It is one of the great inconveniences hindering daily newspapers; the inability to postpone our All-Ireland final verdicts until Up For The Match is over.

OUT ON a hurling field temporarily set up for a hot afternoon of competition in New Jersey recently, the big NYPD detective who had offered to stand in goal for us explained why he was better than we’d expected.

Willie Mullins’ Cadspeed, having his first run since May and backed from 6-1 to 9-2, was a desperately unlucky loser of the Kilsheeelan Beginners’ Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

RECENTLY retired Kilkenny star Martin Comerford has surprisingly claimed the Cats shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty in the 2009 All-Ireland final against Tipperary.

FORMER Kilkenny star Christy Heffernan has claimed Tipperary people have yet to get over the penalty that paved the way for the Cats’ 2009 All-Ireland final success.

2010 Young Hurler of the Year, Brendan Maher, has been unable to break into the Tipperary starting 15 for next Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Kilkenny.

ON Sunday in Croke Park Padraic Maher and Seamus Callanan will be central figures in the Tipperary team facing Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, battling to face Kilkenny on the first Sunday in September.

‘BEWARE of the Cats’, the sign on John Delaney’s double gates warns!

Westmeath manager Seamus Qualter has named an unchanged line-up for Saturday's Leinster SHC semi-final against reigning champions Kilkenny (Cusack Park, throw-in 7pm).

DONAL O’GRADY looks set to take over the job of Cork hurling coach, in succession to Bertie Og Murphy who resigned following the controversy which precipitated the recent players’ strike.