As Liam Sheedy takes the helm in Tipperary for a second time, Babs Keating, who also served two spells as manager, has warned the second experience can be very different to the first.

Waterford icon Ken McGrath says the Déise have reason to be confident, based on last week’s draw against Tipperary, but he describes playing away from home as a “massive disadvantage”.

Yes you could listen to a match while driving somewhere but there are distractions such as other vehicles coming towards you or a shitehawk with italic number plates ‘up your hole’ in the rearview mirror, writes Colm O’Regan.

Mahers' power and hard running should be vital for the Premier, says Peter McNamara.

On the way home from the Gaelic Grounds yesterday, I was snaking my way out the Ennis Road in my car when I saw Conor Hayes at the side of the road.

Former Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane believes the current Kilkenny team should not be winning All-Irelands and wouldn’t be but for Brian Cody, who he describes as an “extraordinary person”.

It was a bittersweet visit to Croke Park for TJ Ryan three weeks ago.

Before Kerry faced Galway in Croke Park, their coach was scraped up, stretched out, then eased across the back seat of a car.

ALL-IRELAND SHC SEMI-FINAL:

Match Preview

I cannot understand all the pessimism about Limerick, especially in the county itself.

A THURLES man told me last week he knew three different lads from around the town who are going out with former Miss Irelands. A relatively unscientific metric, sure, but more proof, as if any were needed, that confidence is currently coursing through Tipp veins.

I AM probably an exception to the rule but I’m not a lover of hurling under lights.

FOR likely starters Padraic Maher, Brendan Maher (not related, by the way) and Noel McGrath, and for all the other half-dozen or so U21s on the Tipperary panel, facing Kilkenny in this Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final could be a daunting prospect.