Dublin 3-11 Cork 1-12

Long after they stepped from the field and handed back the maroon shirt, Galway’s celebrated men of ’87 and ’88 continue to look out for one another.

Over the weekend, a St Jude’s club-mate said it must be a delight to interview Kevin McManamon. Indeed, it is but the chances are few and far between.

Forgive us for swimming against the tide and not entertaining the one question hurling enthusiasts have been poring over all week — will Henry Shefflin march behind the Artane Band on Sunday afternoon?

It was cold, blustery and there were showers of rain, but not even a campaigning politician could have dampened the positivity of the spirit at O’Moore Park yesterday.

Jimmy Deenihan had developed a grá for the Artane Boys Band long before he set eyes on the red and blue uniform.

Founded in 1886, Staker Wallace GAA is one of those clubs that typifies all that makes the GAA what it is — the heartbeat of small communities nationwide.

You don’t want to know the mucky process in which many engaged to get a ticket. Each one will have a tale of how they got there come Sunday.

RIGHT up there with ‘why would you do that?’, ‘what the hell did you say to her?’ and ‘where’s that tenner you owe me?’, ‘what’s it like being a reporter at big games?’, is the question I’m most asked.

AT last, an empire to rival Britain’s.

The Queen has arrived at Croke Park in Dublin, the site of the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1920.

BELIEVE it or not, ladies, I’m turning 30 soon.

MIND your heads while I throw in the first cliché, if I may; in sport, there’s no gain without pain.

THE GAA will conclude their 125 celebrations on Sunday in Thurles, on the anniversary of the day the Association was founded in Hayes Hotel in 1884.

ALAN MULHOLLAND, who led Galway to their sixth All-Ireland minor football title in 2007, will tonight be appointed manager of the county’s U21 side for next season.

THE same way you know it’s a general election night when Brian Farrell wears a carnation in his lapel, so too the rich sound of the Artane Band heralds a landmark day in Croke Park for many of us.

LOOKS like it was a classic, doesn’t it? Eighteen scores apiece, just four points separating them at the end, another in a long line of epic Munster senior hurling finals, yes?

MAKE sense of that. Beyond the pageantry and the pitch invasions, four Tipperary goals should have copper-fastened victory over Waterford yesterday in Semple Stadium’s Munster SHC final, but the Premier county were, surprisingly, only four ahead at the close.

REVELLERS continued to arrive in their thousands for Ireland’s biggest rock festival weekend yesterday lugging air beds, tents, boxes of food and those all-important wellies.

Brass or bag pipes? Not much of a choice, really. But some fans are angry with the Munster Council for replacing the traditional pipe band on final day with a brass band. The TV3 honeymoon is over. They get a lash this week for the quality of their coverage and the GAA is criticised for failing to ensure live championship games are broadcast in Irish on TG4.

GERALD McCARTHY is looking to Cork’s Allianz League campaign will unearth three or four players capable of forcing their way onto his championship line-up.

LEINSTER have been boosted with yesterday’s announcement that Felipe Contepomi has signed a two-year extension to his contract.