PRIDE restored and his own record of never having lost a game in Wexford intact. However, as euphoric as the Limerick hurling manager was in the aftermath of this hard-fought qualifier win in terrible weather in Wexford Park on Saturday, Justin McCarthy’s experience in the game was alerting him to bigger challenges next weekend.

WATERFORD last night received a major boost for Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Tipperary at Semple Stadium when co-captain Stephen Molumphy was named to lead the attack in a sector notable again for the exclusion of 2007 Hurler of The Year Dan Shanahan.

FORMER All-Ireland winning defender Mike McCarthy is set end his inter-county retirement and rejoin the Kerry squad.

IT’s one of the most basic truths in sport – you’ve got to take your chances.

A HUGE boost for the Munster hurling champions as Eoin Kelly makes his first appearance of the year for Tipperary in Sunday’s championship clash with Cork at Semple Stadium.

IT’S been a frustrating start to this season for Kilkenny full-back Noel Hickey.

RITCHIE HOGAN comes into the Kilkenny team at right half forward for tomorrow’s Allianz NHL final against Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

TEN of the Cork team that started in last August’s semi-final defeat to Kilkenny, were named in the starting 15 last night for Cork’s NHL Division One trip to Clare on Sunday.

A YOUNG footballer, Micheal Roche, from the Glynn-Barntown club, has successfully appealed against a 48-week ban for an alleged assault on a referee in a minor club game in Wexford.

DUBLIN will have to plan without full-back Kevin Ryan — out with a hamstring injury — for their Allianz NHL league clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday. But the Dubs are hopeful centre-back Tomás Brady and midfielder Johnny McCaffrey will have recovered from knocks sustained when, respectively, assisting Na Fianna and winners Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin U-21HC final last Saturday.

Oulart-the-Ballagh 1-16 St Anne’s (Rathangan) 1-11

ALL-IRELAND hurling champions Kilkenny make three changes in personnel and five positional switches from the win over Offaly for tomorrow’s Leinster hurling final with an unchanged Wexford.

ALL-IRELAND Colleges hurling champions DLS Waterford supply six players to the county team for tomorrow night’s Munster MHC semi-final against Cork in Walsh Park.

FERMANAGH manager Malachy O’Rourke has kept faith with the side that defeated Monaghan for Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Derry at Healy Park, Omagh (6pm).