Next month marks the 50th anniversary of the National Hurling League final between Kilkenny and Tipperary, one of the most controversial clashes in GAA history, writes Enda McEvoy

On my first year on the Clare panel in 1989, we had five-weeks with the clubs after the league finished, writes Anthony Daly.

Former team-mate Len Gaynor has paid tribute to the memory of the late Tipperary hurling legend Mick Roche, whose death was announced yesterday at the age of 73.

Selecting the man of-the match on The Sunday Game last weekend was an easy enough decision, to a point, a straight shoot-out between Pauric Mahony and Austin Gleeson. We went for Mahony but nobody would have argued if we had gone for Austin. Richie Hogan also made the shortlist but if you were to stretch that long-list even further, the results would have shown how off the pace Kilkenny really were.

Like Len Gaynor, Willie Walsh, former Bishop of Killaloe, is a Tipperary man who played his part in Clare’s hurling breakthrough. Retired now, he has questioned everything, from his faith to the meaning of it all. But never his devotion to the game of hurling.

For the €25 or whatever Fergie is asking, you could learn about leadership this week from a man who has done it all and may never stop cashing in. Or you could have saved a few bob and pulled into a field in Ardcroney, six miles outside Nenagh.

Tipperary must win Sunday’s Munster SHC final to put to bed their recent collection of near-misses on summer’s biggest afternoons, according to Len Gaynor.

“I’ve never seen my wife so excited!”

“Hit it hard, hit it hard. I’ll get it.” That was Jimmy Doyle’s refrain in training. He never liked a soft or a lobbed pass sent his way. No matter how hard it was hit, he could control it, often stopping it dead.

Throughout his life and his new book Anthony Daly has found himself staring at the ceiling or out at the sea or over his wife’s head trying to fathom what just happened to his team, what did he do wrong, what does he and they do next?

It was almost 20 years ago today that Ger Loughnane taught his band of men to play — and win.

The claustrophobic nature of Division 1A means the conversation about Tipperary this time next week could very well change to the prospect of quarter-finals.

Former Tipperary manager Len Gaynor admits supporters are frustrated by the experimentation in the team’s make-up and style.

Kevin Hennessy (Cork)

Tipperary legend Len Gaynor described the All-Ireland semi-final sideshow involving Lar Corbett at Croke Park last Sunday as “embarrassing.”

THE highlight of my career has to be the 1995 All Ireland Hurling final win for Clare.

TIPPERARY delegates last night voted in a new system for the 2011 county senior hurling championship — with a proposal to cap the number of competing teams at 32.

FORMER manager Len Gaynor has urged Tipperary officials to be patient as the search continues for Liam Sheedy’s successor as senior hurling manager.

EARLIER this week we asked a number of former Kilkenny captains and players if their team could create history tomorrow and complete the five in a row.

LIMERICK chairman, Liam Lenihan, has described confirmation that the Gaelic Grounds will host the first test of the International Rules series on October 23 as ‘great news’.

CLARE expect to have centre-back Gerry Quinn back in action for the Allianz NHL clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday.

THE seaside in Salthill is the only sand the Munster hurlers will see this spring after they blew a seven points lead in the final quarter of this M Donnelly Interpro semi-final at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

There are no players from Cork selected to start for Munster in their Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Hurling semi-final with Connacht at Pearse Stadium, Galway on Saturday.

ULSTER’S spirited display in the M Donnelly Interprovincial hurling semi-final in Fermoy brought some welcome respite from the miserable weather conditions that enveloped the Cork town on Saturday.

MUNSTER begin the defence of their Martin Donnelly Inter-provincial hurling championship this afternoon in Fermoy when they face Ulster (1.30pm), followed by the football semi-final between the same two provinces.

EAMONN CORCORAN could have sidestepped the question, but that wouldn’t be his style.

COLÁISTE MHUIRE Johnstown face Borrisokane VS in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools SHC A final at Nowlan Park this afternoon (3.30) bidding to atone for last year’s defeat in the decider by Loughrea.

CLARE hurling selector Tim Crowe last night claimed “an orchestrated and cunning attempt is being made by a small section with a huge vested interest” to force manager Tony Considine to resign.

ALL the pointers tomorrow are that Kilkenny will be far too strong for Tipperary in the All-Ireland U-21 hurling final at Croke Park (1.30pm).

THE Cork team to play Tipperary in the Erin Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship final tomorrow night in Thurles (7.15pm) shows two changes from the side that defeated Waterford in the semi-final.

Influential centre back Ciara Gaynor has decided to end her six-year involvement with the Tipperary senior camogie team.