After Kilkenny steam-rolled to an historic three-in-a-row with a demolition of Waterford yesterday, mastermind of the display, Brian Cody, spoke to Brendan Larkin.

IT’S Kilkenny’s hurling world. Everyone else just lives in it.

A FESTIVE atmosphere, jersey-bedecked fans cheering and singing, white and blue as far as the eye could see: Waterford’s city centre was truly a heaving mass of joy and celebration yesterday afternoon. Then the match started.

FROM big hearts come some huge results and this Evening Echo Cork Co SHC semi-final upset at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday was a whopper.

CHANGING TIMES

IT seems appropriate to kick off with the above quote from Chariots of Fire, because it expresses a couple of imperishable truths about Munster’s Heineken Cup victory this year.

TIPPERARY were denied a possible third All-Ireland minor hurling title in a row by a ruthless Kilkenny side who produced one of the most impressive displays seen for quite some time in Croke Park in the first of the All-Ireland MHC semi-finals.

IF ever there was an opportunity for the GAA to say ‘thank you’ to one of its finest group of supporters, it’s now.

LONG AFTER the invading orange masses had departed the St Tiernach’s Park pitch Armagh manager Peter McDonnell stood alone and surveyed the battleground, puffing on a cigar he’d saved for victory.

IN THE aftermath of another heart-stopping victory, Cork boss Gerald McCarthy was sipping a cold drink, putting the swirl of events into some kind of order.

IT NOW seems garlic and a wooden stake will be necessary to finish Cork. The men in red overcame a nine-point deficit to reel in Clare in yesterday’s All-Ireland quarter-final, a stunning turnaround which looked out of the question at half-time.

MANAGER Mick Deegan is banking on his Dublin side’s All-Ireland JFC title success to inspire the county’s senior team to similar glory in September.

SOME houses look their size, and shout their wares. Others are more subtle, and this Waterfall, Co Cork home fits that low-key description.

THIS COLUMN bows to no man in its admiration for all things Tipperary. Clonmel Chardonnay. Liberty Square. Horse and Jockey. The list goes on and on, and is now joined by The Book.

MARTIN BOWEN’S confidence in Cork beating Galway in Sunday’s All-Ireland qualifier was well founded, but the Cork selector sounded a note of warning ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Clare.

With regard to dwindling attendances at GAA championship matches — especially the earlier rounds this year— is it not a distinct possibility that the new drink driving laws are more than partly to blame?

MANAGERS are at the centre of much of this week’s anger. There’s criticism of Ger Loughnane’s handling of the Galway hurlers and what fans call ‘the cult of the Manager in the GAA’.

CROATIA coach Slaven Bilic believes Turkey’s two stunning comeback victories during the group shows both the strengths and the weaknesses of their quarter-final opponents.

Kerry 1-14, Clare 0-5

Glen Rovers 1-13 Na Piarsaigh 0-11