The world was a much different place in May 2001, when Stephen Cluxton made his first Championship appearance for Dublin, writes Paul Keane.

Noel McGrath believes Tipperary will not carry any baggage from last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final loss to Galway into Sunday’s rematch.

Ger Cunningham wouldn’t mind having more of his panel available to him against Wexford on Saturday but he agrees it feels more like his team this year.

Cork did succeed in doing something on Sunday. They became a statistic.

Former Ballyhale Shamrocks player and manager Maurice Aylward does not believe the current squad is as strong as the 2007 and 2010 versions which claimed All-Irelands.

JOHN TREACY has warned high-performance programmes will have to be dismantled and jobs lost if the current government continues the trend of its predecessors by shaving the budget for sport.

OFFALY legend Daithí Regan has blasted the county board for their treatment of the county’s hurling teams.

WHEN asked for his one-word response to learning this season’s Heineken Cup draw, Munster coach Tony McGahan couldn’t resist a smile: “Well, it started with ‘f’ anyway...”

A RESEARCH team led by two military historians has compiled the most complete record of all Cork people who died in the Great War.

HOW good must it feel in the skin of Henry Shefflin these days? Forget, for a moment, all the honours won, the nine All-Star awards, seven All-Ireland senior inter-county medals, five National Hurling Leagues, three Railway Cups, two All-Ireland club senior titles, twice named hurler of the year (on the treble – Vodafone, GPA and Texaco), and Sports Person Of The Year In 2006.

FRANK CUMMINS is generally recognised as being one of the greatest hurlers of all time, certainly one of the greatest midfielders.

Tomorrow: All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final: Newtownshandrum (Cork) v Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny), Thurles, 2.30pm.

THEY are the heirs to a fabulous legacy, Michael and Colin Fennelly, the next generation of a family whose achievements both inside and outside Kilkenny are writ large in GAA folklore.

EVEN as Kilkenny completed their four-in-a-row All-Ireland SHC success last month, another Kilkenny team was preparing to do the same thing, albeit on a different level.

KILDARE midfielder Dermot Earley yesterday dismissed suggestions that manager Kieran McGeeney set out to impose an ‘Armagh style’ on the Lilywhites.

WHILE quite a few managers will be hoping for All-Ireland glory at the end of this season, what distinguishes Mickey Harte is the conviction that he has the best chance.

In a repeat of their 1995 All-Ireland final battle, Dublin and Tyrone go head-to-head at Croke Park today (throw-in 3.30pm) for the honour of making this season's last four.

“IT worked out today, but I might fall on my arse again the next day,” laughed Larry Murphy one summer’s evening three years ago.

Dublin have never lost a final to Laois in the 117-year-long Leinster football championship, and Blues boss Paul Caffrey believes Tomas "Mossy" Quinn could split the sides again on Sunday.

IT’S the calm before the storm.

EXAMS finished for another college year, cushy number helping out the oul’ fella, a GP, in his surgery at home for the summer holidays: should be party time for UCD medical student Brendan Murphy.

EXAMS finished for another college year, cushy number helping out the oul’ fella, a GP, in his surgery at home for the summer holidays: should be party time for UCD medical student Brendan Murphy.

WEARING the Italian colours, Ross Munnelly was laughing and joking yesterday. The affinity with Italy had more to do with the Puma sponsorship than the similarity to the Laois colours, but blue suits Munnelly.

DARREN FAY admits that Meath need the hype that goes with a concerted Leinster Championship campaign if they are to put two disappointing years behind them this summer.