ONCE upon a time, cryotherapy was all the rage in Irish rugby. Former national coach Eddie O’Sullivan certainly subscribed to it.

HENRY SHEFFLIN is more than happy to play the long game right now.

KILKENNY attacking star Henry Shefflin is likely to be out of action until next summer’s Leinster championship after limping off in the first-half of yesterday’s All-Ireland decider.

Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin and Tommy Walsh returned from injury to take a full part in an open training session last night, as thousands flocked to Nowlan Park.

KILKENNY’S Hurler of the Year Tommy Walsh looks set to play in the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on September 5 after X-rays yesterday revealed no serious damage to the shoulder damaged in a club game on Sunday.

Kilkenny GAA officials are to seek a second opinion on the cruciate ligament injury which is set to keep Henry Shefflin out of next month's All-Ireland SHC final.

WATERFORD manager Davy Fitzgerald was elated at the final whistle on Saturday night and was loud in praise of his charges.

WATERFORD star Dan Shanahan will miss some the national hurling league this season for the first time in 13 years, but he’s hoping to come back fitter than ever to claim a starting place with the Déise.

KEN McGRATH is ‘mad’ to play for Waterford this year, according to manager Davy Fitzgerald, despite the player’s ongoing fitness problems.

RICKY SIMMS can pinpoint the day his life changed.

IT'S nonsense, isn't it, all this Clare crisis lark? The physio resigns, and it's a crisis? A guy makes a crack in a private telephone conversation about a fella he patently doesn't like, and it's front-page headlines?

CLARE hurling coach Anthony Daly claimed last night that attempts have been made to undermine the Banner’s senior set-up, but insisted these “undercurrents” would not succeed.

Swimming, cycling and running — all in the same event. Little wonder the sense of achievement for a triathlete is so immense. Simon Lewis spoke to seven-time national champion Ger Hartmann about a special event in Cork next week.

THERE are two major challenges occupying the mind of Tipperary hurler Lar Corbett this week.

Ronan O’Gara made a triumphant return for Munster tonight scoring 17 points and displaying his own “great hunger” in their 27-16 Celtic Cup final defeat of the Scarlets.

Charlie Mulqueen speaks to a fit-again Ronan O’Gara, eager to show in today’s Celtic Cup final that he has a meaningful part to play in the Lions tour to New Zealand.

A NEW dog unit is being recruited by Limerick gardaí to help patrol the streets and fight crime, it was revealed yesterday.

FOR someone whose sporting career had been brought to a sudden and traumatic halt by a horrific cycling accident 12 years previously, it took a huge amount of grit, determination and soul-searching for Ger Hartmann to get back on a bike not just once but twice in order to compete in the 25th Anniversary Ironman triathlon.