There was a famous photograph taken in 2000 at a Leinster U21 final, shortly after Offaly had dethroned Cork to reach the All-Ireland senior final, where they were due to square up to Kilkenny again.

COMING out of Croke Park on Sunday, a former Mayo manager tried to counter what he had just seen by theorising that teams who win All-Ireland semi-finals by large margins go on to lose finals while those who receive sterner tests are better placed to claim silverware.

Damien Reale will return to captain Limerick in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Clare (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm).