Jerry Wallis has been charged with improving the fortunes of the Antrim senior hurling team following his appointment last night as their new manager.

MIDWAY through the Allianz Hurling League, Offaly manager Joe Dooley reeled off the players unavailable to him due to injury. It sounded like a trauma unit.

TRIUMPH for Donal O’Grady’s Limerick in this Allianz Hurling League Division Two opener in Ennis yesterday, disaster for Clare and their manager, Ger O’Loughlin.

SEAN Óg Ó hAILPÍN has stressed he meant no disrespect this week when he expressed his surprise that Antrim — Cork’s next opponents — were still alive and kicking in the hurling championship.

PAT BUCKLEY, a former Cork playing colleague from Milford, is one of three selectors named yesterday by Denis Walsh — the others being Pa Finn from St Finbarr’s and Gerry Ryan from the Ballinascarthy club.

GER CUNNINGHAM is an early favourite to replace Gerald McCarthy as Cork hurling manager.

IN the fame game, you know you’ve arrived when a single word is enough to identify you.

A MAN who was in a coma for 19 years after a car crash has woken up and spoken to his mother, who was sitting at his bedside.