“I’m enjoying the craic massively,” Michael Carroll begins.

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin remembered the late Eugene Aylward after yesterday’s county final win — Shamrocks panellist Aylward passed away a few weeks ago and captain Michael Fennelly dedicated the title win to him.

A man in his 20s has died following a crash in Knockwilliam, Ballyhale in Kilkenny this morning.

Almost 30 years ago, the Reids were the first family in Ballyhale to get miniature goalposts.

Scoreboard Saturday afternoon in Portlaoise was an easy one for those selecting a man of the match in the All-Ireland U20 semi-final.

Offaly hurling defender Cillian Kiely has called on officials to appoint a ‘no-bullshit’ non-native manager, possibly from Kilkenny, to get them back on track.

Colin Fennelly has often been accused of performance-inconsistency in the past.

“Whatever it was, I wish we could have bottled it,” Liam Fennelly says.

"If you don’t win, you’re not remembered" — Andrew O’Shaughnessy

Ballyhale Shamrocks may be one of hurling’s most decorated clubs, but tradition counts for little in the quest to build, develop and grow. A five-year fundraising drive was launched last week with TJ Reid and Joey Holden amongst those working to secure the future for the next generation of young talents. writes PM O’Sullivan

St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 2-12 Coláiste Cholmáin (Fermoy) 1-12: With 40 minutes played Coláiste Cholmáin had their noses in front in Clonmel as they aimed to claim All-Ireland hurling glory at U16 level but they could only manage a single point thereafter as rivals St Kieran’s grabbed control.

Tipperary might be champions of effing Ireland, at senior and minor, but the family that did most to put them there won’t be shouting about it. Noel and John McGrath won All-Ireland senior medals with Michael Ryan’s men, and brother Brian captained the Premier to the minor title. It crowned a tumultuous year for the family. But their feet never left the ground.

IN 1899, Hans Christian Mortensen, a Danish schoolteacher, made little rings from a sheet of aluminium and fitted them to the legs of starlings; bird-ringing had been invented.

Kilkenny hurlers faced a challenge of a different kind at the weekend as they embarked on a metaphorical cycle to Syria – showing their solidarity with the thousands of refugees making their way to our shores.

Well if this doesn’t brighten your day, then nothing will.

For natives of Mullinavat, Waterford is town, 11 miles away. For natives of Ballyhale, seven miles north, Kilkenny is town, 13 miles away. 

In the mind’s eye, he will always have a hurley in his hand.

Henry was lucky, so very, very lucky.

IT would have been the perfect farewell and it very nearly came to pass last Tuesday week, but Colin Fennelly slightly overcooked his pull-back from the right – he hit it a little too well – and Henry Shefflin, in space right in front of the Kilmallock goal, couldn’t quite get his hand to the sliotar.

They finally found a national treasure in Spain yesterday, the long-hidden resting place of the poet Cervantes. Contrast with Croke Park yesterday, where a national treasure was on open display.

As far as motivations go, few are stronger than emulating those who have come before you in your club.

Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 1-18 v Kilmallock (Limerick) 1-18:

It is closing in on 20 years since Henry Shefflin and several of his Ballyhale Shamrocks colleagues first pulled on an adult jersey for the club.

Ballyhale Shamrocks chairman Michael Fennelly believes helping club-mate Henry Shefflin claim a record 10th All-Ireland title will be a strong incentive for Kilkenny on Sunday.

Camogie League Division 1 champions Cork were held to a draw after a magnificent clash with Tipperary at The Ragg.

A hundred and 40 minutes plus injury time (ah yes, that injury time...) 11 goals and 73 points.

A 42-year-old man has died after the car he was driving hit a bridge.

Carlow captain Edward Coady believes Central Council were correct not to return Cork to Division 1.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy and John Allen will shake hands on the sideline on Sunday as opposing managers, after steering Cork and Limerick respectively into the Munster SHC final.

Danny Owens soldiered with Offaly sides that plucked many victories from the jaws of the defeat during the 1980s and early ’90s and yesterday guided his Kilcormac Killoughey side to a remarkable comeback win.

“I’m gone to stud,” is how James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick put it when asked might he like to return to the Kilkenny panel.

What can either manager say after the kind of game we saw in Parnell Park yesterday?

Eoin Larkin inspired James Stephens to victory over gritty Graigue-Ballycallan in an exciting Kilkenny SHC quarter-final in Freshford yesterday.

Whatever way Sunday works out, there’ll be a change of the guard, in some shape or another.

Antrim hurling boss Jerry Wallace has called on the Cork County Board to change refereeing practices within the county to prepare players for the inter-county game.

THE number of people killed on Irish roads in 2011 has risen to 182 following a number of fatal accidents over the holiday period.

A second man has died, and a third man is being treated for injuries, after a car crash in Co Kilkenny yesterday.

A second man has died after he was involved in a crash in Mullinavat in Co Kilkenny yesterday.