The race for promotion out of Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League remains a three-horse race after Kerry, Antrim and Offaly all enjoyed comfortable wins this weekend.

In large font on the front page of both ESRI reports commissioned for the GAA and GPA exists the phrase “evidence for policy”.

There may be more vivid incarnations of optimism than a ticket tout prowling Gill’s Corner and environs for spare tickets ahead of the All-Ireland club final, but none come immediately to mind.

Henry Shefflin paid tribute to his players for holding off Borris-Ileigh’s late surge in yesterday’s All-Ireland club final.

Borris-Ileigh manager Johnny Kelly accepts his side’s poor conversion rate, particularly the seven shots that dropped short, was the root cause of their defeat.

The giants of club hurling stand a little taller this morning. Defiant as ever following this test of their resolve and devoted to their fallen clubmen.

WHEN Siobhan Madigan interviewed Colin Fennelly for RTÉ Radio 1 Sport just moments after yesterday’s All-Ireland club final, Fennelly spoke honestly and succinctly about how far this Ballyhale team have travelled, and the deep satisfaction considering the starting point of that Ballyhale odyssey.

There may be more vivid incarnations of optimism than a ticket tout prowling Gill’s Corner and environs for spare tickets ahead of the All-Ireland club final, but none come immediately to mind.

Good question, responds TJ Reid when he is asked whether Sunday feels like an All-Ireland final.

Ballyhale Shamrocks captain Michael Fennelly has added his voice to the criticism of the condensed club calendar, bemoaning that Christmas was “cancelled” as the prepared for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Slaughtneil.

An hour after the game, and anybody from Ulster who has a passion for hurling is still swamping Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin, queuing for selfies, presenting hurls and jerseys for his signature.

On the eve of the roaring twenties, John Fogarty hails the doyens of the last decade in hurling

This decade has been a fusion of revolution and domination.

Few counties have as little time for romance as Kilkenny and their county champions duly put paid to the fairytale run of St Mullins in this AIB Leinster senior club hurling decider in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin remembered the late Eugene Aylward after yesterday’s county final win — Shamrocks panellist Aylward passed away a few weeks ago and captain Michael Fennelly dedicated the title win to him.

Experienced Ballyhale Shamrocks made it a 17th senior county title in Kilkenny yesterday, throttling a game James Stephens outfit and running out easy winners in the end.

New Offaly manager Michael Fennelly has admitted he was lukewarm on the job at first but came around to the idea after a sleepless night.

Rory Gallagher has been ratified as the new manager of the Derry senior football team.

Former Kilkenny star Michael Fennelly is set to be appointed as the new Offaly senior hurling manager.

Eight-time All-Ireland winner Fennelly will be given a two-year term with the option of a third, according to a statement from Offaly GAA this evening.

When Paddy Stapleton’s family were confronted with a crisis last autumn, he found he could call on old teammates — and some old adversaries — for support.

Catch up on the headlines.

Conor Browne had seven possessions in the All-Ireland semi-final, a figure roundly accepted as being below-average for a midfielder.

Former All-Ireland winning captain Michael Fennelly has advised Kilkenny’s players to tap into the tears and emotion of 2016 as they prepare to face Tipperary once more.

The decade’s hurling sails off same as the decade’s hurling sailed in, Kilkenny and Tipperary about a broadside.

After the same county lifted the MacCarthy Cup on seven occasions in the noughties, the decade that followed was always going to be more democratic.

Colin Fennelly has often been accused of performance-inconsistency in the past.

At times on St Patrick’s Day as the Fennelly brothers, TJ Reid, and Joey Holden breezed to All-Ireland club final success, it felt like going back in time to Kilkenny’s glory era.

Ballyhale Shamrocks are AIB All-Ireland club SHC winners for a record seventh time after a power-packed Croke Park display proved far too much for an overwhelmed St Thomas'.

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

Colin Fennelly produced his best display for some time with a sparkling 4-4 in his side’s 16-point rout of first-time Wexford champions, Naomh Éanna, in this Leinster Club SHC semi-final at Innovate Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

People will have noted Tony Brosnan’s nine-point contribution to Dr Crokes’ Kerry SFC quarter-final success against Legion in Fitzgerald Stadium last Sunday afternoon, writes Peter McNamara.

Your lunchtime bulletin.

Former Kilkenny midfielder Michael Fennelly believes the demands of club hurling are beginning to match that of the inter-county game.

Donal O'Shea, son of former Tipperary manager Eamon, is selected at full-forward.

"You talk about complacency" — Tommy Walsh

"You talk about complacency" — Tommy Walsh

It was put to Brian Cody that 2018 had been an “outstanding” year for his team.

THERE’S luck and there’s talent, and in rough-and-tumble contact sports one often depends on the other. But for All-Star winning hurler Ollie Canning it’s all down to luck.

Ballyhale Shamrocks may be one of hurling’s most decorated clubs, but tradition counts for little in the quest to build, develop and grow. A five-year fundraising drive was launched last week with TJ Reid and Joey Holden amongst those working to secure the future for the next generation of young talents. writes PM O’Sullivan

Michael Fennelly believes his old comrade-in-arms and current club boss Henry Shefflin has the drive and ambition to make the step up to county management one day.

Henry Shefflin enjoyed a winning start to life in management as Ballyhale Shamrocks blitzed their way to the points in the Kilkenny senior hurling league.

Tomorrow marks the 10th national final in 10 years between Kilkenny and Tipperary, writes Enda McEvoy

Brendan Maher may have handed over the Tipperary captaincy to Pádraic Maher last year but if the 2016 All-Ireland winning skipper gives the pre-match speech on Sunday it won’t come as any surprise.