For Waterford, every bullet has to be made count

Is it too obvious to say the challengers will hold out for 60 minutes at Croke Park today, after which the dam bursts? Either way, expect the defence of the feline realm to endure for another month.

A year or two ago one of Britain’s spy chiefs ended up in hot water after being photographed on his way into a Downing Street spy-chief conclave carrying a clear plastic bag with notes for the meeting visible facing out.

“Send more agents to Moscow. Organise honeytrap for Silvio (shouldn’t be hard). Buy bread and milk on way home.” That kind of thing.