Brian Cody’s extraordinary longevity as manager of the Kilkenny hurlers throws up some fascinating statistics.

Who dares to speak of ’98? Tony Browne, actually, but 21 years after his infamous scrape with Colin Lynch, the Waterford legend’s regard for his opposing number on the Clare side is immense.

“Whatever it was, I wish we could have bottled it,” Liam Fennelly says.

A year before the IMF, ECB, and European Commission landed in Dublin, the GAA’s own equivalent of a troika was ready to bail out a besieged Cork County Board and its long-time secretary Frank Murphy, writes Kieran Shannon.

Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is an early favourite to succeed Derek McGrath as Waterford manager.

Dónal Óg Cusack regrets that Cork’s senior hurlers didn’t give the county board “half enough of it” during their 2009 strike.

Ask Martin Bowen what game stands out for him this summer and he gives the answer you’re least expecting.

Ken McGrath has spoken of the depth of gratitude he feels towards those who supported him and his family as he battled back from a brain haemorrhage in 2013.

Thousands of hurling fans queued for hours in Thurles last evening for the removal of Tipperary hurling great Jimmy Doyle, who passed away suddenly on Monday, aged 76.

Tomás Mulcahy and Larry Tompkins have called on the Cork County Board to reinstate the jettisoned tradition of club champions nominating county captains.

WOODHILL HOUSE, and its wooded grounds a couple of miles from Cork city at Tivoli, is steeped in Irish and local Munster mercantile, artistic and political history, over several centuries.

Twenty years ago, Loughnane’s Clare emerged from nowhere to set the summer alight. Are we there again, waiting for a bolter to win the All Ireland, a team to come from the clouds and cut a swathe through a mediocre field?

Cork hurling selector Johnny Crowley believes that, while the departure of corner-back Conor O’Sullivan isn’t ideal, it gives others a chance to stake a claim for a place.

The sporting community in Cork and beyond turned out in force yesterday to honour the memory of renowned hurling coach Archdeacon Michael O’Brien, whose funeral took place in his native Innishannon following Mass in St Mary’s Church yesterday.

The man who sexually assaulted his niece at a This is Your Life celebration at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and later tried to commit suicide on Carrauntoohill has been jailed for five years with half suspended and placed on the sex pffenders register indefinitely.

Kerry chairman Patrick O’Sullivan has welcomed the latest statement by a hurling club from the county in the Munster IHC.

Few rivalries have as rich a history as Cork and Tipperary hurlers, points out Donal O'Grady.

Cork, it can be said, have better rapport with other Munster counties. The same for Tipperary as much as geography means every game is a rivalry. This particular relationship on Sunday thrives on lashings of respect but a smattering of contempt too.

A man who denied sexually assaulting his niece at a ‘This Is Your Life’ celebration at Pairc Uí Chaoimh was found guilty of that offence yesterday by a jury who deliberated for over five hours.

A man who denies sexually assaulting his niece at a This is Your Life celebration at Páirc Uí Chaoimh was accused by the prosecution yesterday of a character assassination of the complainant, by calling her malicious, vindictive and a liar.

A ‘This is Your Life’ celebration at Pairc Uí Chaoimh was the occasion for an indecent assault by a guest on his niece, it was alleged during a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Size: Sq m 233 (2,500 sq ft)

By his own reckoning, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was probably the least skilful hurler to ever put on a Cork jersey — but has there been a more dedicated person to wear it? “That’s what made me survive,” he suggests. Now with his life thoughts put to paper, he’s ready to reflect, without bitterness, without rancour. Anyone looking for sly digs won’t find them here.

Ger Cunningham has opted to step down as a Cork selector as he continues to be linked with the vacant manager’s job in Limerick.

Size matters when it comes to supporting the Cork hurlers.

Croke Park are sticklers for All-Ireland final protocols so when they state two minutes will separate the run-out of each team onto the pitch on Sunday, they mean two minutes.

John Gardiner believes he was harshly treated by All-Ireland final Cork boss Jimmy Barry-Murphy, suggesting his axing was linked to his reputation as a central figure in the last strike crisis.

Cork defender Shane O’Neill is not buying the theory that Dublin hurlers will be disadvantaged in not having played a competitive game since their memorable Leinster final victory over Galway on July 7.

At the time, Henry Shefflin admitted he didn’t know what The Stepford Wives were.

Waterford have not beaten Kilkenny in the championship for 54 years. While the sides have only met six times in that period, the fact they all came in All-Ireland finals and semi-finals has left a scar on the Déise consciousness dating back to the 1959 All-Ireland final replay.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy and John Allen will shake hands on the sideline on Sunday as opposing managers, after steering Cork and Limerick respectively into the Munster SHC final.

JOHN ALLEN does not believe he will ever get the opportunity to manage Cork again.

Leigh Desmond is back from an amazing turn on his sporting path

Have you heard the one about the Sigerson Cup winner who had to wait a quarter of a century to receive his medal?

Gerald McCarthy said he would never have taken the reins of the Cork senior hurling team seven years ago had he known the drama that lay ahead.

The break-up of Cork hurling’s old guard continues apace with goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack’s surprise departure from the Cork set-up for the forthcoming Allianz Hurling League.

Waterford hurling star John Mullane has retired from inter-county hurling, it was confirmed today.

Having been such a dominant hurling force in both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships for so long, the Cork hurlers have had to endure seven trophy-less years, and midfielder Pa Cronin admits that wait is too long.