The GAA will have to look at starting the Allianz Hurling League before Christmas to avoid fixtures pile-ups like the one caused by last Sunday’s string of postponements, Waterford County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan has suggested.

Should either UCC team score a quarter-final victory this weekend, then the disquiet which greeted the hurlers’ surprise win over Midleton last Sunday will swell considerably.

De La Salle ended Lismore’s 46-year stay in the senior ranks with a 1-18 to 1-12 triumph in Saturday night’s Waterford SHC relegation play-off at Fraher Field.

Three time county champions De La Salle face a relegation play-off to keep their Waterford SHC senior status intact after Fourmilewater dumped them out of the race for the News & Star trophy on Saturday evening at Fraher Field.

A 30-man brawl marred yesterday’s Waterford SHC third round game between Mount Sion and Dungarvan at Fraher Field. 

De La Salle 2-12  Tallow 1-15

Fourteen-man Ballygunner encountered some turbulence against old rivals Lismore at Walsh Park yesterday, but a polished second-half showing of 2-14 secured their place in the last four of the Waterford SHC.

Waterford SHC, Round 4: With their backs to the wall beforehand, county champions Passage came out fighting last night to claim a vital Group 1 win over Fourmilewater in a crunch fourth round clash at Fraher Field (3-18 to 1-18).

The Waterford County Board have confirmed the identity of the county's new senior hurling manager tonight and as widely anticipated, Derek McGrath has got the job.

Senior Hurling titles were up for grabs in Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, Roscommon, Mayo and Leitrim this weekend.

Abbeyside 2-11 Dungarvan 0-16

Neighbours Ballyduff Upper and Tallow couldn’t be separated last night in the fourth round of the Waterford SHC in a contest that picked up real pace in the final quarter.

Dungarvan 1-15 Fourmilewater 2-9

Mount Sion 0-16 Ballygunner 2-8

Waterford senior hurling champions Ballygunner have secured a place in the last eight of the 2012 competition with victory over Lismore at Fraher Field on Saturday.

ON a weekend when all the qualification and relegation issues in the Waterford SHC were determined, pride of place goes to Mount Sion who brought Ballygunner’s hitherto unbeaten group stage run to a shuddering halt at a fiery Walsh Park encounter on Saturday evening.

REIGNING Waterford SHC champions De La Salle needed an injury-time point to salvage a draw, 1-13 apiece, against Foumilewater in a thrilling group championship game at Dungarvan yesterday.

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.

Davy Fitzgerald has been reappointed as manager of the Waterford senior hurlers, following a special meeting of the Waterford GAA Board in Dungarvan tonight.

CHAMPIONS Ballygunner took a giant stride towards the retention of their Waterford SHC title with a six-point victory over arch-rivals Mount Sion in a hard-fought quarter-final at Walsh Park yesterday.

EXILED Westmeath star Denis Glennon is expected to rejoin the county football squad next week.

PAURIC Mahony scored 2-8 as former champions De La Salle maintained their perfect record in this season’s Dr Harty Cup.

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.

WATERFORD GAA chiefs have appointed former Tipperary star John Owens as senior football manager.

ARDMORE GAA officials have blasted the Waterford County Board’s decision to fix their Waterford SHC relegation playoff against Mount Sion for Bank Holiday Monday.

CROMANE’s Donncha Walsh makes his championship debut for Kerry in Sunday’s Munster SFC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, one of four changes for the All-Ireland champions from the side that eased past Clare in the provincial semi final.

Just five days after Justin McCarthy stepped down as Waterford senior hurling manager, former Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald has been appointed to take over the Deise hurlers for the remainder of their championship campaign.

WATERFORD senior hurling champions Ballyduff Upper are still in contention to retain their crown — but only just.

Waterford forward Eoin Kelly is unlikely to play any role in the Deise's Munster SHC opener against Clare on June 1, after suffering a hand injury at the weekend.

Ardmore 1-16 Roanmore 2-9

MOUNT SION grafted out a hard-earned victory in a close Waterford SHC group game at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday.

Abbeyside 3-9 Mount Sion 2-11

Fourmilewater 0-12 Ballyduff Upper 1-8

AFTER last Sunday's thriller, the Waterford SHC relegation play-off replay between Ballyduff Upper and Fourmilewater at Dungarvan tomorrow (1pm) is awaited with great anticipation.

Waterford SHC

Lismore hurler James Shanahan, brother of inter-county star Dan, has been handed a 48-week ban for striking a referee after the ill-tempered Waterford SHC semi-final against Ballygunner last month.

JOHN MAUGHAN was reappointment Mayo senior football manager for a three-year term last night, after stating he and his selectors were not interested in 12-month appointments.

A BATTLE ROYAL is in prospect at Cappoquin this evening (6.15pm) when neighbours and arch-rivals Lismore and Tallow meet in the quarter- final of the Waterford SHC.