If John Evans didn’t know he achieved something special with Ardfinnan, he realised it when a one-armed Babs Keating, the club’s most famous son, channeled his inner David Pleat and invaded the Holycross pitch after the club’s county semi-final win over Loughmore-Castleiney.

Tipperary’s three-time hurler of the year nominee Seamus Callanan made his long-awaited return to training in Thurles on Tuesday evening.

Tipperary might be champions of effing Ireland, at senior and minor, but the family that did most to put them there won’t be shouting about it. Noel and John McGrath won All-Ireland senior medals with Michael Ryan’s men, and brother Brian captained the Premier to the minor title. It crowned a tumultuous year for the family. But their feet never left the ground.

The dream week for Tipperary hurling, anything but for neighbours Limerick.

Brian Cody has made four changes to the Kilkenny side for today’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary in Nowlan Park (throw-in 2pm).

Brian Horgan hopes to be celebrating on the double tomorrow evening.

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.

Munster JFC semi-final

The inclusion of Colm Cooper at centre-forward is one of seven changes to the Kerry side since last year’s All-Ireland final for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final with Tipperary in Thurles on Sunday (3.30pm).

Seán Barron and Michael O’Halloran are the two Waterford debutants for Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Tipperary in Semple Stadium (3.30pm).

SPSL, Rathmore 2-6 Abbey CBS, Tipperary 0-8: They did it the hard way. Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore were six points to one behind after 20 minutes and they also kicked 15 wides over the hour.

The nugget of a provincial campaign might be missing but winning a senior county title on the shortest day of the year has a novel ring to it.

Former Tipperary defender Declan Fanning has accused county board officials of not realising what it takes to prepare for an All-Ireland final after calls for the postponement of the weekend’s scheduled club fixtures were rejected.

Dublin captain Johnny McCaffrey said his team are relishing the prospect of going to Thurles to face Tipperary for an All-Ireland semi-final berth on Sunday week.

An embarrassing oversight has prevented Waterford hurler Brian O’Sullivan from appealing a two-match ban. The forward picked up the suspension retrospectively following Waterford’s Munster SHC quarter-final defeat by Cork last Sunday week.

There are four changes in the Tipperary side for Sunday’s clash with Dublin at Semple Stadium in the final round of Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League (2pm).

As Cork make the long trip to Ballycastle on Sunday in the search for a handsome win over Antrim to boost their scoring difference, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes to the side that beat Offaly last weekend.

Two-time All Star Richie Power is back in training with Kilkenny after an extended break from the panel.

JK Brackens shocked fancied holders Loughmore-Castleiney in the Mid Tipperary SFC final at Templetuohy yesterday and were full value for their 2-10 to 1-9 win.

Loughmore-Castleiney and Éire Óg Nenagh, as expected, qualified for the Tipperary SHC quarter-finals with comfortable round four wins over Roscrea and Silvermines respectively on Saturday evening.

There was a huge crossover of personnel when Tipperary secured an All-Ireland senior and U21 hurling double in 2010.

Cork have named the same side that beat Clare in the Munster SFC semi-final for Sunday’s provincial decider against Kerry.

Tipperary’s senior footballers will be without influential pair Brian Fox and Michael Quinlivan for next Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final against Kerry in Killarney.

Reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary can call upon just three starters from last year’s All-Ireland final replay win over Dublin as they begin their Munster MHC campaign with a quarter-final against Waterford at Walsh Park tonight (throw-in 7pm).

It used to be a very cosy world, Gaelic football in Munster, Kerry dominant, Cork challenging in what was a virtual duopoly.

Sarsfields 2-22 Éire Óg Annacarty 1-13

Captain fantastic Ciarán Slevin hit 1-9 as Kilcormac/Killoughey claimed their first Offaly SHC title at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

The Cinderella club, that’s Eire Óg Annacarty in the Tipperary senior hurling championship semi-finals in Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Éire Óg Annacarty sprung a major surprise at Cashel in the Tipperary SHC when they beat a hotly fancied Borris-Ileigh 1-17 to 0-17 thanks to an injury-time goal from sub Michael McGrath.

The Tipperary senior hurling team to play Kilkenny in Sunday’s All Ireland SHC semi-final is unchanged from the team which started the Munster final against Waterford.

Tipperary GAA chiefs pulled the plug on a number of club games involving 10 members of the county senior football panel yesterday.

If Gaelic Football’s All Star selectors are looking for nominees from outside of the game’s big hitters, they could do far worse than cast a glance in Brian Fox’s direction.

Tipperary senior hurling manager Declan Ryan has cut seven players from an extended squad ahead of next Saturday’s Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final against UL — including 2010 All-Ireland winner Pat Kerwick.

CORK hurling boss Denis Walsh last night handed out three full championship debuts for Sunday’s Munster quarter-final against Tipperary in Semple Stadium.

TIPPERARY senior hurling manager Declan Ryan has dropped four members of last year’s All-Irelandwinning squad. Defenders Conor O’Brien and Hugh Maloney have been let go, along with forward pair Paddy Fanning and Timmy Hammersley.