REIGNING Waterford SHC champions De La Salle needed an injury-time point to salvage a draw, 1-13 apiece, against Foumilewater in a thrilling group championship game at Dungarvan yesterday.

THE end borrowed something from the beginning. Ken McGrath was in his shop this week when the phone rang. On the line — one Raymie Ryan, the Tipp back who marked McGrath on his intercounty debut 15 years ago.

They say on the Semple Stadium turf you’re never a boy. Always a giant. So too perhaps in Thomond Park.

THERE’S a familiar ring to Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy’s youth policy for tomorrow’s Munster SHC clash with Cork.

HISTORY will weigh heavily on Lismore ahead of tomorrow’s Waterford SHC decider against Ballygunner at Walsh Park (3.30pm).

DAN SHANAHAN was 16-years-old when Lismore were last crowned Waterford SHC champions but even then his talents set him apart as something special.

HAVING already unluckily lost two group games in the Waterford SHC against Ballyduff Upper and Mount Sion, it was a case of the same old story for Fourmilewater at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday evening when Lismore edged them out with a late point for a 0-18 to 1-14 victory.

WATERFORD’S Dave Bennett and Tom Feeney have retired from inter-county hurling.

CHAMPIONS Ballyduff and arch rivals Lismore must meet again next Sunday after this epic Waterford SHC quarter-final failed to produce a victor at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

OVER a period of 250 years, Lismore in Co Waterford was attacked 11 times and burned seven times.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald and his selectors have named an unchanged team for Sunday's eagerly anticipated GAA Hurling All-Ireland senior final against reigning champions Kilkenny (throw-in 3.30pm).

Excitement is nearing fever pitch in Waterford ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash with the Cats and many workplaces will be eerily quiet on Monday with most fans taking the day off — win or lose, writes Conor Kane.

IN ALL the hype leading up to the All-Ireland final, one would be forgiven for thinking that there is little else in the life of Henry Shefflin besides hurling.

Dungarvan midfielder Jamie Nagle will make his senior championship debut for Waterford against Offaly in tomorrow's GAA All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Semple Stadium, throw-in 5pm.

IF THIS were both Clare and Limerick’s first championship outing of the season, I’d be going for Limerick here, with very little hesitation.

THE promised torrential thunder-showers didn’t hit Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds until about an hour after the final whistle, long after the disappointing crowd of 17,365 had headed for home.

Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23

“VERY happy,” declared Cork manager Gerald McCarthy following last night’s senior hurling challenge win over Waterford, “especially in the circumstances in which we found ourselves.

Waterford 0-14 Tipperary 1-16

The 2008 Waterford Crystal Cup gets underway in earnest over the next two Sundays but the opening game of tournament took place last night at Carrick Beg where Waterford grabbed a morale-boosting win.

Lismore's Dave Bennett will make his first start in this season's National Hurling League when Waterford take on Down in Division 1A tomorrow (Fraher Field, throw-in 3.30pm).

Kilkenny’s all-conquering hurlers, as expected, dominate the list of nominees released today for Vodafone GAA All-Stars awards for 2006.

UNDERSTANDABLY, Waterford manager Justin McCarthy was hugely disappointed at his side’s failure to dethrone the All-Ireland champions in yesterday’s enthralling semi-final.

A COUPLE of things I want to say before I get into the match preview.

Waterford will without their top scorer and team captain when they take on All-Ireland champions Cork in Sunday’s SHC semi-final at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

Waterford 1-22 Tipperary 3-13

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

Laois 1-13 Waterford 2-17

Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20,

Westmeath 1-14 Waterford 3-22

WATERFORD star Ken McGrath insists he and his teammates won’t be feeling sorry for themselves after the Munster semi-final loss to Tipperary.

Eoin Kelly was again to the fore as Tipperary got through to the Munster SHC final, holding Waterford at bay at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Waterford manager Justin McCarthy has named Ken McGrath in his side for Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary, despite doubts surrounding the 2004 All-Star's fitness (Páirc Uí Chaoímh, throw-in 2.00pm).

LISMORE and Tallow produced a cracking Waterford senior hurling championship derby at Cappoquin on Saturday with a draw the fitting result after an exciting and fiercely competitive hour.

A MASTER class in free-taking from Dave Bennett saw Lismore safely to victory in an exciting Waterford Senior Hurling Championship opener at Cappoquin on Saturday.

THE RACE to dislodge Ballygunner as Waterford senior hurling champions begins this weekend with four very attractive first round games.

Limerick 0-21 Waterford 0-14