Cian O’Connor had good reason to describe Good Luck as one of the “most talented” horses in the world after he and the gelding delivered one of only seven clear rounds in the €1.5m Furusiyya Nations Cup Final on Saturday.

Joseph Murphy was “really happy” after helping Ireland to a solid start that left them fifth of 11 teams in the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland, yesterday.

There is one serious flaw with the defensive-based running game which has been slavishly adopted by virtually every team in the country.

Clare star Podge Collins will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his cruciate in a club championship hurling game on Saturday afternoon.

Kerry great Colm Cooper admits he was ‘pretty close’ to quitting football because of his knee injury.

THE GAA-GPA All Stars have become elitist and does not recognise the contribution of hurlers who fail to reach the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

Mayo manager James Horan and All Star Aidan O’Shea have called on the GAA to introduce a national standardised fixtures plan incorporating all club and inter-county activity.

All Star nominated forward Mickey Newman has emerged as Meath’s most serious injury concern ahead of their Leinster championship opener.

A corner shop in one of the very best locations in West Cork’s Clonakilty has come for sale — after three generations in the one family’s ownership, and several lucky Lotto jackpot sales as well.

Tipperary 1-19 Dublin 0-19

Contrary to the minority, it was indeed a year of progress for the Cork hurlers; a first championship victory over Kilkenny since 2004, the unearthing of new talent in Séamus Harnedy and an end to their seven-year absence from the September showpiece.

Kilkenny defender Paul Murphy has revealed how the Cats were anxious to put on a show for absent team manager Brian Cody on Sunday.

Down star Kevin McKernan has hit out at three of his team-mates who have quit the squad to travel abroad.

Tyrone 1-13 Donegal 0-12

As a goalkeeper, Anthony Nash is used to dealing with the occasional nasty delivery; as a spokesman for Cork hurling he’s having to get used to doing the same and yesterday, at the launch of the 2013 Allianz Hurling League, the current hurling All Star got just such a question — are all those rumours of discord in the Cork camp, discord especially in the management team, having a negative effect?

Galway management have enforced a strict ban on players using social media in the build-up to Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

A decade on from the introduction of the qualifiers and the extended championship structure is still bringing some counties together for the first time.

Waterford hurlers suffered a massive pre-championship blow with the news Pauric Mahony has been ruled out for the entire campaign.

Defending Kerry senior club champions Rathmore withstood a late Killarney Legion onslaught before winning their quarter-final, 1-10 to 0-12, on Saturday night with Legion missing two goal chances late on.

Kerry’s Bryan Sheehan says inter-county players — and managers — should be rewarded for their efforts.

LIAM WATSON has outlined how US immigration officers detained him for three hours before allowing him to join his All Star hurling colleagues.

ANTHONY DALY is “99.9%” certain he will be in charge of the Dublin senior hurling team in 2012.

FOR the second year running, the All-Ireland hurling champions have earned 14 All Star nominations with all but one of Kilkenny’s team that started this month’s final being selected.

THE Colm Murphy trained Future All Star, patiently handled by John Cullen, foiled front-running longshot Flemross to land the €50,000 Gigginstouse Houe Midlands National in Kilbeggan last night.

JOHN MULLANE was forced to contact the Gardaí about fake social media accounts claiming to be him.

IT’S hard to see anything funny about a proud hurling county and proud hurling men being disparaged as Galway and its manager and players have in recent days.

Kilkenny 3-16 NUI Galway 2-12

THE inspiring leadership of their All Star Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, and a priceless goal strike by super sub David Grey in the closing minutes, saw Stradbally safely – if nervously – across the finish line in a tense and hard fought Waterford SHC relegation play-off at Walsh Park on Saturday.

TYRONE first announced their credentials at the highest echelons of ladies football in 2007 when they shocked Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

TWO of the men entrusted with leading the Ireland team in this year’s International Rules Series believe many inter-county players lack the basic skills required to play Gaelic football at the top level.

THE Derry County Board has branded comments made by Joe Brolly about an U21 footballer as “harmful and unmerited”.

KERRY GAA chiefs have insisted that Tadhg Kennelly’s job as a coaching officer with the county board is not under threat in the wake of comments made in his book Unfinished Business.

WATERFORD GAA officials last night issued an apology to All Star John Mullane following a bizarre incident during a club championship game at Fraher Field on Saturday.

Tommy Carr has said he is unsure if he is still the Cavan manager.

TIPPERARY midfielder Shane McGrath believes that capturing back-to-back Munster senior hurling titles for the first time in 20 years will help silence the critics.

Kerry’s All-Ireland football prospects will receive a welcome shot in the arm tonight when All Star attacker Kieran Donaghy returns to full training two weeks earlier than anticipated.

DERRY boss Damien Cassidy hailed forward Eoin Bradley as the ‘complete package’ after masterminding the destruction of Dublin on Saturday night.

Cork remain on course for a fourth successive TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship crown after crushing Tyrone by 4-18 to 0-11 on Saturday to set up a final date with Ulster champions Monaghan.

SO VERY much was expected of this Munster minor hurling championship semi-final at Walsh Park last night, but after a close and hard fought opening half, Cork decisively grabbed the initiative throughout the field and cruised to the provincial decider at a canter.

KEN McGRATH is planning on being fit for the Munster semi-final against Limerick on June 22 should Waterford defeat Clare in the opening round this weekend.

DRUMCONVIS is hard to oppose in the Family Fun At Easter Novice Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

TOM COOPER, who won the Cheltenham Bumper with Total Enjoyment four years ago, is on the Festival trail again.