Most hurling matches are a result.

The first time I managed Dublin against my own county, in 2009, we had the chance to officially relegate Clare from Division 1.

Michael Fennelly’s retirement last week, both inevitable and a bit unexpected, pushes further into shadow one of hurling’s most remarkable eras.

My speech went ok but the spontaneity of it probably framed it to be more natural and rare than I ever expected it could be, writes Anthony Daly.

Given my Clare loyalty and my Limerick connections to their underage Academy, I stole into Thurles yesterday like a thief in the night; head down, baseball cap pulled tightly down over my eyes, plain clothes, biro and notepad in my hand.

Everything now is measured and governed by numbers and statistics, writes Anthony Daly. 

A fleece of us in Clare got nominated for All Stars in 1998 and the county board obligingly decided to fly us up on the Friday and back down on the Saturday.

When the year ends in ‘5’, fate’s hand guides Cork fortunes in strange ways

The son of a 70-year-old man who last weekend collapsed at his daughter’s wedding and later died from a heart attack, yesterday blamed lengthening HSE waiting lists for his father’s death.

Two All-Ireland titles and multiple All Star awards have secured Eoin Kelly’s place in Tipperary hurling folklore. Now he is slowly growing accustomed to life as a former inter-county hurler, but the memories of the glory days in blue and gold are as fresh as ever.

Republican Pearse McCauley is facing a further two weeks in prison following a court appearance yesterday.

Another week, another huge haul from TJ Reid and, predictably, another big victory for star-studded Ballyhale Shamrocks.

A Latvian man charged in connection with a car-jacking has been remanded in custody.

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 0-23 Rathdowney-Errill (Laois) 0-22 (AET)

All-Ireland Sevens: Hosts Kilmacud Crokes captured their first One Direct All-Ireland Senior Hurling Sevens title at Glenalbyn on Saturday, recording a 6-21 to 7-5 win over Portroe of Tipperary in the decider.

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 1A:

The GAA does not want the difficulty of dual players clashing with its fixture schedules, according to Ollie Baker.

Shane Dowling has been answering questions on all manner of matters, from Na Piarsaigh’s founding fathers to Sunday’s Munster Club hurling final against Sixmilebridge, when someone asks if he was pleased to see Clare win the All-Ireland.

Having won this year’s All-Ireland senior and U21 hurling double, and with Sixmilebridge in Sunday’s Munster Club final, Clare hurling is on the crest of a wave.

Having been rejected once for being too small, Clare’s Podge Collins made one vow — if he wasn’t going to catch ball above lads’ heads, he wasn’t going to get pushed off it either. The season he doesn’t want to end takes another twist today with Cratloe in a Clare football final.

Offaly GAA great Brian Whelahan is set to take over from Ollie Baker as the county's senior hurling manager, on recommendation of the selection committee.

Offaly hurling legend Brian Whelahan is set to become the county’s senior hurling manager.

Ger Loughnane said of him: “There are men, then there are men, then there’s Sean McMahon.” The totemic Doora-Barefield defender retains that innate honesty that inspired a generation of Banner hurlers. Now he wants the new wave of stars in the county to write a fresh chapter for Clare hurling.

Midway through the first half of the minor match a dark-haired young lady materialised in the press box, instantly standing out from the people in the vicinity by virtue of being both female and attractive.

Eighteen years after they first met in the Munster championship, Clare’s Ollie Baker and Fergal Ryan of Cork came face to face again this week to recount the good, and not so good, days of their inter-county careers.

Ollie Baker's spell in charge of the Offaly senior hurlers is over after two years in charge. The former All-Star midfielder from Clare will not be seeking a third year with the Faithful county.

Ollie Baker’s resignation as Offaly senior hurling manager was announced to the county board last night, after the former All-Ireland winning midfielder with Clare and St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield decided not to seek a third term.

Offaly 1-14 Waterford 0-21

Ollie Baker has hit out at the “inequality” of the Championship structure which leaves Offaly without a competitive game for eight months.

Offaly 1-14 Waterford 0-21

Last Friday there was a press evening for the Cork hurlers ahead of Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final.

On the basis that the hurling summer may not get better than this, let’s rejoice with Limerick and be glad while we can

Shane Lowry’s allegiance to his native Offaly is almost as well-known as his golfing exploits and the Clara man believes the county’s hopes of resurrecting a glorious past would be improved if they returned to the days of the dual player.

Offaly 4-09 Kilkenny 0-26

Man can’t live on moral victories alone but Ollie Baker found some sustenance in the performance of his players in defeat.

Kilkenny 0-26 Offaly 4-9

Former Offaly All-Ireland winner Daithí Regan has taken a swipe at his county’s management, while the players weren’t spared from criticism either.

Offaly 1-12 Carlow 1-10

Offaly 0-16 Wexford 0-14

Offaly 0-16 Wexford 0-14

Dublin 1-20 Offaly 2-16

Allianz Hurling League Div 1B: Dublin 1-20 Offaly 2-16