O'Riordan impressed Sydney’s staff with the determination he approached his rehab with and was presented with a two-year contract extension at the end of last year.

Ireland’s International Rules prospects have been boosted by the likely inclusion of a number of Australian based AFL players for this year’s series.

In what was an inconsistent and patchy league campaign, to be heading to Croke Park this evening is a real bonus for Tipperary, writes Declan Browne.

The discussion in the staff room at Our Lady’s, Templemore on Wednesday morning centred on the long list of household names who passed through their doors without ever pocketing a Harty Cup medal.

This Thursday evening Castleknock play in their first senior football semi-final. Formed in 1998, they truly are the nouveau riche of Dublin GAA. Their story is a heartening one, their defiance to make their presence felt in west Dublin all the more impressive with the mammoth St Brigid’s for company.

Three things to talk about from the weekend’s action...

If you told Liam Kearns last November when he took on the job of Tipperary manager that he’d guide the county to a first All-Ireland semi-final since 1935 during his maiden season at the helm, he’d probably have laughed at you.

They’re an obstinate bunch, Tipperary football folk. Small in number but big in pretty much everything else — it took three pleas from the PA announcer in Croke Park to convince them to leave the stadium long after the players had retired to their dressing room.

You’d have been hard pressed to envisage a day like this when Tipp were trudging their way through Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.

The ripples caused by Tipperary’s qualification for their first All-Ireland quarter-final have been large but on the Breffni Park pitch on Saturday, it felt like an intimate affair.

Former manager John Evans believes that Tipperary will fall short against his native Kerry in Sunday’s Munster senior football final.

Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice reckons Tipperary are a stronger and more “unified” force for having lost so many big-name players during the off-season.

Over the winter, most football folk in Tipperary would have been excited about the prospects of our 2016 chances on the back of reaching All-Ireland finals in both minor and U21 last year.

Liam Kearns admits it is easier to list those who aren’t available as opposed to those who are.

Tipperary football defender Jimmy Feehan fears it will be an “absolute disaster” if a B championship is introduced to Gaelic football.

There have been plenty of distractions for Charlie McGeever as the Tipperary manager plots and plans for tomorrow’s All-Ireland minor football semi-final against Kildare.

Former All Star Eoin Kelly was back in action for Mullinahone after an extended lay-off, and helped guide them to a 1-21 to 2-16 win over Ballingarry in an exciting South Tipperary SHC semi-final at Fethard.

Templederry had to survive a late Silvermines surge before claiming a place in the club’s first ever North senior hurling final courtesy of a 0-25 to 3-13 win in Nenagh.

Tipperary football board chairman Joe Hannigan says it is not set in stone that Peter Creedon’s replacement will be pulled from the outgoing backroom team.

Our exchange of salutations with Conor McCarthy in Killarney on Saturday was a brief one. 

Departing Tipperary manager Peter Creedon insists football will have to become the sole priority of players if the Premier County is to achieve a breakthrough at senior level.

Tipperary 0-7 Tyrone 0-19: A landmark afternoon for Tyrone football’s favourite son. Sean Cavanagh was the final player to disappear underneath the Kinane Stand shortly after 5pm on Saturday, a number of visiting and, indeed, home supporters requesting a picture on what was a historic outing for the 32-year old.

Conor Lane came in for a lot of criticism from Derry manager Brian McIver after Saturday’s qualifier against Galway. Was it with justification?

There’s no sugar-coating from Declan Browne: today’s third round qualifier is the most important fixture concerning Tipperary football in a very long time.

Limerick 3-16 Tipperary 3-14