AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL:

The family which has owned a popular city pub for more than a century has built a micro-brewery in the basement and launched a range of craft beers and stouts.

Last years beaten All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling finalists Kilcormac-Killoughey captured back-to-back Offaly SHC titles at O'Connor Park this afternoon, while Na Piarsaigh, Kilmessan, Celbridge and Calry St. Joseph's also earned county silverware.

Goalkeeper Shane Finnegan was the Drogheda hero on his debut with two saves in the penalty shoot-out as Mick Cooke’s side won through to the EA Sports Cup third round.

A CROWD of close on 10,000 witnessed an enthralling conclusion to this tense Galway SHC semi-final as Portumna looked to have let a winning hand slip before salvaging a draw in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

ONE thing Galway can’t complain about going into this Leinster final is a lack of games – in fact they have more big matches played than Kilkenny, three to one.

WHEN it came to mapping out his Galway senior hurling intercounty career, David Burke looked to the south-east of the county for inspiration.

HIS Galway underage hurling days yielded plenty of success yet it was not until Sunday evening that Ger Farragher reached the milestone of a national triumph at senior level.

THE Derry County Board has branded comments made by Joe Brolly about an U21 footballer as “harmful and unmerited”.

IN the aftermath of their exhilarating one point victory over All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Allianz National Hurling League last weekend Galway have been given another massive boost.

AT this time of year, most clubs in the country, whatever their grade, are in serious training for their upcoming county championships. But any of those worth their salt are also thinking of All-Ireland finals.

GALWAY hurling boss John McIntyre has wielded the axe and drafted nine players into his squad for next season.

JOHNNY KELLY endured enough days of hardship as player with Portumna to fully appreciate thebounty that is being reaped by the side he now manages.

WATERFORD’S big confrontation against Galway came down to the final five minutes and the turning point was the introduction of Big Dan Shanahan.

Galway manager John McIntyre has made one enforced change for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final showdown with Waterford.

THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCE. A seven-point gap was a little flattering to Galway and a little harsh on Cork. This was a tight affair where possession around midfield and in the half lines was at a premium.

I WAS talking to four fairly shrewd Corkmen in the press box before throw-in against Galway on Saturday evening and asked them who they thought would win.

Galway manager John McIntyre has made one change to the team which beat Clare last weekend for tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC Phase 3 qualifier clash with Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

MIKE McCARTHY plays his first competitive game for Kerry since the All-Ireland final back in September 2006 after being handed the number six jersey by Kerry boss Jack O’Connor for tomorrow’s home qualifier against Sligo in Tralee.

AS I strolled down to Cusack Park from the centre of Ennis on Saturday, I passed a funeral home a hundred metres or so from the pitch. The thought flashed through my mind that the joust with Galway might be the final nail in the coffin for Clare’s hurling season where they have failed to win a game in league or championship.

Clare 1-11 Galway 2-18

COMING into Tullamore on Saturday, you knew something special was going to happen; there was magic in the air.

TONY BROWNE is named at midfield on the Waterford team for tomorrow’s Munster SHC semi-final replay against Limerick at Semple Stadium, the veteran Mount Sion clubman’s first championship start since last year’s All-Ireland final.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody and his Galway counterpart John McIntyre have revealed their starting line-ups, ahead of Saturday evening's historic Leinster Senior Hurling semi-final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

Galway 5-29 Laois 0-17

A DOUR game which endedwith an unexpected splash ofexcitement, yesterday’s Galway-Tipperary clash isn’t likely to live long in the memory of the 4,000 spectators.

Galway 1-15 Tipperary 1-17

GALWAY manager John McIntyre is forced to make two changes for Sunday’s crucial Allianz NHL clash against his native Tipperary at Pearse Stadium. Midfielder David Tierney is getting married on Saturday, while corner-forward Ger Farragher is ruled out with an ankle injury.

I HAVE a very good friend who likes a punt. This year he did the following treble; Kauto Star to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup – we know what happened there; Portumna to win the All-Ireland club hurling title today and Ireland to win the Grand Slam on Saturday.

HOW do you predict a winner from these two? Three years ago, in 2006, a Ballyhale Shamrocks side whose talents had been flagged inside Kilkenny for some years finally made the breakthrough, winning the club its first county senior title in 15 years.

Teenage sensation Joe Canning is to train with the Galway senior hurling panel later this week.

WASN’T THIS as fine a start to any hurling match as you’re ever likely to see?

Kinvara's Colm Callanan has beaten off competition from Aidan Ryan to start as Galway's goalkeeper in tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Laois (Portlaoise, throw-in 7pm).

Galway manager Ger Loughnane has shown his hand for Sunday's NHL Division 1B encounter against Antrim at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 2.30pm).

HENRY GUTERMAN (Irish Examiner letters, August 24) objects to the use of the word ‘murder’ to describe Lebanese civilian casualties and goes on say that this was ‘war’.

Galway manager Conor Hayes has made three changes to his side for tomorrow evening's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final with Kilkenny (Semple Stadium, throw-in 6pm).

NATIONAL LEAGUE champions Kilkenny have made wholesale changes on their team to play Galway in the All Ireland Hurling quarter-final in Thurles on Saturday.

Portumna's Eoin Lynch will make his championship debut when Galway meet Westmeath in their final All-Ireland SHC Group A qualifier tomorrow evening (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 7.00pm).

Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes has confirmed his panel for the forthcoming All-Ireland SHC qualifiers with teenage sensation Joe Canning a notable absentee.

Portumna 2-8 Newtownshandrum 1-6