Galway’s longest serving player Padraic Joyce has decided to retire after 15 years of top-flight football.

HERE’S A prediction, and you can chisel it in stone: Some day, right being right, the good citizens of Kilkenny will erect a monument to Brian Cody.

IT’S only January, it was only the Walsh Cup, both sides were seriously understrength (Kilkenny especially so) and yet the three-point win for Offaly on Sunday last in Tullamore over Kilkenny was of massive significance to the home side.

Not for the first time Mick O’Dwyer is working the oracle in an adopted land. Brendan O’Brien, Daragh O Conchúir and Colm O’Connor spoke to four men who have first-hand experience of the Kerryman’s managerial brilliance.

NICHOLAS MURPHY is set to miss Sunday’s All-Ireland football quarter-final clash with Kildare because of a hamstring injury, paving the way for Michael Cussen to start.

KEVIN Prendergast’s Heart Of Fire was far too good for his rivals in the Listed Kerry Spring Water Rochestown Stakes at Cork yesterday.

Football reigns at hurling's home today as Munster and All-Ireland champions Kerry travel to Thurles to take on Tipperary in a Munster SFC clash that is widely tipped to be one-sided.

Former Kildare defender Brian Lacey will make his debut for Tipperary in Sunday's Munster SFC quarter-final against Kerry at Semple Stadium.

BRIAN WHELAHAN is expected to play with Birr in Thursday’s county SHC clash against Kilcormac.

WHAT a difference a game makes. Having lost much of their aura in the Leinster final defeat against Wexford, suddenly Kilkenny are back as the one team everyone must match — and try to avoid.

JOHN O’MAHONY would have given little thought to the plight of Galway football in the Eighties.

KILKENNY manager Brian Cody paid tribute yesterday to retired defender Philip ‘Philly’ Larkin for the contribution he made to hurling in the county over the past decade.