Kerry’s team for tomorrow’s McGrath Cup final against Tipperary at Seán Treacy Park in Tipperary town shows four changes from the side that defeated Limerick in last week’s semi-final.

Antrim manager Jerry Wallis has stepped down as manager of Kerry SHC champions Ballyduff.

IT’S all systems go for Charleville now after their win over Fullen Gaels on Sunday last, a place in the AIB All-Ireland club junior hurling final in Croke Park on February 11 secured.

IT’S going to be a very merry Christmas around the Charleville area this year.

THE last big game of the 2011 Munster hurling calendar and, make no mistake, while the names of the two finalists may not resonate across the country, for two clubs with a long and proud hurling history this is a big game.

A woman from Effin in Co Limerick has started an online campaign to have the place name recognised on Facebook.

THE hurlers of Effin have come a very long way in a very short time. Last year the small rural Limerick outfit claimed their first adult county title with junior hurling championship success.

OVER the past five years they have watched neighbours either side of the Cork-Limerick border rise to senior stardom.

IF those who set the odds are to be believed – and these guys speak with their wallets – there’s going to be a convincing winner of tomorrow’s Harty Cup final between Árd Scoil Rís (Limerick) and Charleville CBS.

TOM O’MAHONY has a confession to make. As the preparations were being put in place for Meelin’s 2010 junior hurling campaign, O’Mahony found himself mulling over thoughts of retirement.

ANDREW O’SHAUGHNESSY isn’t too keen on dwelling on the latter end of 2009. And who could blame him. Twelve months ago he was one of the 12 Limerick hurlers sensationally dropped from the county panel with manager Justin McCarthy citing commitment and discipline issues as the chief reasons behind the axing.

THERE’S a book going to hit your shelves in a few weeks’ time, ‘Unlimited Heartbreak’, by Henry Martin — it should be made compulsory reading for every Limerick hurling supporter.

ALLSTAR Nicholas Murphy returns to the Cork team for Saturday’s Allianz NFL clash with Dublin at Parnell Park.

IT was a day of surprises at the Cork Cup meeting at Blarney yesterday with Rusheen Hannah, the property of Master Brendan and Miss Irene O’Callaghan of Macroom, and trained by Liam O’Callaghan, taking the Cork Cup in surprise fashion.