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

THE fallout from their controversial meeting in the decider three years ago has finally been consigned to history after Portumna and Loughrea played out a game in Pearse Stadium yesterday that was relatively incident-free – apart from the issuing of one red card.

WATERFORD selector Peter Queally paid tribute yesterday to referee Diarmuid Kirwan’s use of the advantage rule in the dramatic conclusion to Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final.

IT was one of those days for Davy Fitz. The ones where you find yourself immersed in dung but still come out smelling of roses.

NO recriminations or no excuses,” said Galway manager John McIntyre after this All-Ireland quarter-final loss in Semple Stadium yesterday.

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.

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.

IT may be a little premature for alarm bells in the Déise camp, but the shortcomings of this Division One NHL display before a 4,500 attendance at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday must be a cause of serious concern for the Waterford players and management.

Waterford 2-12 Galway 1-21

Portumna (Galway) 2-24

WHEN is enough, enough? When does greed become a vice? Today, Portumna bid for their third All-Ireland senior club hurling title in four years, Waterford’s De La Salle are trying to win their first.

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.

BEWARE - that’s the clear message for the Cork and Munster champions after Portumna’s highly impressive victory over holders James Stephens last Sunday.

WISER, more experienced and not exactly lacking in confidence - that is Portumna's approach to Sunday's AIB All-Ireland club hurling semi-final against holders James Stephens in Semple Stadium.

ULSTER’S representatives in Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland SHC club semi-final, Ballygalget, have one thing in common with their illustrious opponents Newtownshandrum.

EVEN though he’s from neither of the participating clubs, one man with as much interest as anyone in tomorrow’s novel Galway SHC final between Portumna and Loughrea is Conor Hayes.