The GAA’s newly-appointed national match officials manager is open to the idea of more technology being used to assist referees, but has questioned just how far it can go.

A baptism of fire is de rigueur in becoming the GAA’s national match officials manager. Nine years ago, Pat Doherty stepped into the role the day after Martin Sludden awarded Joe Sheridan that goal in the Leinster final.

The winners had three goals disallowed but finished strongly to secure a final berth against Kilkenny - the county that Cleere hails from.

While we had two dramatic All-Ireland semi-finals that went down to the wire, unfortunately, the standard of refereeing will come under scrutiny.

There’s no value in told-you-so’s and there’s no satisfaction in them either but what happened yesterday was in the offing.

Leitrim dug deep at Croke Park this afternoon to record a magnificent extra-time success at the expense of Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup decider.

Difficult to distinguish the winners from the losers here. Because the scoreboard told only half the story.

No prizes for guessing where most of this column’s focus is on after this weekend. Nowlan Park was the stage for one of the most unusual moments I’ve seen in a game and it’s no surprise it has most of the country talking.

A strong second-half performance, lit up by the individual excellence of Sean Morrissey, saw Bennettsbridge end a 44-year wait for a place in the Kilkenny senior hurling championship final.

A powerful display from TJ Reid helped Ballyhale Shamrocks end Dicksboro’s reign as Kilkenny senior hurling champions.

CBD is not illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. But neither is it a recognised, legal medicine approved by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Henry Shefflin enjoyed a winning start to life in management as Ballyhale Shamrocks blitzed their way to the points in the Kilkenny senior hurling league.

Eoghan Cormican picks three players to watch in tomorrow's All-Ireland U21 Hurling semi-finals, featuring Kilkenny v Derry and Limerick v Galway.

Ballyhale Shamrocks showed a never-say-die spirit to fight their way to a share of the points against Danesfort in the Kilkenny senior hurling league on Saturday.

Clara made a winning start to the defence of their Kilkenny senior hurling league and championship crowns when they overcame the tough test of Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) 3-8 Clough-Ballacolla (Laois) 0-13 (AIB Leinster Club SHC): Oulart-The Ballagh made their expected advance to a Leinster Championship meeting with Clonkill of Westmeath but they were forced to survive a vigorous examination to do so.

Wexford U21s 4-17 Kilkenny 1-09: Wexford hurling may have suffered over recent weeks but they bounced back with a scintillating display to claim a three-in-a-row of provincial titles with a marvellous 17-point victory over arch rivals Kilkenny in their Leinster final clash before a crowd of 7,800 at Innovate Wexford Park yesterday evening.

AIB All-Ireland JHC: Bennettsbridge (Kilkenny) 3-19 Fullen Gaels (Lancashire) 1-8: Bennettsbridge from Co Kilkenny defeated Manchester side Fullen Gaels to claim the All-Ireland Club JHC title at Croke Park yesterday.

Leinster Senior Cup: Belvedere College 32 Gonzaga College 5

Fifty years ago Tipperary and Kilkenny clashed in the All-Ireland final with the Cats warmly fancied to retain their title.

Kilkenny 1-21 Laois 0-16

Wexford 2-14 Kilkenny 0-10

Clara 1-15 Carrickshock 2-10

KILKENNY is gearing up for the 15th Smithwick’s Rhythm and Roots music festival this May bank holiday weekend.

The outcome of this year’s All-Ireland Vocational SAHC still remains in doubt, despite Nenagh Vocational School confirming last night they will not appeal any further against the GAA’s decision to throw them out of the championship after being found guilty of the charge of “misconduct which is considered to have discredited the Association”.

Irate Nenagh Vocational School team manager Stephen O’Meara has claimed “mob rule” forced the abandonment of Saturday’s All-Ireland VS senior hurling ‘A’ semi-final against St Fergal’s, Rathdowney.

Nenagh Vocational School and St Fergal’s, Rathdowney, will discover today if their All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior hurling championship semi-final is to be replayed this week.

Defending All-Ireland champions, St Kieran’s College wrapped-up a hat-trick of victories in the Leinster Colleges SAHC and collected their 51st title when beating city rival Kilkenny CBS in a thrilling final.

AS the Davy Fitzgerald managerial era in Waterford officially drew to a close last night, delegates at a meeting of the county board decided the job of finding his successor as county senior hurling boss will commence as early as tomorrow.

KILKENNY’S pursuit of three All-Ireland hurling crowns in the space of eight days got off to a successful start in Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

THE ability to react to danger is an innate characteristic of a Kilkenny hurler – no matter how young.

Kilkenny 1-21 Tipperary 2-16

Tipperary 0-20 Wexford 0-19

TIPPERARY made no mistake at the second attempt, handing out a 12-point drubbing to defending champions Cork in the Munster ESB MHC semi-final replay at Thurles last night.

“THREE of the brightest lights in our family went out on Christmas morning,” said the brother of Sharon Whelan yesterday, the woman who was found dead with her two daughters after a house fire.

A FIANNA Fáil TD’s son was hit three times with a bottle after he went to help his father during incidents near a pub more than two years ago, Clonmel Circuit Court heard yesterday.

GALWAY manager Vincent Mullen called for an open draw to the U21 hurling championship following his side’s four-point defeat at the hands of Kilkenny in a keenly-contested semi-final at Thurles on Saturday.

THE postponed Leinster U21 hurling final between Offaly and Kilkenny takes place this evening in Tullamore, and wonder of wonders, Kilkenny are not out to retain their title.

All-Ireland champions and four-in-a-row Walsh Cup chasers Kilkenny were sensationally knocked out of the 2008 Walsh Cup today as they went down to a 2-15 to 1-17 defeat to Antrim.

Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary 3-13