Kilkenny captain Shelly Farrell was barely able to speak after her side ground out a three-point victory over Galway in a titanic Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

The scoreline does not reflect the magnificent efforts of Tipperary in the first half but it does showcase once more the ability of All-Ireland senior camogie champions Cork to produce a performance in a pressure situation.

Such is the state of Niamh Rockett’s left knee that she doesn’t really know if there will be another game after this one.

Sixteen years after her senior debut Gemma O’Connor is still a mainstay of the Cork Camogie side seeking to defend their All-Ireland title.

Former Kildare defender Andriú Mac Lochlainn has challenged the current crop of players to conclude their rescue operation with a big performance against Kerry this evening.

Waterford vice-captain Niamh Rockett has hailed the impact of manager Donal O’Rourke in bringing the Déise side to the knockout stages of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie championship for the first time.

In the second part of our exclusive behind the scenes look at the Jockey Pathway Programme.

Horse Racing authorities have been working hard to provide support structures for established jockeys and set up a pathway for the next generation of young Irish talent.

Donal O’Rourke will forever be remembered as the manager who oversaw Waterford’s first win in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship, but the Cappoquin man deflected all praise towards his players.

Cork manager Paudie Murray may look at making changes for his side’s trip to Trim to play Meath in Saturday’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, but that should not be interpreted as the Rebels taking anything for granted.

Cathal Murray is looking forward to a “winner-takes-all” clash with Kilkenny on July 21 as a key indicator to whether or not Galway are All-Ireland challengers this year.

Cork moved to the top of Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship with a 4-15 to 2-3 win over Dublin at Páirc Uí Rinn that will strike fear in the hearts of future opposition.

Clare needed every one of their 20 scores to edge out a valiant Offaly side that refused to give in.

A LOT of eyes were on Galway as they got the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie Championship under way with a 1-16 to 0-9 win against Clare at Pearse Stadium.

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.

Offaly had eight different scorers compared to Meath’s four and that told the tale.

It was Camogie with a difference at the XV Hortaleza Rugby Club in chilly Madrid but entertainment value remained high for those in attendance, as the 2016 All-Stars came out on top of an old-fashioned shootout

Sligo footballers are on the lookout for a new manager after Niall Carew announced his decision to step down.

As Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney prepares to face his former Kildare charges in tomorrow night’s All-Ireland Qualifier at Croke Park, Brendan Crossan learns that ‘Geezer’ still holds a special place in the hearts of the Lilywhites.

CORK rubber-stamped their place in the semi-finals of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship as Group 2 winners with a hard-earned victory over Offaly, while Wexford took a big step towards securing a place in the quarters by holding off Tipperary.

Waterford were well in contention at the interval.

It was a mixed bag for the Irish on the official opening day of action.

The winners face Tipperary in the semi-finals.

Wexford snatched an injury time victory to book a Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final against champions Cork, writes Daragh O Conchúir.

Kildare just about held out at the end of a pedestrian game to set up a Leinster semi-final with Westmeath or Offaly.

Clare produced a rousing finish to beat Kildare in a high-scoring Allianz Football League Division 3 final at Croke Park.

Niall Carew has hit out at Joe Brolly for continuing what he says is a “vendetta” against Kieran McGeeney and dismissed the pundit’s contention that Kildare’s players were too afraid to make mistakes under McGeeney’s stewardship.

Laura Stack is fit to burst. Not just metaphorically. Standing opposite her, it looks like she might actually explode.

Laois put a difficult fortnight behind them in the most definitive fashion possible, blitzing old rivals Offaly in the final 45 minutes to record their first championship victory over them in 43 years.

“My view on the way the Championship is today is I think we’d be way better off if we had a shorter season, first of all to give lads time to play with their clubs.”

Armagh continued the impression that they are moving in the right direction under Kieran McGeeney’s stewardship, overcoming a slow start and the first-half sending off of centre-back, Finnian Moriarty to bag the Allianz Football League Division 3 crown.

Offaly had way too much firepower for Longford and it was their more clinical finishing of better chances created that earned them the new Division 4 silverware.

Tipperary showed tremendous composure to finish strongly and book their place in a first ever Eirgrid All-Ireland U21FC final.

Wexford retained their patience well as they eventually wore down Offaly by 2-15 to 0-12 at O’Connor Park.

Limerck and Waterford draw; Wins for Offaly and Wexford

Corofin produced an hour of scintillating football to put an end to St Vincent’s reign as AIB All-Ireland senior club football champions.

Full-forward Patrick Sweeney scored 1-5 as Galway moved to the top of the Allianz Football League Division 2 table with a 2-13 to 2-12 win over Westmeath at Cusack Park.

Tipperary manager, Peter Creedon could be the first manager to be issued with a sideline ban following his remarks about referee David Coldrick in the wake of Tipperary’s controversial one-point defeat to Armagh in the opening round of the Allianz Football League on Sunday.

By Daragh Ó Conchúir

YOU spend a couple of hours with a family that achieves to such an incredibly high degree and the expectation is that you emerge with an insight.

St Gall’s just edged out Bryansford to claim their sixth FBD Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland football 7s title at a packed Glenalbyn.

Cork 2-18 Wexford 2-12

Sligo prevailed in their qualifier clash with Wicklow in Aughrim after they came late with a strong burst to send them through to the next stage.

Waterford had too much pace and power for Laois as they strode through to the next round of qualifiers with a commanding display at Walsh Park.