It will not be the first time that Munster players have arrived in the Meath town of Enfield to be told some home truths. Yet for the province’s seven players called in to Ireland’s 24-hour training camp at Johnstown House, which disbanded yesterday afternoon, the soul-searching will have been prompted from within rather than externally.

Waterford 4-18 Wexford 3-13 (SH Challenge): Waterford manager Derek McGrath will wait until the last minute to make a decision on Maurice Shanahan’s fitness for Sunday’s Munster semi final against Cork.

It was from O’Neill’s pub in Vilamoura harbour on this weekend last year that Karl Lacey watched the All-Ireland final.

It’s been just over two weeks since Donegal turned the bookies odds on their head and delivered their finest display of the Jim McGuinness era, seeing off heavily-favoured Dublin with a pulsating semi-final performance that few outside the set-up saw coming.

Jim McGuinness admits Donegal must consider the possibility Colm Cooper will feature in Sunday week’s All-Ireland final.

Picture the scene.

Donegal’s remarkable 3-14 to 0-17 victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final is the biggest shock in Gaelic football for a decade, according to Kevin McStay.

Kevin Cassidy has described Jim McGuinness’ comparison of Dublin with Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea as "silly".

Donegal footballer Paddy McBrearty has warned that the ongoing standoff between club and county cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.

Mayo legend Liam McHale is hoping that Ger Brennan retains his place in the Dublin defence for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final because it would suit the Connacht champions better.

Malachy O’Rourke is this week bracing himself for what he believes is the ultimate test for anyone in the business of managing an inter-county Gaelic football team: plotting Donegal’s downfall.

Mark McHugh said Donegal’s winning performance against Tyrone on Sunday was partly a response to the negativity about the team in the media following their relegation from Division 1.

Donegal assistant manager Rory Gallagher has confirmed he and manager Jim McGuinness expect to have a full panel available for the visit of Tyrone on Sunday week, May 26.

Leinster have raised the drawbridge ahead of their do-or-die Heineken Cup tie against Scarlets next weekend and retreated to the solitude of Johnstown House in Co. Meath for a two-day camp.

The Leinster squad may be bolstered by the return of Isa Nacewa and Richartd Strauss ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup Pool 5 clash with the Scarlets at the RDS on Saturday (6pm).

Donegal keep faith with the side that got the better of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final for Sunday’s final against Mayo.

Mayo’s Colm Boyle will not start the All-Ireland final.

For Paddy McBrearty, Maynooth has been a home away from home these past eight days.

Laura Guest has almost travelled full circle in her rugby career. She started off as an out-half and though unlikely to don the play-maker’s jersey ever again, is now back where likes to be, in the thick of the action.

THE GAA will not punish counties who have contravened the inter-county training camp rule — unless they receive complaints from clubs.

WATERFORD’S hurlers will travel to Reading Football Club next month for a three-day training camp.

IRELAND will host a training camp today for the players who were unavailable to tour Australasia.

HOW do you beat Kilkenny? How do you overcome them in Leinster especially, where they’ve lost only once since 1997 – caught by a last-minute goal by Wexford in 2004? How do you sour the cream for the Cats?

WATERFORD’S SHC ambitions received a major blow yesterday with the news long-serving star Ken McGrath, pictured, will miss up to six weeks following a knee operation.

IN the old days, when Johnstown House was a doctor’s residence, access to the surgery was via two doors — and depending on your socio-economic status, you used the back or the front entrance.