Former Wexford captain Damien Fitzhenry says they must win the Leinster Championship this summer, or at least push hard in the All-Ireland series, to claim they’ve made progress.

In our weekly 'Getting to Know You' slot, Andrew Shore slams Toy Story and hails Liam Spratt.

Brian Carroll announced his retirement from Offaly hurling this week. Son of two-time All-Ireland medal-winner Pat, he was a member of the last Offaly team to capture the Leinster minor crown (2000) and played in the provincial senior hurling final back in 2004.

Hurling’s managerial carousel had already picked up considerable pace by the time Kilkenny returned up the steps of the Hogan Stand in early September, several high-profile figures opting off the merry-go-round.

After the full Irish breakfast and early morning mass in their Dublin hotel, Cyril Farrell would insist on a quick trip out to the Phoenix Park to allow his Galway hurlers limber out.

Allianz HL Division 1B

ALL-IRELAND SHC QUARTER-FINAL:

A former garda has been jailed for theft after he pleaded guilty to obtaining over €50,000 by telling people his wife had cancer and needed treatment in the US.

Munster 2-14 Leinster 4-15

Cork selector Johnny Crowley has revealed how goalkeeper Anthony Nash was affected by the furore surrounding his controversial technique when taking 20 metre frees and penalties.

Cork GAA chairman Bob Ryan has launched a withering attack on the “Anthony Nash motion”, questioning whether the GAA want to turn hurling into golf.

Liam Dunne has vowed Wexford will never suffer again if one of their players is seriously injured in a big game.

This morning, GAA director general Páraic Duffy delivers his sixth and possibly penultimate annual report.

Damien Fitzhenry believes Anthony Nash will be discriminated against if a new motion is brought in to ensure all close-range frees and penalties are struck before the 20m line.

I imagine you turn to these pages out of weariness and disgust with much of what appears earlier in the newspaper. As in the confirmation of the banana-ness of this particular republic with such spectacular own goals such as missing files in the Department of Finance, the kind of hapless cock-up quite at odds with the notion promoted by that same Department of its own expertise...

Tipperary legend Brendan Cummins brought the curtain down on a glittering inter-county career last evening – with a record 73 SHC appearances under his belt.

Last night’s GAA-GPA Opel All Star hurling awards served up plenty of surprises with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny’s representation one less than runners-up Galway while Munster winners Tipperary had no player on the team.

THE GAA has no plans to alter its disciplinary system despite recent calls for it to be overhauled.

Tipperary will be without the services of young full-forward Brian O'Meara for their opening game in the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers.

TIME nor tide, ‘tis said well and often, waits for no man; neither does the treadmill, and every year, as another sporting season begins to crank up through the gears, another sporting stalwart steps off, decides enough is enough.

WITH ace forward Eoin Kelly passed fit following a back injury, Tipperary have named nine of the side that started against Kilkenny in last season’s All-Ireland final for tomorrow night’s opening Allianz NHL game against the champions under lights at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

IT HAPPENS every year at around this time, another retirement announcement as an aging warrior hears the irresistible call of Father Time, but the news that Wexford goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry is about to hang up his boots will come as a major disappointment to all hurling supporters.

Wexford goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry has retired from the county's senior hurlers after 17 years.

WEXFORD goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry will decide this week if he is to commit to an 18th season of inter-county hurling.

THIS is unquestionably an outstanding era for the ancient sport of hurling.

THE legendary Damien Fitzhenry could be seen in the Wexford colours for yet another season despite the fact that he turned 35 last month.

Saturday was a memorable day for Roscommon hurling as Gerry Fallon and Noel Fallon scooped the senior and Under-16 titles at the 2009 M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada finals on the Annaverna Mountain.

Clare 2-24 Wexford 2-18

CONOR MORTIMER is unlikely to face any disciplinary measures from the GAA following his unorthodox goal celebration in Sunday’s Connacht SFC final.

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.

Wexford 0-14 Limerick 1-13

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.

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.

THE 2008 Cork panel met last night to settle on a time and place for their upcoming press conference.

GAA TALKS with the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) on official recognition for the players’ body are set to resume shortly, according to GAA president Nickey Brennan.

IF ever there was an opportunity for the GAA to say ‘thank you’ to one of its finest group of supporters, it’s now.

Another championship over and no trophies for the Wexford hurlers, yet team manager John Meyler remains hopeful that success could be just around the corner if they continue on their current path.

NO-ONE needed to tell Wexford manager John Meyler that this All-Ireland SHC quarter-final was one that could have provided a very different result.