Galway captain Paul Conroy says they are pleased they have fate in their own hands as they head to Monaghan tomorrow in a bid to avoid the drop to Division Three.

With Graham Canty now in retirement, new Cork senior football manager Brian Cuthbert has turned to another defender to be his captain.

Kilkenny’s John Tennyson has decided to retire from senior inter-county hurling.

Limerick's successful run through the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers has earned them a crack at reigning champions Kilkenny in the quarter-finals.

Between 1991 and 2006 Cork held Tipperary in check in senior hurling, with the Premier County forced to play second fiddle when the two sides met.

A 14-point defeat is a bitter pill for any side to swallow.

Jenny O’Leary hasn’t played in a major final since Cork lost to Wexford in the 2007 All-Ireland.

The first time the GAA separates the supporters at a game of hurling or football will be the last time its loyalists can point at itself — as they so often do now — as an exemplary sport whose supporters still conform to the norms of civilised behaviour.

CORNER-FORWARD Michael Martin fired two excellent goals as Galway wrapped up their FBD League campaign with a win over Sligo at Tuam Stadium yesterday.

KILKENNY ace John Tennyson is set to lose his race to return for the Cats’ All-Ireland semi-final date on August 7.

PLAYING the poor mouth is something St Brigid’s have enjoyed these last couple of months. But as Nemo Rangers found out to their cost, they aren’t as lowly as they make themselves out to be.

FOR some, the mention of Frankie Dolan’s name brings to mind that immortal line from Chazz Palminteri’s play turned movie A Bronx Tale: “the saddest thing in life is wasted talent”.

THE FIRST job Donal O’Grady had to complete when appointed Limerick hurling manager was to dim the public’s horizon and minimise the expectation within the squad, and anyone who attended Saturday’s Allianz National league Division Two encounter with Westmeath won’t need much more convincing that O’Grady’s ‘Limerick project’ is very much in its foetal stages.

Tommy Walsh, one of Kerry's goalscorers in their semi-final win over Meath, has been included in the Kingdom side for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Cork (Croke Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Tommy Walsh, one of Kerry's goalscorers in their semi-final win over Meath, has been included in the Kingdom side for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Cork (Croke Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Cushendall were crowned the first provincial club champions of 2008 thanks to a 1-14 to 1-13 victory over Down champions Ballygalget in the Ulster club SHC final at Casement Park, on a day which saw 13 county finals around the country, and also action in the Ulster and Connacht provincial club championships.