THERE were spells in Saturday’s Evening Echo Cork Co JAFC semi-final when Grenagh looked good, very good.

IT was the 110th Kilkenny county final, the 10th title for Ballyhale Shamrocks, their first since 1991, but the most significant number in Nowlan Park yesterday? It was Henry Shefflin’s first.

IT’S a pity this column doesn’t appear tomorrow. Then we could truly say, with respect to the late Gene Pitney, we’re only 24 hours from Thurles.

BILLED as the game of the round, this all-West Cork clash in the Evening Echo SFC fourth round at Enniskeane yesterday turned out to be a one-sided affair as Clonakilty ran riot against near neighbours Carbery Rangers to set up a quarter-final against the winners of the Nemo/St. Finbarr’s tie.

EVEN the Galway people who travelled, players, management and over a thousand fans, felt sorry for Laois goalkeeper Patrick Mullaney after this total mismatch in Portlaoise on Saturday.

THE final scoreline in this Evening Echo Cork Co IHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday doesn’t do justice to Ballymartle, who won this south east decider far easier than the four points would suggest.

IT’S been a year of upsets in the All-Ireland hurling championships.

A POINT by James Murphy two minutes from time earned Glanmire a deserved draw in a tremendously exciting Evening Echo county premier IFC final at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

A HAT-TRICK of goals from Carrigaline’s Simon O’Brien proved the difference at Feenagh, yesterday.

NEMO RANGERS are in the penultimate stage of the Cork SFC for the umpteenth time and team manager Ephie Fitzgerald is delighted — given that he has had to find six replacements from last year’s winning team.

THE death occurred yesterday of John Moloney, former inter-county referee and president of Galtee Rovers St Pecaun’s GAA club in Tipperary.

ACCORDING to reports that suggested Robin Van Persie should’ve received a red card and that William Gallas could’ve given away a penalty, some might think we were fortunate to come away from Saturday’s outing with all three points. However, from my perspective, behind the goal at Charlton, it was nothing short of a 2-1 slaughter.

BISHOPSTOWN beware.

ALLSTAR Eoin Kelly gave another Man-of-the-Match performance when he scored 2-6 to steer Mullinahone to their eighth South Tipperary Glanbia SHC title with a one-point win over arch-rivals Killenaule in this highly competitive final at Clonmel sports field yesterday.

KERRY bridged a 12-year gap by defeating Roscommon in a keenly contested All-Ireland junior football championship final at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

TYRONE’S All-Ireland winning captain Peter Canavan has warned against the dismantling of the provincial championships.

FOR no more than a short few minutes in the sweltering heat in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday did it seem possible that favourites Tipperary might fail to make it to the Munster hurling final against Cork for the second year in succession.

BRIDE ROVERS survived a tremendous second-half fightback by Delanys at sun-drenched Caherlag last night to advance to round three of the Evening Echo Cork Co senior hurling championship.

AS Tipperary and Waterford prepare for battle in tomorrow’s Munster SHC semi-final, Diarmuid O’Flynn recalls some epic games with former stars Len Gaynor and Ned Power.

IT was a great day for Kilbrittain national schools as they recorded a splendid double in day four of the Allianz Sciath Na Scol finals at sunny Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday.