Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

DIT 0-19 UCD 0-17: On the face of it this is a big boost for Dublin hurling as two colleges who have never reached the Fitzgibbon Cup final hammer it out in the semi-finals next week and the appearance of either DIT or DCU in the decider will be hailed in the capital.

Picking the comparative, up-to-that-stage Hurling XV of the Noughties this time a decade ago was an exercise competed in 30 seconds, if even that.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has confirmed that attacker Shane Bennett is taking a break from inter-county hurling, though he hopes the Ballysaggart man may return to the panel next spring, writes Michael Moynihan.

Waterford went a point up ten minutes into the second half. It had been tit for tat in the second period, but from that point on Galway had the scoring power to creep ahead and the experience to see out the game.

Waterford may have lost Tadhg de Búrca but in doing so have gained another rallying call. The multiple motivations the Déise have going into tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-final:

This intro was written during the week rather than yesterday afternoon, and not for the sake of having one already baked in the event that yer man in North Korea decided to rain fire and fury down on top of the one world leader who has taken to making him look vaguely sane.

Waterford defender Tadhg de Búrca will play no part in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final against Cork, after his last-ditch appeal to the independent Disputes Resolution Authority failed, writes Jackie Cahill.

Galway are there. Cork and Waterford are nearly there. Hurling is taking its August turns. Lovely late summer cadences.

Dan Shanahan makes no bones about it: “Semi-finals are about winning; if it’s eight points to seven with 10 sweepers, we’ll take it.”

Tadhg de Búrca’s DRA appeal hearing will take place on Thursday, confirmed Irish Examiner GAA correspondent John Fogarty on today’s PaperTalk podcast.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has categorically dismissed rumours about him replacing Ger Cunningham in Dublin next season, writes John Fogarty.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has categorically dismissed rumours about him replacing Ger Cunningham in Dublin next season.

Galway hurling captain David Burke doesn’t believe any team employing a sweeper will lift Liam MacCarthy and has claimed Waterford could benefit from not having Tadhg De Búrca available for next month’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.

Waterford will go “all the way” with an appeal against Tadhg de Burca’s red card last Sunday ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Cork.

Michael Moynihan previews the repeat pairing of Cork v Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Here’s a rough head count of items on the agenda this morning.

It wasn’t all about Shefflin and Duignan, you know.

Waterford 1-35 Offaly 0-14 

Hurling pauses, if only to catch its breath. 

Waterford boss Derek McGrath said Cork were “full value” for their Munster SHC semi-final win yesterday, saying his side had been “chasing” the game all afternoon.

LIMERICK IT 1-20

Dublin 2-26 UCD 0-21: Holders Dublin completed their second successive Walsh Cup win, beating UCD at Parnell Park last night. 

All 15 of Tipperary’s All- Ireland winning side have been nominated for All-Stars, the first time in over 20 years an entire hurling team have been honoured.

The prosecution against the pub owned by former Tipperary hurling star Lar Corbett regarding the alleged non-payment of the correct rate of tax on alcohol has been adjourned to allow the State deal with a legal issue.

Dan Shanahan last night took a swipe at some of his former team-mates who have been critical of Waterford’s tactics.

Waterford’s system is most efficient when they build up a lead so Tipp manager Michael Ryan will look for a fast start in tomorrow’s Munster final.

And they thought Waterford was a tough draw.

Jim Gavin maintains Dublin followed the GAA’s anti-doping protocols when their two tested players missed out on the Laochra event after last month’s Division 1 final.

Tomorrow in Semple Stadium the programme will have Waterford club names you know well: Mount Sion. Ballygunner. Lismore.

Prior to the weekend certain question marks hung over the Waterford camp.

Working with the Limerick underage hurling academy, and being on the ground so often around Limerick, it’s very easy to pick up on the oscillating mood and trends in a county desperate for success.

Waterford defender Tadhg de Búrca believes playing in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League this year helped to ensure the Déise didn’t lack motivation during the spring.

Waterford’s match-winner on Sunday Austin Gleeson has endorsed manager Derek McGrath’s half-time directions to the team.