Two second-half goals by Conor Whelan sent Galway to victory and in turn a Division 1 quarter-final date with Wexford next weekend.

At the third time of asking, Tipperary recorded their first win of the Allianz Hurling League as they put Westmeath to the sword at Semple Stadium.

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has also made four changes, with Eoin Cadogan selected at full-back.

John O’Dwyer also makes his seasonal return after recovering from an injury against Cork.

It was no surprise that new Clare hurling boss, Brian Lohan, picked a player in his own likeness as captain for the year ahead. John Conlon may inhabit a different end of the field than the Banner legend did during his playing days, but the differences between the two end there.

Once more, Tipperary appear to be the oldest Liam MacCarthy Cup panel around but age clearly didn’t debilitate them last season.

Good question, responds TJ Reid when he is asked whether Sunday feels like an All-Ireland final.

It’s a career that has produced five All-Ireland titles between club and county but Joey Holden would be the first to admit it hasn’t run smoothly.

Here's the story of 2019, as told through Examiner Sport front pages.

Gaelic Games remains narrowly the nation’s favourite sport, Katie Taylor is by far the most admired athlete, and the Irish rugby team have been dethroned as Team of the Year.

GAA managers make up four of the seven shortlisted.

The longlist was revealed on RTÉ 2FM show Game On with the final shortlist to be announced on Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

The fallout surrounding proposed lengthy suspensions handed out to 16 championship-winning minor players and seven juvenile club officials has extended to Douglas GAA’s senior club.

Goals win games — and when you keep scoring them game after game, you inevitably win All-Irelands, as Tipperary’s senior and U20 teams happily found this year.

Seamus Callanan says winning Hurler of the Year seemed a “distant dream” amid his slow return from back surgery last year.

Stephen Cluxton has been named Footballer of the Year for the first time in his career.

Patrick Horgan has been shortlisted for 2019 PwC Hurler of the Year award, along with Tipperary and Kilkenny captains Séamus Callanan and TJ Reid.

The Premier captain constructed a display cabinet in 2006 - which was kept by his old teacher and presented to him at St. Joesph's College in Borrisoleigh yesterday.

Tipperary U20 captain Craig Morgan says teammate Jake Morris is a hurler who “has everything”.

Given that much of the focus on last Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final revolved around Richie Hogan’s sending off, arguably the most important moment of the match has almost gone underappreciated.

Not for the first and hopefully not for the last time, Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett once again flew in the face of the mainstream.

Thirty years on from Tipperary beating Antrim in the All-Ireland final, there was a strong Saffron influence running through the team for Sunday’s All-Ireland win over Kilkenny.

Michael Moynihan has rung all the juries, collated all the votes, and accepted all the bribes.

Tens of thousands of Tipperary supporters turned out at Semple Stadium tonight, to welcome home the Tipperary Senior Hurling team who won the All-Ireland Championship yesterday, after defeating Kilkenny in the decider at Croke Park.

The team includes six players from All-Ireland champions Tipperary and four from beaten finalists Kilkenny.

As Liam Sheedy said, the second goal three minutes into the second half was what made this game Tipperary’s.

Trust me when I say this — it’s every referee’s worst nightmare to send a player off in an All-Ireland final.

One county is ecstatic this morning and one despairing, as is always the case after an All-Ireland final.

A production of Hamlet with not one, but two princes.

A final for the annals but certainly not for the ages.

Time and time again this year we have been treated to testimonials from Tipperary players as to the impact Liam Sheedy has had on this team.

Kilkenny were leading Tipperary by a point when Hogan made contact with the head of Cathal Barrett with a stray elbow along the Hogan Stand touchline.

Tipperary’s 28th All-Ireland title came easier than expected as Richie Hogan’s first-half sending off helped to pave the way for their third Championship crown this decade.

A Kilkenny-Tipperary All- Ireland final — wonders never cease.

Refereeing Kilkenny-Tipperary Championship games this decade were like walking on a cliff edge.

Kilkenny is as tribal a rivalry as it comes for John Leahy but his outlook on hurling now is more holistic

After more than eight years of this column, the arse long torn out of it, maybe it’s time to start taking requests.

Who’s it going to be then, eh?

Catch up on the headlines.

Chasing silverware, yes. Chasing records, not so much, but it’s impossible to get away from the latter, such are the impressive tallies he’s been posting of late.

Former All-Ireland winning captain Michael Fennelly has advised Kilkenny’s players to tap into the tears and emotion of 2016 as they prepare to face Tipperary once more.

“Do you reckon this will be Cody’s last year, Enda?”