WITH time ticking down on this year’s hurling season, most team managers spend the winter evenings in front of the fire, ruminating on the season, planning for the year ahead.

Babs Keating's UCD side kept on track for Leinster hurling glory as Tipperary's Diarmuid Fitzgerald hit the only goal in their 1-20 to 0-11 AIB Club quarter final defeat of Portlaoise at O'Moore Park.