CRUNCH time on the club scene this weekend, with Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) meeting Tullamore (Offaly) in Portlaoise in the Leinster senior hurling final, Ballygunner (Waterford) facing Newtownshandrum (Cork) in the Munster decider.

IT’S 50 years since Waterford won an All-Ireland. I didn’t see that one, but I did see many of those Waterford players, the likes of Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan, Philly Grimes, Austin Flynn, Frankie Walsh, Ned Power, Seamus Power, Martin Óg Morrissey – they were big men, in every sense, great hurlers, part of a great hurling team.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was a surprise recipient of a GAA President's award as the grass-root heroes of the association were honoured at the weekend in Croke Park.

JACK O’CONNOR’S remarkable achievement in leading Kerry to National League, Munster and All-Ireland football championship titles in his first year in charge last night earned him the ‘Manager of the Year’ by the Munster Council.

Nire 3-14 Kilmacthomas0-7

Nire 3-14 Kilmacthomas0-7