There is raking yourself over the coals and then there is what Aidan Walsh did to himself after last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

There is raking yourself over the coals and then there is what Aidan Walsh did to himself after last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final, writes By John Fogarty

Limerick hurling captain Donal O’Grady returns at centre-forward for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kilkenny.

Croke Park is set for its busiest weekend of the year, with 120,000 patrons expected through the turnstiles on Jones’ Road.

Davy Fitzgerald admitted his Waterford players were negatively affected by the mass hype prior to the 2008 All-Ireland hurling final and he is determined to avoid a similar scenario arising this weekend.

Ger Cunningham was wearing two hats this week, Bord Gáis Energy representative at Wednesday’s Munster U21 hurling final won in such convincing style by Clare and selector on Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s Cork management team that faces Dublin in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

With hurling becoming ever more professional in terms of preparation, is there a danger those in normal full-time employment are being squeezed out? So wondered Limerick’s Niall Moran in advance of the All-Ireland SHC semi-final between his side and Clare in Croke Park.

TIPPERARY minor football boss David Power has slammed Croke Park officials for their refusal to allow his players train at GAA HQ ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Roscommon.

The Tipperary team to face Dublin in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm) has been announced.

THE injury crisis affecting the Dublin hurlers shows no signs of abating with attacker David Treacy looking set to be the latest absentee for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary in Croke Park.

Waterford 2-23 Galway 2-13

ONE of the country’s top hurling referees believes the GAA should introduce television match officials for high-profile championship matches.

DAVY FITZGERALD last night revealed he is unsure about his future as Waterford hurling boss.

I ’M bemused by the betting for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald has made no personnel changes for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

KILKENNY legend Eddie Keher has stoked the fires ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final by claiming that he would not touch Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack’s autobiography “with a 40-foot pole”.

FORMER Kilkenny captain Denis Byrne has written off Cork’s chances of causing an upset in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

A GREY Friday morning, nine days before the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, and Jackie Tyrrell is attending to business in Wexford.

CORK hopes of an All-Ireland football and hurling double-header were raised temporarily yesterday, when tickets for the All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Cork and Kilkenny were withdrawn from sale yesterday in Croke Park.

IF ever there was an opportunity for the GAA to say ‘thank you’ to one of its finest group of supporters, it’s now.

Limerick manager Richie Bennis has opted for a new look starting fifteen for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

JJ Delaney will make his first competitive appearance for Kilkenny since last August when the Cats take on Dublin in the National Hurling League tomorrow (Parnell Park, throw-in 2.30pm).

Cork manager John Allen has named an unchanged team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Munster rivals Waterford (Croke Park, throw-in 4pm).

GALWAY’S top scorer Ger Farragher could miss Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny.

CROKE PARK bosses yesterday launched a complex fixture programme as part of the revamped Guinness All-Ireland SHC.

IF Wexford beat Antrim next Sunday in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, they will meet Cork in the semi-final.

CROKE PARK’S Games Administration Committee has launched a probe into the circumstances of the serious hand injury sustained by Clare’s Gerry Quinn at the end of Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford.

WATERFORD hurling supporters have snapped up more than two-thirds of the tickets available online from the GAA’s official website for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Clare.

Andy Maloney has been drafted back into the Waterford side ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Clare at Croke Park.