When Waterford manager Michael Ryan appointed Pat Flanagan as physical trainer to the county hurlers, he mentioned Flanagan’s pilgrimage back to Dungarvan the night of the 2002 Munster final.

PADRAIC MAHER admits his Thurles Sarsfields side are still driven by the disappointment of last year’s Munster club exit to Newtownshandrum.

Sarsfields (Cork) 2-15 De La Salle (Waterford) 0-22, (after extra-time)

DE LA SALLE’S Stephen Brenner isn’t sure how he will react when walking out in Croke Park next month for the club final clash with Portumna, returning to where he last played in goal with Waterford in the 2002 All-Ireland semi-final against Clare.

FOR the time being, it will matter little to either surprise Munster champions De La Salle or experienced campaigners Cushendall that the conventional view is that the All-Ireland club hurling champions will come from the other semi-final.

DE LA SALLE captain John Mullane hopes yesterday’s Waterford SHC title win will be the catalyst for more success for the club.

THE RACE to dislodge Ballygunner as Waterford senior hurling champions begins this weekend with four very attractive first round games.

PLAGUED by injury for several months, Paul Flynn is poised to take his place in Ballygunner’s starting line up for Sunday’s Waterford senior hurling final against De La Salle.

This is what many hurling fans have been waiting for all summer long - the historic All-Ireland quarter-finals on successive Croke Park Sundays, and with them, the banishment of the backdoor safety net.

WATERFORD have changed their goalkeeper for Sunday’s Guinness All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-final against Cork at Croke Park.

THE Waterford selectors had no choice but to change their goalkeeper following the defeat to Clare in the third of their Guinness championship qualifying games, manager Justin McCarthy acknowledged last night.

Cork manager John Allen has resisted the temptation to tinker with his side ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Waterford.

LIMERICK hurling selector Declan Nash has resigned, a fortnight before the side face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.

A loss of form could see Waterford's hurlers take to Croke Park for next Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Cork, without first-choice goalkeeper Stephen Brenner.

Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21

De La Salle clubman Brian Phelan is Waterford's only change for tomorrow's All-Ireland hurling qualifier Group B tie against Offaly at Dr Cullen Park (throw-in 7.15pm).

SOME day Cork and Waterford will play out a dull, bloodless affair, a matter of politeness and etiquette. Some day.

Waterford’s hopes of retaining their Munster SHC title fell just short in Thurles this afternoon as All-Ireland champions Cork exerted their authority in a 2-17 to 2-15 provincial semi-final win.

Cork and Waterford lock horns at Semple Stadium today as the All-Ireland champions bid to dethrone the provincial champions, but the Decies could line out without their two most influential players.

THE build-up to tomorrow’s clash of the Munster and All-Ireland SHC champions has been dominated more by speculation on the fitness of Waterford stars Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn than on their prospects of beating Cork for the second year in a row.

Waterford hurling manager Justin McCarthy has left two vacancies in his line-up for Sunday's clash against All-Ireland champions Cork at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Limerick 2-18 Waterford 1-18

Limerick 0-18 Waterford 1-19

Waterford 0-17 Kilkenny 2-16

Dublin boss Humphrey Kelleher takes his charges to Pearse Stadium where they face a daunting Division 1A National League opener against champions Galway.

Former Munster championship-winning skipper Fergal Hartley will make his return to inter-county action for Waterford on Sunday against rivals Kilkenny at Walsh Park in the opening round of the National League.

CORK will be without five of their All-Ireland-winning starting fifteen - Wayne Sherlock, Brian Murphy, John Gardiner, Kieran Murphy and Brian Corcoran - for their opening Allianz National Hurling League game against Limerick at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Neighbours and great rivals Kilkenny and Waterford go head to head in the first of the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals at Croke Park today.

IT took Clare’s fighting display in their drawn Guinness All-Ireland SHC quarter-final to restore normality to the battle for the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Justin McCarthy's Waterford will see two changes to the side that defeated Cork in the Munster final for Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final with champions Kilkenny at Croke Park.

REGULAR Waterford goalkeeper Stephen Brenner has been dropped for Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final, the selectors giving the nod to the county U21 netminder, Ian O’Regan.

THOSE who devised the All-Ireland qualifier system must be licking their lips and clapping themselves on the back today.

Waterford 3-16 (25) Cork 1-21 (24)

Waterford 4-10 Tipperary 3-12

ALL but two of Waterford’s heroes in the outstanding Munster Championship victory over Clare last Sunday, are in action this weekend in the first round of the County Senior Hurling Championship.

Waterford 3-21 Clare1-8

Galway 2-15 Waterford 1-13

Tipperary 3-16 Waterford 1-22

Tipperary 3-16 Waterford 1-22

Waterford 0-14 Cork 0-13

Waterford 1-20 Limerick 4-07

TYRONE footballer Stephen O’Neill and Kerry’s Eamon Fitzmaurice will each miss Sunday week’s Allianz National Football League semi-finals.

Waterford hurling boss Justin McCarthy has responded to last weekend's heavy defeat to Galway by making widespread changes to his team.