Seán Hayes finds himself a busier man than usual. Having held the post of Cork U21 football manager from 2014-17, his inter-county duties are normally done and dusted by this time of year.

Beyond his three-point contribution and the consistency at which he punched holes in the Clare rearguard, it should not be overlooked that Stephen O’Brien was still on the field when referee Barry Cassidy blew the final whistle in Sunday’s Munster semi-final in Killarney.

Since Conor Counihan departed as Cork manager almost five years ago, three different managers have presided over 54 games and used 76 players — and not once put the same team out in successive games. Eoghan Cormican crunches the numbers.

Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy said the timing of club-only activity on Leeside was “great” from his point of view, but added that the county players were given a clear message to maintain their form on club duty.

Waterford were rejoicing last night as it was confirmed that Austin Gleeson has been cleared to play in the All-Ireland final.

For Alan O’Connor, the fire burns as strong as it ever did.

Unlike both of their championship encounters against Kerry last year, the Clare footballers must at least “do themselves justice” in Sunday’s Munster semi-final.

Colm Collins is in his fourth year as Clare football manager. He is also on his fourth coach, leading the man himself to quip: “I must be very difficult to get on with”.

Dublin need only a point on Sunday to seal a fifth straight Division 1 final appearance. 

When Gary Brennan tries to describe his relationship with hurling and this magical, unlikely journey he and Ballyea have found themselves on, he’ll often break into a light laugh.

Tipperary football board chairman Joe Hannigan has suggested that winning an All-Ireland senior title by 2020 is “no longer a pipe dream” and “fast becoming a reality.”

Three things to talk about from the weekend’s action...

Tipperary manager Michael Ryan might have strenuously disagreed with the severity of his punishment, but John O’Dwyer took it on the chin.

Darragh Kiely is the standout player of the past week, having won three critical scores in quick succession, culminating in the All-Ireland U18 final.

The natural next step for this Waterford group now is to win a Munster title and they are ready to take that step this weekend, writes Anthony Daly.

John Fogarty looks at 10 goals that while impressive, could have been ruled out on another day.

Cork U21 football manager Sean Hayes has enjoyed more relaxing weekends than the one just gone.

Finally, someone else said it.

There will be a sense in Kilkenny that order has been restored after they claimed the largest share of this year’s GAA-GPA Opel hurling All Stars with seven accolades.

Waterford GAA chiefs have placed their faith in Derek McGrath by handing the county’s senior hurling team manager a three-year extension in the role.

Needless to say, a championship meeting with Waterford means something more to Seamus Harnedy than most of his Cork colleagues.

Donal Riordan is the first player through to the Munster Intermediate championship semi-final after defeating Gavin Twohig by two bowls at the Marsh Road on Sunday.

Thurles will host two Cork-Waterford clashes in the space of five weeks after it was yesterday confirmed Semple Stadium will stage Sunday week’s Division 1 final.

Dan Ó Duinnín has a bit of previous with these lung-bursting runs and net-bursting finishes.

In an exclusive extract from his autobiography, Paul Galvin gives his account of slapping referee Paddy Russell’s notebook from his hands during the Munster semi-final in 2008.

ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY:

The GAA has emphatically rejected suggestions made by Ger Loughnane that Cork influenced the selection of the referee for the All-Ireland final hurling replay last year against Clare.

The GAA insist sideline regulations have not been relaxed — despite a noticeable increase in the number of management and backroom officials at pitchside in the past couple of months.

Cork football boss Brian Cuthbert elected to hold counsel on whether or not Colm Cooper’s season-ending injury has bolstered the county’s Munster title aspirations.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald has revealed how a three-hour meeting with the players in his sitting room, during which they had MiWadi orange and biscuits, got the Banner's Championship campaign back on track.

Louis Mulqueen on what drives the Banner.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, the last man to captain Cork to an All-Ireland SHC title in 2005, says that how the Rebels cope with Clare's 'extra man' tactic will go a long way to deciding the winners of Sunday's hotly anticipated final.

After he saved Kerry’s Division 1 bacon last month, Eamonn Fitzmaurice said he owed Paul Mannion a pint.

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 1A

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy feels that Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A trip to Waterford will tell more about his side than their opening-night victory over Tipperary.

There’s a myth Marc Ó Sé would like to dispel but he knows only an All-Ireland title will do it.