I was driving home from an underage coaching day in Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin last Saturday when a friend texted me. “Some Walsh Cup final in Nowlan Park,” he said. “It sounds like an epic.”

Bumper preview of Galway v Waterford with a host of guests.

After Clare were well beaten by Cork in the 1998 league semi-final in Thurles, myself, Fergie Tuohy, and ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin went back to Powers in Clarecastle.

I met Jimmy Barry-Murphy underneath the stand last month in Clonmel, says Anthony Daly.

Limerick hurling manager TJ Ryan has hinted at a centre-forward role for Gavin O’Mahony in 2015.

Waterford Crystal Cup final

Cork 2-21 Clare 0-18: Waterford Crystal SHC semi-final: The Cork management vowed at the outset of 2015 to cast the net far and wide.

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

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy believes new coach Mark Landers will inject a new freshness to the county’s set-up.

Mark Landers was last night confirmed as the new coach of the Cork senior hurling team.

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

Glen Rovers are looking to bridge a generational gap as they bid for another Cork title tomorrow at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Former Cork selector Ger Cunningham was last night appointed as Anthony Daly’s successor as Dublin manager, being handed a three-year term.

You know, of course, that Henry Shefflin, 35, has an autobiography coming out soon, a traditional indication that a player is approaching the end of his career.

The initial challenge for management when an All-Ireland final is drawn isn’t conditioning or injuries, necessarily.

Cork County Board chairman Bob Ryan was forced to launch a vigorous defence of the decision to redevelop Páirc Uí Chaoimh at last night’s county board meeting.

Cork selector Seanie McGrath says Eoin Cadogan will be given every opportunity to prove himself fit for the Rebels’ Munster championship opener against Waterford on Sunday week.

Tipperary 3-25 Cork 4-19

Ger Cunningham has been named on the Cork management team for 2014 — despite strong speculation linking him with the vacant Limerick position.

O’Gara helping Clare

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has received a massive pre-championship boost with the imminent return of attacker Jamie Coughlan to full training.

Cork hurler Paudie O’Sullivan looks certain to miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed yesterday that he broke his fibula and tibia while playing for divisional side Imokilly against Cork IT on Tuesday.

Kilkenny 0-20 Cork 2-12

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 1A: Galway v Cork

In a long playing career with Cork, Seánie McGrath has seen a few sterling performances.

Derry, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow advanced to the Bord na Móna Kehoe Cup semi-finals following today’s action.

... is a very different animal to the Kilkenny full-back who has prowled his square and wore the famed No 3 jersey with distinction for more than a decade. Michael Moynihan took advantage of Noel Hickey’s downtime.

Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) 1-13 Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 1-12

Retired Wexford stalwart Darren Stamp helped Oulart-the Ballagh edge out Kilmacud Crokes in a tense AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final tie at Parnell Park.

There’s where they were and there’s where they are. Jimmy Barry-Murphy knows the difference.

Cork senior hurling selector Seanie McGrath admits his team have lacked consistency in this year’s championship.

Cork hurling selector Seanie McGrath says the Leesiders are “taking absolutely nothing for granted” in tonight’s clash with Offaly in the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Seanie McGrath’s first point is the significance of the loss of Donal Óg Cusack.

With the team having qualified for this Sunday’s league final against Kilkenny, most of the talk about the rise of Cork hurling has centred around the youngsters.

Only one injury for Cork as they prepare for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final against Kilkenny, goalkeeper and captain Dónal Óg Cusack ruled out for the season.

The Cork senior hurling management are determined to allow teenage hurling star Darren Sweetnam to prioritise his studies for his Leaving Cert despite the Rebels’ Munster championship opener on June 24 occurring just days after the Dohenys player completes his exams.

There’s a standing joke here on the sportsdesk when it comes to the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend: tell the photographers to turn their backs on the action out on the field and focus on the personalities in the crowd.

Cork senior hurling selector Seanie McGrath says Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has “trained superbly” since returning to the Rebels squad and will be expected to help his rookie midfield partner, Darren Sweetnam, through tomorrow’s Allianz HL opener against Waterford.