Ballyhale Shamrocks’ golden generation of players enter the arena on Sunday as warm favourites for the All-Ireland club title, and deserved favourites at that.

Borris-Ileigh manager Johnny Kelly ponders the question.

Conor Kenny can recall the new manager’s first encounter with Borris-Ileigh.

When Brendan Maher nailed the late free which pushed Borris-Ileigh three points ahead yesterday, his hurley split from the bas upon the moment of impact, the loose shaft of ash clearly flying off into the late winter dusk.

In time, this may be revered in North Tipperary as The Battle of Broken Hurley but Borris-Ileigh have no time to reflect right now as a first All-Ireland final in 33 years awaits them on Sunday week.

Every semi-final ever played has a double life.

It was a score that capped another magnificent display by Maher as he and his teammates qualified for the All-Ireland club final in a fortnight’s time.

John Fogarty preview box T

Muddied and soaked, the Ballygunner players waited on the Páirc Uí Rinn pitch until the three cheers rang out from the Borris-Ileigh players and followers, then they headed for the dressing-rooms.

Everywhere you turned after yesterday’s Munster final, Borris-Ileigh players were articulating their admiration for manager Johnny Kelly.

With 30 seconds remaining yesterday, as Borris-Ileigh were desperately trying to stay ahead, and Ballygunner were frantically trying to find a way to stay alive, Dan McCormack lost his hurley as he battled for possession in front of the seated stand in Páirc Uí Rinn.

In years to come, when the memory of this game sparks a grimace on the outskirts of Waterford city and warm smiles in northern Tipperary, one name will dominate discussion of this Munster club final.

“Preparations have gone well and we’re happy with the performances we’ve given so far. But we have to reach the level again on Sunday."

St Breckans from North Clare will meet Kerry’s Templenoe in the Munster Club IFC final after a well-deserved victory over Tipperary title-holders Moycarkey-Borris at Lisdoonvarna yesterday.

Glen Rovers manager Richie Kelleher said losing the Cork county final took its toll.

Glen Rovers manager Richie Kelleher admitted after this Munster Club SHC semi-final in Semple Stadium yesterday that the better team won, and he couldn’t have given a more honest appraisal.

A dank winter’s afternoon it might have been, but for Borris-Illeigh people in the 7,250 crowd in Semple Stadium, it’s a day that will always shine brightly Borris’ ended a 33-year wait for a senior title, an eternity for such a proud club, with a gritty win over Kiladangan.

Honours to Borris-Illeigh in this Tipperary SHC final - the 7,250 in attendance saw them defeat Kiladangan in a hard-fought encounter.

Back when Borris-Illeigh were winning county titles in Tipp and supplying captains to the county, Seamus Quigley and the lads from Kiladangan would tip over and celebrate with them. Borris were royalty and Kiladangan could only imagine.

Upperchurch-Drombane’s bid for a first Mid Tipp SHC title ended in agonising disappointment at Littleton yesterday as they lost to Drom-Inch by 2-19 to 1-21 after extra-time.

Clonoulty-Rossmore suffered a setback when losing to Toomevara 0-19 to 1-18 at The Ragg last evening in a game that finished in a welter of excitement as Clonoulty sought to wipe out an eight-point gap in the closing 10 minutes.

Amanda Stapleton has described the devastating moment she was diagnosed with a high-grade, inoperable brain tumour — and expressed her gratitude to the Borrisoleigh and GAA communities for giving her a “will to fight for as much time as I can get”.

It is an extraordinary comment on the Conservative Party that they have made Jeremy Corbyn electable.Brexit could be the makings of a Corbyn primed to lead nation

It is an extraordinary comment on the Conservative Party that they have made Jeremy Corbyn electable.

Tipperary defender Michael Cahill was forced to retire with a hamstring injury 34 minutes into his club Thurles Sarsfields 1-19 to 1-16 victory over Upperchurch-Drombane in the Mid Tipperary SHC quarter-final.

There were no major shocks as the Tipperary SFC got underway, with holders Clonmel Commercials and leading rivals Loughmore-Castleiney among those recording first round victories.

The Kerry minor footballers breezed into the semi-finals of the Munster championship with this emphatic victory over Tipperary.

Tipperary GAA secretary Tim Floyd has claimed that Jason Forde was found “guilty by association” earlier this year when he served a one-match suspension for his infamous clash with Davy Fitzgerald.

Borris-Ileigh 0-11 Thurles Sarsfields 1-24: It’s no accident that Thurles Sarsfields collected a fourth Tipperary SHC title in a row yesterday in Semple Stadium.

There were three county hurling finals and four county football finals played around the country today.

’The cock will be there Sunday,” confirms Borris-Ileigh chairman Mark Stapleton. “It’s a tradition and the older generation want to keep it.”

Two goals down after four minutes, county champions Thurles Sarsfields recovered well to see off Kilruane MacDonaghs in the Tipperary senior hurling championship second round at Templemore yesterday. 

Champions Thurles Sarsfields set down a marker for those aspiring to take their title from them when they romped to a 5-32 to 0-7 win over Carrick Swans in their opening game in defence of the Tipperary senior hurling title at Cashel.

Thurles, Kiladangan, Killenaule and Clonoulty-Rossmore advance to semis after two Semple Stadium double-headers.

Captaining Tipperary means facing up to searching questions on and off the field. Brendan Maher has been doing that all year, and when you ask him if the Premier County’s record against Kilkenny is something he’s conscious of, he doesn’t back down at all.

Eoin Reilly was intent on not getting caught. He’d retrieve his picture from the O’Moore Park turf and slip away from the sprinkling of Laois fans gathered close to goal.

Thurles CBS 0-18 St Peter’s College 1-12: