And then there were two — but how many of the Kilkenny and Tipperary teams are in the driving seat for All-Stars? John Fogarty makes his shouts

Not to put too fine a point on it but Kilkenny won the All-Ireland quarter-final largely because they were playing — and were allowed to play by and play through — Cork. Not to put too fine a point on it but they’re unlikely to win the All-Ireland semi-final largely because they’ll be playing — and will not be allowed to play by and play through — Limerick.

What does the number on your back even mean any more in hurling? Michael Moynihan rooted through the bag of jerseys and asked how the job spec for each position has changed

Aaron Gillane has admitted he cringed when he reviewed a DVD of the Allianz Hurling League final, despite being named man-of-the-match.

We are a week into Munster Championship Lent. The 40 days and 40 nights before the start of the Munster SHC on May 12 commenced last Tuesday.

That Kilkenny is the only other county in the past 30 years to back up an All-Ireland final win with a hurling league title the following spring tells you the path which this Limerick group are forging for themselves.

Can things go too well, too early? It’s a question Limerick aren’t used to, but Mark Foley doesn’t think it’s an issue.

There’s usually less debate about the hurling All-Stars than you get with the football All-Stars.

Galway and Limerick have both named their starting lineups ahead of this Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final at Croke Park.

Brian Cody was offering John Kiely a few congratulatory words when an elderly gentleman cut in and planted a sizeable kiss on the latter’s cheek.

Mike Casey and his teammates don’t intend following the path of recent Limerick teams. They’ve no interest in midsummer exits and languishing at the back of hurling’s chasing pack.

CORK 1-25 LIMERICK 0-28: The capacity of hurling to enthral knows no bounds as this wonder of a game demonstrated on Saturday evening.

Mike Casey is named at full-back on the Limerick team for tomorrow’s Munster SHC clash with Cork, the sole change to the side which overcame Tipperary.

Cuala have just kept finding the answers when the hardest questions imaginable have been asked of them, writes Anthony Daly.

NA PIARSAIGH (Limerick) 2-19 - CUALA (Dublin) 1-22 (after extra time): Two things you don’t often see at Croke Park; snow on St Patrick’s Day and Con O’Callaghan wasting chances for scores.

David Treacy's 12th point of an epic All-Ireland club hurling final ensured that holders Cuala live to fight another day.

The main talking points from this weekend’s Allianz League action.

When John Kiely announced his extended panel for the 2018 campaign, 10 of the 38 players listed were from the Na Piarsaigh club.

Slaughtneil’s Karl McKaigue has bemoaned the lack of a black card in hurling following Saturday’s All-Ireland club semi-final defeat to Na Piarsaigh.

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 3-15 Slaughtneil (Derry) 3-8: At half-time on Saturday afternoon, Shane O’Neill felt a familiar hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Na Piarsaigh remain on track for two AIB All-Ireland club SHC title successes in three seasons following a thrilling semi-final comeback win over brave Slaughtneil at Parnell Park.

Limerick’s John Kiely and Cork’s Ronan McCarthy are among those inter-county managers who may not be able to field players from their senior county championship-winning clubs in this year’s Allianz Leagues.

KILKENNY 0-11 - LIMERICK 0-17: Familiar territory, this, for Limerick. And a familiar question is again posed: Can this latest U21 success pave the way to senior hurling glory?

Nobody knows our troubles but God. Not exactly the words of Clare co-manager Gerry O’Connor after this game but close enough.

A superior Clare qualified for their first Munster final in nine years but not without difficulty as a combination of poor shooting and Limerick’s tenacity made them sweat until the end.

Limerick 1-20 Cork 1-18

Kerry and Donegal have had their proposed €7,500 fines reduced to €5,000 following a Central Hearings Committee (CHC) meeting in Croke Park on Wednesday night.

Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 3-11 Sixmilebridge (Clare) 1-15: NA PIARSAIGH remain on course for a third Munster Club hurling title in five years after a blistering second-half performance saw them power past the home side at O’Garvey Park, Sixmilebridge yesterday.

Rockwell 23, Ardscoil Ris 13:

Rockwell 22 Glenstal 3: Rockwell cruised into their fifth SEAT Munster Schools’ Senior Cup final in six years at Thomond Park yesterday.

The man thought to be the oldest surviving and longest serving British prisoner of war has died aged 98.

Mallow 2-15 Kiskeam 2-12

GRAND NATIONAL hero Tony McCoy and Brendan Mullin, a key member of the Irish rugby team that won the Triple Crown in 1985, are among those who will enjoy the privilege of partnering world number one Tiger Woods over the next two days in the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

IT’S still May, but it feels like Christmas for 24 lucky golfers who will tee it up with the biggest names in the game at the JP McManus Invitational pro-am in a few weeks.