A LARGER than expected crowd were in sunny Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening for this All-Ireland senior hurling qualifier with both sets of supporters approaching the tie with trepidation.

Galway 4-25 Clare 0-20

FERMANAGH captain Barry Owens has sensationally claimed there were county board officials wishing the team were going to be beaten by London in last Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier.

MOTHER’S DAY yesterday in sunny Salthill, and many of Galway’s matrons took the opportunity to head for Pearse Stadium in hopes of seeing their hurlers bring down the All-Ireland champions, and in the process secure their place in this year’s Allianz Hurling League final.

Galway 1-14 Tipperary 4-23, Pearse Stadium, Allianz Hurling League

DUBLIN football defender Kevin Nolan says he and his team-mates train as hard as Premier League footballers.

Ger O'Halloran and Iarla Tannian have been brought into the Galway team for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1 match against Tipperary at Pearse Stadium (throw-in: 2.30pm).

KILKENNY came to Pearse Stadium yesterday looking to preserve the only 100% record in the top division of the Allianz Hurling League, and after an explosive opening four minutes they were very much on track to do exactly that.

IARLA TANNIAN and Galway produced a tour-de-force as they crushed 14-man Offaly in a one-sided Allianz NHL Division 1 encounter at blustery O’Connor Park yesterday.

THIS game told us more about how far Wexford hurling has gone back rather than how far Galway have moved forward from last year.

Galway 1-24 Wexford 0-06, Pearse Stadium

CORK manager Denis Walsh has introduced defensive newcomers Stephen McDonnell and Mark Ellis to his team for their Allianz Division 1 Hurling League match with Offaly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday. Glen Rovers player McDonnell gets the nod at right corner-back while Millstreet hurler Ellis will line out at centre-back.

DUBLIN look set to appeal Saturday evening’s red card that sidelines midfielder Johnny McCaffrey for at least two vital Allianz hurling league ties.

Galway 0-20 DIT 2-12

Tipperary 3-17 Galway 3-16

Kilkenny 1-19 Galway 1-10

Galway 3-17 Offaly 2-18, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

Galway 2-19 Offaly 3-16

Galway manager John McIntyre has made two changes to his starting selection for Sunday's Leinster SHC semi-final against Offaly at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

Galway 2-22 Wexford 1-14

With injuries clearing up, Galway manager John McIntyre has made just one change to his team for tomorrow night's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Wexford at Nowlan Park (throw-in 7pm).

MICHAEL CAHILL and Brian O’Meara will make their championship debuts for Tipperary in Sunday’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

IF this is a sign of things to come later in the summer, bring it on!

Galway 2-22 Cork 1-17

Portumna ace Joe Canning and Iarla Tannian, Galway's two-goal hero against Kilkenny, have both been named in the Tribesmen's side to face Dublin at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (throw-in 2.30pm).

TOP-GUNS John Gardiner and Jerry O’Connor have been given starting places on the Cork team for next Sunday’s crunch Allianz Division One NHL clash with Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Galway defender Conor Dervan is in line for his first start for the Tribesmen's senior hurlers since the 2008 Championship, after being named as one of two changes to the side to face Tipperary at Semple Stadium this Sunday (2.30pm)

GALWAY turned on the attacking power yesterday with an ‘awe-some’ display, in the words of visiting manager Davy Fitzgerald of Waterford.

Galway manager John McIntyre will hand five players their National Hurling League debuts when the Tribesmen take on a depleted Limerick side on Sunday in Kilmallock (throw-in 2.30pm).

CAPTAIN Shane Kavanagh claimed the Walsh Cup for the first time on Galway’s behalf and then declared the Tribesmen want to stay in Leinster permanently.

Former captain David Collins is set to return for the Galway hurlers in Sunday's Walsh Cup final against Dublin (Parnell Park, throw-in 12.45pm), over two years after his last appearance for the Tribesmen.

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

Waterford 1-16 Galway 0-18

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

Galway 1-19 Cork 0-15

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.

Galway 4-16 Cork 1-11

DUBLIN 2-21 GALWAY 0-15

THE 2008 Cork panel met last night to settle on a time and place for their upcoming press conference.

Experienced forward Eugene Cloonan has been ruled out of the Galway team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC second round qualifier against Laois (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 3.30pm).

Top Galway hurling star Ger Farragher is being given every opportunity to line out in the Allianze NHL final.

Galway 2-22 Cork 0-24

Leinster 1-23 Connacht 0-17