When a losing manager — unprompted — describes a game as a tale of two halves the story writes itself.

Limerick GAA have announced that Declan Hannon will continue as the county's hurling captain for 2020.

An early-season title for Limerick, winners over Cork in this Co-Op Superstores Munster SHL final in the Gaelic Grounds, with 5,295 in attendance.

Kiely is looking towards the end of January as much as next weekend’s Munster League final against Cork.

The result, which played out in front of a crowd of 1,628, means the All-Ireland champions cannot now progress to the decider.

Kilkenny are champions of the inaugural New York Hurling Classic after a convincing 24-point win over Limerick in Citi Field.

A look back at the magical moments from this year.

Limerick’s All-Ireland winner Kyle Hayes on his powerful hands and the hurleys he stores in the shed on the family farm

Richard Stakelum spent the Tipperary-Wexford semi-final next to his brother, Pat.

Having been nine points adrift as early as the 17th minute, Limerick would have given their right arm if offered there and then a 1-12 to 1-9 interval scoreline.

Brian Cody has never sought to overly complicate matters. Whatever about the tactical nuances he may attempt to implement or, indeed counter, the Kilkenny manager is fully aware that any game-plan must be built on the non-negotiables of spirit, honesty, character and work-rate.

When Limerick and Kilkenny shape up Saturday evening in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, it’ll bring back particularly fond memories for one of the men in green and white.

Last year when Kerry played a Super 8s match in Croke Park, it didn’t exactly fare well in the TV channel-hopping stakes.

What does the number on your back even mean any more in hurling? Michael Moynihan rooted through the bag of jerseys and asked how the job spec for each position has changed

You have your choice of Munster final metrics this morning.

Limerick’s strengths are based on ball retention and clever transition from defence through good positioning and support running.

Watching both teams warming up, I zeroed in on the goalkeepers.

If the phoney war taketh away, sometimes the phoney war giveth.

All-Ireland champions Limerick are all but guaranteed of a top-three finish in Munster after this 18-point thumping of Clare.

Donal O’Grady assesses how Cork can counter the All-Ireland champions’ gameplan

Residents in an apartment building on the northside of Cork city say they are facing homelessness after being served a mass eviction notice.

The scoreboard won’t contain the only numbers that matter to Peter Duggan this month.

Tom Morrissey doesn’t blanch at the question.

Patrickswell hold the only 100% record after two rounds of the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.

Aaron Gillane has admitted he cringed when he reviewed a DVD of the Allianz Hurling League final, despite being named man-of-the-match.

Na Piarsiagh showed that they have every intent in holding onto their title after they swept aside South Liberties by 4-20 to 0-10 in Mungret.

We are a week into Munster Championship Lent. The 40 days and 40 nights before the start of the Munster SHC on May 12 commenced last Tuesday.

That Kilkenny is the only other county in the past 30 years to back up an All-Ireland final win with a hurling league title the following spring tells you the path which this Limerick group are forging for themselves.

A league final in keeping with the league itself, then.

Following in the footsteps of the ultra-dominant Kilkenny teams of this decade and last, Limerick secured national league silverware seven months after claiming Liam MacCarthy.

I was walking into Croke Park last Sunday when I heard some fella calling me.

After the Clare-Limerick match last Sunday, I slipped back across the border for a Cheltenham Preview night at the Na Piarsaigh clubhouse in Caherdavin.

The Kilmacud Crokes-Craobh Chiaráin Dublin league game threw in yesterday morning at 10.30am.

When I took my seat in the stand in Nowlan Park yesterday, near the 45-metre line, I found myself beside a nice man from Clara. He was a quiet fella, who said very little, until he felt like making a point or asking a question. When Limerick made their final substitution in the 69th minute, the gentleman asked me who was the Limerick player being introduced. ‘Gearoid Hegarty,’ I said. ‘Jeez,’ he replied with an audible groan.

The summer game always looks strange when the players’ breath is visible in small clouds at every facemask.

There’s usually less debate about the hurling All-Stars than you get with the football All-Stars.

"You talk about complacency" — Tommy Walsh

By last Sunday morning, my voice was creaking, writes Anthony Daly

It was Declan Hannon who said it, sitting in the victors’ banquet with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in front of him: ‘We’ve all marched behind the band out the back garden when we were four, five, six years of age.’

It was Declan Hannon who said it, sitting in the victors’ banquet with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in front of him: ‘We’ve all marched behind the band out the back garden when we were four, five, six years of age.’

By last Sunday morning, my voice was creaking, writes Anthony Daly

"You talk about complacency" — Tommy Walsh

How to feel your age part I: The Good Friday Agreement is a month older than Kyle Hayes.

I’m so pleased for Limerick.