There was a time for Ballygunner when playing Clare opposition in Munster competition was always one match too far, but those days of serial defeat to the best of the Banner have been well and truly ended these past three years.

Ballygunner made it six Waterford senior hurling titles in a row yesterday, with this Waterford SHC title, showing all their experience in seeing off a spirited De La Salle side.

Cork captain Seamus Harnedy will come face to face with the referee who has sent him off twice in the last 15 months in Sunday week’s Munster SHC Round 1 game against Tipperary.

The sister of a man missing for the past 15 years is appealing to anyone who knows where he is to come forward.

The charming town of Boulogne-sur-Mer has much to offer, but it’s the spectacular French National Sea Centre that makes it a must-see, writes Barry Coughlan.

Readers know how the NFL draft works: In an effort to maintain competitive balance, teams which perform poorly this season get to choose better prospects coming out of college for next season. Michael Moynihan opens a similar draft for hurling counties.

The game was over and a damp dusk drawing in but the people walking around Walsh Park were in no hurry to leave.

“What a game! What a spectacle! Is Irish club rugby alive? Yes, yes, and yes again.”

Coughlan has retired from inter-county hurling at the age of 28.

“You have got to put a product together for people to buy. Maybe last year we didn’t put together a great product. Whereas, this year we feel we have a reasonable product to sell and the customers are coming to buy.”

The curtain fell on the Derek McGrath era in Thurles last Sunday, but Ennis offers a more fitting set of bookends to his term in charge of Waterford, writes Michael Moynihan

The new provincial hurling championship format is “unworkable”, according to Waterford County Board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan.

Michael Moynihan considers the positives and negatives of the new look provincial hurling championships

Here are the main talking points in the GAA world over the weekend.

Talk to Len Dineen, they said. There’ll be stories, they said. Well, the Limerickman, who recently retired after 40 years as a rugby commentator, settled in ...

Despite losing Austin Gleeson to injury, Mount Sion overcame fierce rivals Roanmore 2-12 to 1-14 at Walsh Park on Saturday night.

Leinster A 17 Munster A 6: Munster A were stripped of their B&I Cup title by Irish rivals Leinster A at Energia Park, Donnybrook today in a tight match that was in doubt for much of the 80 minutes.

Ireland beware… this English team is hurting and it makes a change from where they were coming from at the start of the Six Nations when they were looking to sweep all before them.

Heartbreak for holders Presentation Brothers College Cork as they fell to a late injury time sucker punch.

Cork manager, John Meyler, is facing up to the prospect of being without Conor Lehane, as well as Seamus Harnedy, for Sunday’s crunch clash against Tipperary, in Semple Stadium.

Cork must beat Tipperary in Thurles next Sunday to have a chance of avoiding a relegation play-off after this third consecutive defeat.

Ard Scoil Ris and St Clement’s advanced to the quarter finals of the Clayton Hotels Munster Senior and Junior Schools cups respectively with victories in all Limerick derbies at the University of Limerick today.

There’s a little history between Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh. Given the pool of clubs jostling to get out of the Munster club SHC, that’s hardly surprising, but Paul Flynn is worried that the backstory may be more beneficial to the Limerick champions than to his club mates in black and red.

Connacht skipper John Muldoon was delighted with tonight’s victory over Munster in Galway although very relieved in the end to have helped his side hold out under mounting pressure.

France has placed finances above everything in a bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023 ahead of rivals Ireland and South Africa, writes Barry Coughlan of the Irish Examiner.

Ireland will send a 12-strong squad to this weekend’s rugby Europe under-18 mens rugby sevens championship in Heidelberg, Germany.

Waterford went a point up ten minutes into the second half. It had been tit for tat in the second period, but from that point on Galway had the scoring power to creep ahead and the experience to see out the game.

From a distance, the world looks maroon and white this morning.

Your travel digest, with Barry Coughlan. 

Having toured the length and breadth of Ireland, Barry Coughlan finds much more to discover in Ireland’s Ancient East.

Travel advice and ideas from Barry Coughlan

Iceland calling

One for the boys

Travel tips from our resident explorer, Barry Coughlan