There are occasions when referees make life difficult for themselves and yesterday’s first half in the Gaelic Grounds was a prime example of that.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan believes the work-rate of the Cork attack has to improve significantly if they are to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat to Tipperary.

Donal Moloney has seen a lot of hurling in his time, but yesterday in Cusack Park represented something of a first for him.

After exchanging a few heated words with the Clare sideline in the closing minutes, John Kiely was a model of diplomacy and even bonhomie upon Paud O’Dwyer’s final whistle.

If truth be told, Colm Galvin is more concerned about the keenness to stamp out thrown passes than the directive to referees to get tougher on high tackles, which Tony Kelly seemingly fell foul of last Saturday week.

The scoreline suggests a rip-roaring contest but that is a false reading.

UCD were indebted to a brace of late frees from Ronan Hayes as they recued a share of the spoils with NUIG after their entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup Group A encounter at David Billings Park.

In this era of marginal gains, the GAA has made its own with the implementation of HawkEye. There can be little doubt it had a valuable impact to the feast of hurling produced last weekend.

Where to start with this enthralling weekend? It was unbelievable in so many ways. To have two outstandingly exciting All-Ireland semi-finals one after the other. Referees get just as thrilled about these days too.

Clare co-manager Donal Moloney should learn today whether he will be able to man the sideline in this Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Cork in Thurles.

Clare and Cork’s return to Semple Stadium for a second Munster final in a row is expected to be confirmed later today.

Clare co-manager Donal Moloney will be on the sideline for Sunday’s Munster SHC final round game against Limerick — despite being handed down a significant suspension.

I’m led to believe Stephen Cluxton had blood in his mouth following that first-half clash with James McGivney, so the conspiracy theorists won’t be happy.

Last week, I spoke about the importance of a referee’s team and unfortunately it was the topic of most discussions yesterday, writes Brian Gavin.

I came in for a bit of criticism during the week about Offaly football matters, which I’ll come back to shortly, but I’m never going to shy away from calling it like I see it. At referees seminars, I would have been known for speaking my mind, whether I was right or wrong, and it’s an attitude I’ll be sticking to here, writes Brian Gavin.

Galway football captain Damien Comer has credited Paddy Tally with bringing greater directness to the county’s attacking play.

Offaly 1-19 Kilkenny 0-24

The Cats set up a Division 1 semi-final against Wexford or Galway.

The slim gent at the doorway will look familiar to those heading from Liberty Square to Semple Stadium tomorrow.

Cork hurling manager John Meyler has been very impressed with Clare, who have picked up two wins in their first two NHL 1A outings.

David Treacy scored seven points for Cuala who overwhelmed Liam Mellows and advanced to another All-Ireland final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

DIT 0-19 UCD 0-17: On the face of it this is a big boost for Dublin hurling as two colleges who have never reached the Fitzgibbon Cup final hammer it out in the semi-finals next week and the appearance of either DIT or DCU in the decider will be hailed in the capital.

Galway 3-31 Laois 1-11: Galway thrashed Laois by 36 points the last time these sides met in the league back in 2008, and for a good while yesterday it seemed they might even surpass that margin.

Mary Immaculate 0-19 Limerick IT 0-14: Mary Immaculate manager Jamie Wall played down the favourite’s tag that has been thrust upon his side, but after Aaron Gillane fired them to a Fitzgibbon Cup derby win over LIT, the manager is confident his side can cope with any pressure that comes their way against IT Carlow.

Confess it: when Dónal Óg Cusack criticised the decision to award Limerick a goal against Westmeath this summer you couldn’t have agreed more. Neither could we.

A Jackie Tyrrell half-time speech has been heralded as the catalyst behind Kilkenny’s All-Ireland winning second half.

Kilkenny were not happy with James Owens’ interpretation of an aggressive foul on a number of occasions in the first half.

Dublin chairman Sean Shanley said they will in all likelihood contest Diarmuid Connolly’s red card in an attempt to make him available for Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail says The Sunday Game has become “predictable” and “tiresome” in its negativity.

The referee at the heart of the disputed goal in Limerick’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier win over Westmeath in Mullingar last Sunday said he never doubted he and his umpire had made the right call in awarding the score.

UI Galway 0-21 UCC 0-19: An impressive NUI Galway side shocked UCC in Dangan to keep their Fitzgibbon Cup hopes alive.

Galway 1-21 Westmeath 0-16

Connacht 1-18 Munster 0-16

Aaron Moore’s dramatic injury-time goal provided Laois with a sensational victory over Offaly in the Leinster minor hurling championship.