THE nominations for the GPA Hurling team of the year have been announced with all those involved last weekend in the Vodafone All-Stars in the equation again.

JUST one member of the Tipperary starting 15 that won the All-Ireland SHC title, centre-back Conor O’Mahony, has failed to make the nominations for next month’s All Star team.

AFTER this, a far more comprehensive All-Ireland semi-final win than the scoreline would suggest, it can be said with certainty – Tipperary are back.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald has made no personnel changes for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

AND we thought last Sunday was dramatic!

SINCE his debut senior season in 1991, Tony Browne has starred in many big occasions for Waterford hurlers.

IS there no separating these two magnificent hurling teams?

A DULL afternoon in Thurles yesterday, cold and drizzly, dense and low-lying grey clouds enveloping the whole area; reflective of those conditions, out in Semple Stadium a pitiful crowd of just over 11,000 to witness a fixture which, only a few years ago, was one of the glamour clashes on the GAA calendar.

THERE’S a lot of hype about tomorrow’s Munster final in Thurles, what with the fact that it’s the 125th anniversary of the GAA, founded, of course, in Thurles.

IT’S 50 years since Waterford won an All-Ireland. I didn’t see that one, but I did see many of those Waterford players, the likes of Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan, Philly Grimes, Austin Flynn, Frankie Walsh, Ned Power, Seamus Power, Martin Óg Morrissey – they were big men, in every sense, great hurlers, part of a great hurling team.

HE WAS in posh surroundings recently, was Waterford’s Dan Shanahan, in the lap of luxury as the Munster senior hurling championship was given an impressive and formal lift-off.

Ahead of the announcement of the All Star hurling 15 this afternoon, columnists Tony Considine and Diarmuid O’Flynn pick their teams of the championship.

THERE WAS a sub-plot to yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Waterford and Tipperary, and not a minor sub-plot either.

I HOPE hurling fans are aware that we are witnessing one of the all-time great teams in action.

CLOSE examination began early in Croke Park yesterday. Latecomers to the stadium missed minor referee Jason O’Mahony paying forensic attention to the towel brought in for Cork minor captain Patrick Horgan after 10 minutes of the Leesiders’ clash with Galway.

WATERFORD captain Paul Flynn is out of Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Tipperary at Croke Park.

Waterford 1-13 Wexford 0-14

LIMERICK hurling selector Declan Nash has resigned, a fortnight before the side face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.

THE Munster Senior football League kicked back into action this weekend with the pick of the eight contests being the meeting of Clonakilty and Kerins O’Rahilly’s in Tralee in Division One.