Last year this writer went to a training session for the Waterford hurlers to discuss access for GAA Nua, an upcoming documentary. 

It is a mild pity that match previews do not include an insight into the thought processes which led yer man — never yer woman, of course — to his verdict.

Pressure is growing on the Government to act immediately to take in refugees risking death to reach mainland Europe instead of waiting for instructions to come from the EU.

Campaign and voluntary groups believe a grassroots outpouring of shock over the deaths of refugees in the Mediterranean will force a stronger Government response to the crisis.

Duhallow 1-11 Newcestown 0-9: Predictably, the only goal scored in yesterday’s fourth-round Cork SFC clash in Carrigadrohid proved decisive in determining Carbery Rangers’ opponents in the quarter-final would be Duhallow. And, it’s timing – 11 minutes from time after scores had been level seven times – was all the more critical for the reason Newcestown registered three wides around the same time.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland has hit out at comments by publican Charlie Chawke that front-of-house staff in his bars should be Irish.

Coaching systems, diet plans and gym programs — integral components of an inter-county set-up, sure, but as Clare joint-manager Donal Moloney put it so bluntly on Saturday, they’re not worth a damn unless the raw talent is there.

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.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has dismissed calls for Cork’s Anthony Nash’s free-taking technique to be outlawed, even if he might be lamenting the Rebel keeper’s goalscoring touch this weekend.

Size: 470 (5,020 sq ft)

SIGERSON CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

THREE of the five purchasers of the new detached houses at Woodbury have been first-time buyers and one is a certain gentleman, and family guy, rugby star Donnchadh O’Callaghan, who has made his own design tweaks and bespoke rear playroom extension.

By his own reckoning, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was probably the least skilful hurler to ever put on a Cork jersey — but has there been a more dedicated person to wear it? “That’s what made me survive,” he suggests. Now with his life thoughts put to paper, he’s ready to reflect, without bitterness, without rancour. Anyone looking for sly digs won’t find them here.

“It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog – work with what you’ve got.”

Eamonn Cregan recently expressed concern with the growth of “hurling scrums”, claiming that players are determined to get the ball into their hand instead of pulling first-time. Is this true? Is ground hurling gone forever? Or is today’s game much more precise and controlled than the game of old?

Only one game into the Allianz Hurling League but already Cork hurling fans are beginning to get the buzz.

In a long playing career with Cork, Seánie McGrath has seen a few sterling performances.

IT could be Boreenmanna from heaven — a brand new, A-rated energy efficient detached home, within a walk of Cork City centre, for €350,000.

Hard on the heels of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s decision to retire from inter-county hurling, comes the surprising news that his Na Piarsaigh teammate John Gardiner has been cut from the Cork training panel.

Well-known traditional accordionist Dan Herlihy will be honoured at the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in Castleisland, Co Kerry, this weekend.

Na Piarsaigh 1-15 Newtownshandrum 1-11

An injury-time point by Ben O’Connor earned Newtownshandrum a deserved draw in this entertaining fourth round tie at Mallow on Saturday night.

Sometimes there are moments in sport which seem to define players and what they represent.

It’s a measure of the growing health of hurling across the province that the second Munster U21 hurling semi-final (Cusack Park, Ennis, throw-in 7.30pm) sees the Clare hosts — Munster minor champions 2010 and 2011 and beaten finalists of 2012 — face Waterford, Munster minor champions of 2009.

For awhile there he’d become hurling’s great forgotten man.

Zoning in on weaknesses

He hasn’t discovered any short cuts. The familiar signposts — Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville — still mark the winding road from Cork to Limerick and John Allen has seen a lot of them in recent months.

Fielding a team with a liberal sprinkling of inter-county under 21, junior and senior players, Carbery served notice that they will have a big say in the battle for this year’s title after they had a comfortable victory over CIT in the third round of the Cork SFC at Cloughduv last night.

Jamie Coughlan learned from the best coming up in the Newtownshandrum car to training with Cork.

Lorcan McLoughlin says Cork are “realistic” about their place in the hurling world, warning that they still have “a lot of work to do” ahead of this year’s championship.

The host of retirements from inter-county fare has taken the hurling community by surprise.

CORK easily booked their passage to the McGrath Cup final at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday, a greater intensity playing a big part in their 16-point victory over Cork IT.

CORK IT will meet Cork in the semi-final of the McGrath Cup next Sunday after overcoming IT Tralee without too much trouble at the CIT Sports Stadium yesterday.

HE weighed up the options when asked for a word.

SEÁN Óg Ó hAilpín’s declarations in the media that he was willing to return to the Cork senior hurling squad if there was a change of management and his club form for Na Piarsaigh were the key factors behind Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s decision to recruit the 2005 All-Ireland winning captain into his 2012 preliminary squad.

MICHAEL FITZGERALD can name the gang who helped drive Carrigtwohill to Sunday’s Cork SHC final against CIT.

REACHING your first county senior hurling final is a day to cherish and Cork IT did that in style in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

Cork legend Ronan Curran on the highs and lows of a career in intercounty hurling

Newtownshandrum 1-14 Sarsfields 0-14