No senior, U20, or minor inter-county panel should be permitted to return to collective training before December 1, according to Connacht secretary John Prenty, who has called on Croke Park to hand over governance of training ban rules to provincial councils.

Former Dublin footballer Ger Brennan is fearful scheduling changes to the Sigerson Cup and All-Ireland U20 football championship could lead to young players dropping out of college.

The full-house signs will be up well before the 7pm throw-in time in Carrigtwohill Sunday evening for the eagerly awaited Cork senior hurling championship third-round showdown between champions Imokilly and Midleton.

His time in blue and gold may only be in its infancy, but Jake Morris is pretty certain there’ll never be a week to top the one just finished.

At a time when “too many” competitions provide second and third chances, Cork U20 hurling manager Denis Ring has stressed the importance of the U20 championship retaining its knockout format.

Tom Willis’ last-minute try ruined the Ireland Under-20s’ final quarter fightback as England won a titanic play-off 30-23 in awful underfoot conditions in Rosario.

Some of you may consider yourselves to have been spoiled by the amount of hurling in recent weeks.

What’s another year? That is the rhetorical question the GAA hierarchy are asking as a motion to change the U21 All-Ireland hurling championship to U20 to fall into line with Gaelic football is being prepared.

Some people make you laugh when commenting on matches at any level in the GAA.

The minor grade at county level will change from U18 to U17 after next year following a vote at Congress last night.

Carlow manager Turlough O’Brien has launched a broadside against the proposed second-tier All-Ireland competition, describing it as a “slap in the face” for footballers in weaker counties.

Wales 23, Italy 15

Number eight Peter O'Mahony will lead the Ireland U20s for this Friday’s opening game in the U20 Championship against France in Dubarry Park (7.30pm).