Waterford manager Derek McGrath welcomed last night’s decision by the Munster Council ‘s Competition Control Committee (CCC) to stage the July 12 Munster SHC final in Semple Stadium.

Lorcán McLoughlin’s collarbone injury is not expected to rule him out for the rest of the year as had been feared.

Waterford boss Derek McGrath is unhappy with the circumstances that led to forward Brian O’Sullivan being slapped with a two-match suspension.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald hailed Cork’s performance in today’s Munster SHC semi-final – but voiced his displeasure at match referee James McGrath’s performance.

MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL:

Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s Cork eased through to the Munster SHC semi-final with a landslide victory over Waterford in this afternoon’s quarter- final replay at Semple Stadium.

Limerick’s marquee attacker Declan Hannon and Clare wing-back Patrick O’Connor are the big omissions from the list of 45 nominees for the 2013 GAA GPA Hurling All Stars.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín still stands over his recent criticisms of the Cork senior hurlers.

Munster Council chairman Robert Frost has rounded on fellow Clare man Davy Fitzgerald for not releasing a team for last Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final until shortly before throw-in.

Last Friday there was a press evening for the Cork hurlers ahead of Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final.

Darren O’Malley and Conor Daly are the two Roscommon debutants for Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final clash with Mayo at MacHale Park in Castlebar (4pm).

Limerick legend Eamonn Cregan has delivered a damning verdict on the county’s senior hurling team — insisting no progress is being made.

Croke Park officials have been left red-faced after Tipperary forward Lar Corbett and Kilkenny defender JJ Delaney were cleared to line out in the first round of their respective provincial championships.

Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 0-20

The Waterford hurlers face into the new season without their two first choice midfielders from last summer's Championship, Stephen Molumphy and Philip Mahony.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes from the team that lost to Kilkenny in the Allianz League final ahead of Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary.

Cathal Naughton announced himself to the hurling public in 2006 with an assured goal in the All-Irelandsemi-final against Waterford. And now the Cork forward has Tipperary in his sights in Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final.

Munster chairman Sean Walsh admitted the attendance for the province’s senior hurling championship semi-final between Clare and Waterford at Semple Stadium fell below pre match expectations.

THE disappointment of defeat was evident when Ger O’Loughlin fielded questions after yesterday’s Munster SHC semi-final and that was exacerbated for the Clare manager by the decisions made by referee James Owens during the game.

Clare will field a team containing three Championship newcomers when they clash with Tipperary in Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

PAUL CURRAN is the current All Star full-back, a tough, uncompromising position for tough, uncompromising hurlers, and on Sunday in the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick the Mullinahone stalwart will again man that critical position as Tipperary face Clare in the Munster SHC semi-final.

Tipperary manager Declan Ryan has made one change to his team for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

LIMERICK boss Donal O’Grady has expressed ‘major concern’ at comments made by Waterford selector Pat Bennett relating to refereeing performances ahead of tomorrow’s Munster SHC semi-final between the counties.

Managers Davy Fitzgerald and Donal O'Grady have confirmed their starting line-ups for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final between Waterford and Limerick at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

BRIAN CODY is the only one of six managers involved in RTÉ’s three live televised games this weekend set to refuse post-match interviews with the national broadcasters.

RYAN McMENAMIN and Davy Harte have both been omitted from the Tyrone team for Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Down due to hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

LIMERICK boss Justin McCarthy has handed out nine championship debuts for Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and has only been able to call on three of the team that started last August’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat against Tipperary due to the hurling crisis that has raged in the county since the end of last season.

Cork manager Denis Walsh has announced an unchanged starting line-up for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Limerick at Pairc Ui Chaoimh (throw-in 4pm).

THE MUNSTER Council of the GAA issued a strongly-worded statement last night disassociating itself from suggestions that a decision made “behind closed doors without the knowledge of the Waterford GAA Executive” was at the root of the controversial proposal to play this year’s Munster hurling final in Cork.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald felt that his side showed great appetite and determination to overcome a dogged Clare outfit in this afternoon's Munster SHC semi-final at Semple Stadium.

Munster SHC Semi-Final

RTÉ ARE to discuss the scheduling of high-profile championship matches with GAA chiefs in an effort to avoid a repeat of Sunday’s extra-time debacle.

TICKETS which were on sale through GAA and Ticketmaster websites for the Munster SHC semi-final clash between Cork and Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on June 8 have been sold out.

Brian Geary and Mark O'Riordan have emerged as injury doubts for Limerick's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary on Sunday week.

2005 All-Star Ben O'Connor has been named in the Cork team to face Clare in this Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final (Semple Stadium, throw-in 4.00pm).

Waterford will line out in next month's Munster SHC semi-final without the services of centre back Ken McGrath.

Clare boss Anthony Daly has handed Barry Nugent his championship debut in Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds.

RTÉ CHIEFS have banned product placement by players in all sports broadcasts, it announced last night.

Jim O’Sullivan

THERE was a time when a Limerick senior footballer would be lucky to see one day of championship action in a year, when even the hurlers would be grateful for a second day out.