When 23-year-old Ballyduff man Pat Joe Connolly is asked to reflect on where his hurling career is about to take him, he momentarily pauses to search for the appropriate words.

Kerry hurling chiefs claim “common sense” prevailed with the decision to clear All-Ireland medallist Patrick Kelly to continue with the Kingdom.

New Offaly hurling manager Eamonn Kelly will have to plan without experienced wing-back Cathal Parlon for 2016.

Kerry 1-20 Derry 0-12: They perhaps left their best hurling behind them in Newbridge a week earlier but when you’ve also left two Christy Ring Cup finals behind you, winning is all that matters.

Kildare found themselves away from home and eight points down for the second Saturday in a row at Trim two days ago, but yet again the Christy Ring Cup champions dug themselves out of a hole to record a 3-23 to 2-18 win over Meath and set up a semi-final meeting with Kerry at Newbridge on Saturday.

Kildare 0-22 Meath 0-17: Kildare shook off Leinster rivals Meath and claim the Allianz Hurling Division 2B title in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday.

London 0-11 Westmeath 1-15

RTÉ Sport have been criticised by three counties for their coverage of hurling on The Sunday Game.

London look set to compete in next year’s Leinster senior hurling championship following last weekend’s historic Christy Ring Cup success.

With two 13-point wins over Wicklow under their belt in the past year, Kerry were shocked by Casey O’Brien’s men in their opening defence of their Christy Ring Cup title at Arklow on Saturday.

Dublin duo Alan Brogan and Stephen Cluxton are in contention for the GAA-GPA footballer of the year award, while Kilkenny pair Michael Fennelly and Tommy Walsh and Tipperary's Pádraic Maher are vying for the hurling accolade.

DUNDRUM surprised hot-pot Tornedo Shay to the tune of eight lengths in the Killarney Veterinary Clinic Race at the Kerry track last night.

TORNEDO SHAY, who has hit form with a vengeance of late, can make it three in a row in the Killarney Veterinary Clinic Race at the Kerry track this evening.

Calls to change the Allianz Hurling League structures to two groups of six smack of elitism, according to Carlow manager Kevin Ryan, who reckons it will kill off the game in weaker counties.

Details of the Champion 15 teams for the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups for 2010 have been announced today.

SET out at the far, suburban-end of the Boreenmanna Road, in Cork city, is Corvalley Court – with the rugby playing pitches of Cork Constitution behind, and the GAA pitch at Pairc Uí Rinn (Christy Ring) almost alongside.

FORMER GAA President Seán Kelly believes the GAA will grant the Gaelic Players Association official recognition in the near future.

ANTRIM hurling joint manager Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton has claimed that the GAA will only go ahead with relegation from the Liam MacCarthy Cup if it is his side that is destined for the chop.

NEW Carlow manager Luke Dempsey is confident he can change the fortunes of the Division Four side.

SLAUGHTER of the innocents. That’s how many people saw the early qualifier rounds of this year’s All-Ireland championship.

JOHN ALLEN believes the Munster and Leinster hurling championships are in serious danger of extinction due to the All-Ireland championship system introduced last year.