After a weekend and summer of GAA like that, we have to dispense with our normal practice of zoning in on just the one thing.

In 1999, captained by Mark Landers, a young Cork team took the hurling world by storm, beating Kilkenny to ensure one of the most unlikely All-Ireland title wins, even in their own long history.

The best interview is always the immediate post-match in the dressing room which you don’t really get any more.

As a player, Daithí Regan was a force to be reckoned with, and as an analyst, the Offaly man is proving equally formidable. But there’s a deeper, reflective side to Regan the public rarely gets to see

In his own words Ronan O’Gara was “shocked” when Declan Kidney omitted him from the Irish squad.

EARLY in 1991, Ken Hogan came home from training one evening to find visitors from Offaly who wanted him to coach their team.

THE sports autobiography follows a generally predictable arc — promise, achievement, graceful decline — so it’s good to come across a book that breaks out of that strait-jacket.

YOU want to know what makes Tommy Walsh different? No, it’s not his size – the Kilkenny multiple All-Ireland winner (5) and multiple All-Star (8) is bigger than he looks on television, and certainly a lot stronger. It’s his attitude.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE are a formidable footballing outfit and St Gall’s will be under no illusions about that fact when they go head-to-head in today’s All-Ireland Club final.

Ninety-five days after the decision of the Cork Senior footballers and hurlers to withdraw their services from inter-county involvement, agreement has finally been reached in the Rebel County, following a meeting of the players and officials last night.

Former All-Ireland senior club hurling champions Birr secured their seventh Leinster title in controversial circumstances at O'Connor Park, Tullamore today when they held out for a 1-11 to 0-13 victory over Ballyboden St. Endas.

IF only tomorrow’s Leinster Club senior hurling final between Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) and Birr (Offaly) were being held a month ago – what a contest we’d have had in store!

I WAS surprised by the letter which appeared in last week’s Arena claiming Davy Fitzgerald was responsible for the abuse by Cork fans at the recent Munster championship match.

Offaly 2-12 Laois 0-08

Offaly look set to be without legendary half back Brian Whelehan for the duration of this season's National Hurling League.

Players from the province have dominated the Guinness Hurling Legends Team, which was unveiled last night.

DJ CAREY continues to head the voting in the Guinness Legends selection. Hurling fans worldwide are going on line to select their team of the decade, since Guinness began to sponsor the All-Ireland SHC.

OFFALY’S championship hopes have been dealt a major blow with the news that half-back Niall Claffey is out for six weeks - and will miss the showdown with Kilkenny.

Offaly have announced an unchanged side from that which lost the Leinster final to Wexford for Saturday's hurling qualifier with Clare at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

THE three substitutes who inspired Cork to victory over Clare have been retained for Saturday’s second All-Ireland SFC qualifier with Fermanagh at Croke Park.

DENIS CONNERTON has stepped down as Longford football manager in the wake of their All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Dublin.

Offaly 1-11 Wexford 2-12

WEXFORD manager John Conran has given a vote of confidence to the side which defeated Kilkenny for Sunday’s Leinster SHC final against Offaly.

Offaly2-25 Dublin 1-13

Dublin 4-21 Offaly 2-6

TIPPERARY have made four changes from the side which lost to Clare for their crunch Allianz NHL tie with Galway at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Sunday.

Kilkenny 2-13 Offaly 0-11

Birr1-19

Dunloy of Antrim could be on for a shock as they lead Mount Sion of Waterford at half-time in the club hurling championship semi-finals at Mullingar.

Cork 2-21 Birr 1-17 Brendan Larkin NEW Cork coach Donal O’Grady has pledged to give every hurler on the pre-season panel the opportunity to prove himself.

Birr 2-5

IT’S little and large in the Leinster club hurling final this Sunday with Birr, big town aristocrats, facing the challenge of small parish heroes Young Irelands at Portlaoise, as once again the All-Ireland club hurling championship defies the old conventions.

Goals from Brendan Murphy and Rory Hanniffy dashed Wexford’s league hopes as Offaly sprang a shock victory.

Birr of Offaly and Ballinderry of Derry are the new All-Ireland Hurling and Football Club Champions respectively after a terrific day’s action at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Offaly champions Birr won the AIB All-Ireland club senior hurling title for the third time at Thurles today where they easily overcame Clarenbridge of Galway.