Cyril Farrell: People say Galway can't handle favourites' tag - I don't buy that at all 

Cyril FarrellThis is it for Galway. It's 'stand up and be counted' time. The days of team-building and looking to the future are over.

Muscle can get Tribesmen over the line 

In recent days, I took the chance to watch the last three games of major significance between Galway and Tipperary. There were some interesting nuggets to emerge from the 2015 and 2016 All-Ireland semi-finals, and the League final earlier this year.

Waterford must take de Búrca case to DRA 

Waterford need to exhaust the appeals process now - and go to the DRA with the Tadhg de Búrca case.

Tribesmen on a high but Tipp can keep two-in-a-row ambitions alive 

Fifteen weeks ago Tipperary went into the Allianz hurling League final at 4/7 to beat Galway (7/4). Tomorrow, Galway start as slight favourites (10/11) to beat the All-Ireland champions (11/10).

Vincent Hogan: 'Losing the captaincy knocked my confidence… just the way it was done' 

What if the wrong team just keeps winning? What if the evening cheers rolling up out of Croke Park tomorrow come from Tipperary lungs and Joe Canning soon slips into his 30th year, the light still on amber for his All-Ireland hopes? What if this story simply isn't...

Tribesmen have yet to get out of third gear - Power 

"They had our heads under the water," Kilkenny hero Richie Power says, recalling the 2012 and 2015 All-Ireland finals with Galway.

Waterford star Tadhg de Búrca's appeal to the CAC fails and must now turn to the DRA 

Waterford's influential sweeper Tadhg de Búrca battle to get a his one-match ban rescinded has suffered another setback.

Galway take giant strides forward in a game of inches 

For years Brian Cody's Kilkenny not only turned out the best hurling teams but also the biggest. At least that was the impression.

'This is where big stuff starts' - Hayes 

Galway hurlers are facing a defining month in their careers where securing the Liam MacCarthy Cup is an absolute imperative, according to former All-Ireland double-winning captain, Conor Hayes.

Row rumbles on over Offaly blueprint 

A high-powered Offaly hurling committee, which resigned en bloc after claiming they were not getting the necessary support from the County Board, is to be asked to return.

Leinster leads opposition to hurling's new grand plans 

Opposition is mounting against proposals which would see a dramatic overhaul of the All-Ireland hurling championships from next year.

Kehoe intervention hailed as De Búrca set for crunch CAC date 

Waterford star Tadhg de Búrca is set to take his case to the GAA's Central Appeals Committee (CAC) this evening - as he bids to be allowed play an All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final clash with Cork on Sunday week.

Maher: Our hurling will finish the job if we match Galway work-rate 

Almost 23 minutes into last year's All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, Pádraic Maher delivered one of the moments of Tipperary's hurling summer.

After a challenging couple of months Ryan is confident Tipp are on upward curve 

"If you were to be a slave to all forms of media - social media, print, radio, whatever - the tail will be wagging the dog."

Kingston: Cork have full hand for Déise 

Cork hurling manager Kieran Kingston expects to have a full squad to choose from for Sunday week's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford in Croke Park.

Tadhg de Burca likely to miss All-Ireland semi after CHC upholds ban but will appeal 

It looks increasingly likely that influential Waterford sweeper Tadhg de Burca will miss their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Cork on August 13.

Sweeper might go if Waterford lose another semi-final - Browne 

Waterford legend Tony Browne believes Derek McGrath might have to move away from the sweeper system if it doesn't bring his native county to an All-Ireland final this year.

Tribesmen out in front in race for All-Ireland, insists Deane 

Former Cork hero Joe Deane believes Galway are in the box-seat as the race for Liam MacCarthy enters the home straight.

Galway's acid test has arrived 

Next Sunday's semi-final against Tipperary is the acid test of Galway's All-Ireland ambitions.

Hurling's hard-boiled beliefs poached straight from Lilliput and Blefuscu 

In hurling's perennially parochial squabbles, you're never too far from a row over the boiled egg. You say the big end, I say the little end, and suddenly there's dust rising in the small parallelogram. Not to mention the large parallelogram too.

And then there were four . . . 

Twenty years ago, the nightmare scenario of defeating Tipperary in the Munster final, but having that win completely devalued by losing to them in the All-Ireland final loomed large for us in the Clare dressing room.

The Fab Four of hurling 

Managers lose games but players win them, is a popular theory doing the rounds at the moment.

'Super 10' idea is elitist and not in hurling's best interest 

I was surprised to read yesterday that among the proposals for a revamp of the hurling championship is one which wouldn't allow counties just outside the top 10to compete in the Liam MacCarthy Cup tier.

Barrett exclusion shows Ryan is very much his own man 

It's strange to be looking forward to semi-finals without Kilkenny. Usually at this point in the season we would be weighing up the other three semi-finalists and their prospects of unseating Kilkenny, so there's definitely a different feel this year.

New tier proposed for hurling championship 

​A proposal from the GAA's Central Competitions Controls Committee (CCCC) to create a fifth hurling championship tier and reduce the Liam MacCarthy Cup to just 10 counties has been circulated for consideration.

No return for Barrett, insists Ryan 

Tipperary senior hurling manager Michael Ryan has officially ruled out a return for exiled All-Star corner-back Cathal Barrett before the end of the 2017 championship season.

Treaty end Rebels' clean-sweep hopes 

Pat Donnelly's Limerick denied Cork a clean sweep of Munster hurling titles last night.

O'Reilly's late double puts the seal on Derry triumph 

A late two-goal salvo sealed a first Ulster U-21 hurling title for Derry since 2008. Corey O'Reilly's brace settled it for the Oak Leafers as Collie McGurk's revolution of Derry hurling gathers pace.

Collins legacy ensures Cork's bid for U-21 title is in safe hands 

Goalkeeping runs deep in the Collins family in Ballinhassig, Co. Cork. This evening, Cork take on Limerick in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U-21 hurling final at the Gaelic Grounds (7.30pm), with their goalkeeper Patrick Collins playing his fifth straight campaign at...

If I was just sitting at home I'd be miserable - Davy 

Over the course of the next few weeks, Davy Fitzgerald will make some key decisions on his future.

Limerick cement their place as All-Ireland favourites with Munster final win over Cork 

PAT Donnelly’s Limerick denied Cork a clean sweep of Munster hurling titles tonight.

Sliotar scandal didn't bother me, insists Cork stopper Nash 

Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash insists the incident that saw his sliotars taken away during the Munster final didn't affect him.

Faceguard rule can be too stringently applied - Moran 

Waterford's Kevin Moran believes the rule that sees players handed a straight red card for interfering with the headgear of an opponent can be applied too stringently at times.

Limerick can prevail 

Bórd Gais Energy Munster

No mercy for De Búrca but other fouls go unpunished 

Acting on the advice of a linesman, referee Fergal Horgan waved red at Tadhg de Búrca late in last Sunday's Waterford-Wexford game.

Martin Breheny: Skill and craft is a sure way to get around the best systems 

Why did Tipperary beat Clare last Saturday? The scoreline is a clue: 0-28 to 3-16. It's a helpful indicator, too, when examining the second quarter-final on Sunday: Waterford 1-23 to Wexford 1-19.

Fitzgerald only speaking to Wexford about his plans for next season 

Davy Fitzgerald insists Wexford are the only side he'll be talking to about his future over the next few weeks.

Tipp to resist Barrett recall 

Cathal Barrett will not be recalled into the Tipperary hurling panel ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Galway, according to reports from the Premier County.

Davy: 'We don't lack ambition' 

Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald has launched another impassioned defence of the sweeper system in hurling, hitting out at any suggestions that it represents a lack of ambition.

Waterford 'keeping options open' as they prepare for De Búrca sanction 

Waterford will have to provide more conclusive video evidence if Tadhg De Búrca is to play in an All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Cork in just under three weeks' time.

Lack of sweepers makes U-21 a joy to play for Treaty sharpshooter 

As a dangerous corner-forward, it's no wonder Limerick's Peter Casey enjoys being afforded space close to goal, which is why he holds the U-21 grade dear.

To sweep or not to sweep - hurling riddle yet to be resolved 

It was an hour and 10 minutes after the final whistle had put them out of their misery before the latch of the Waterford dressing room in Nowlan Park was pushed down and players began to file out, heads bowed.

THE THROW-IN PODCAST: Brendan Cummins & David Brady on Davy Fitz's pundit rant 

Brendan Cummins joins Will Slattery, Colm Keys, Rory O'Connor and David Brady for this week's Throw-In as they discuss Davy Fitz's tirade against the punditry of Michael Duignan and Henry Shefflin, the sweeper in hurling, the likely hurling finalists and ask if...

REVEALED - Two epic clashes in store as draw is made for All-Ireland hurling semi-finals 

Favourites Galway will face Tipperary in the last four, while Munster champions Cork have been pitted against Waterford in this morning's All-Ireland hurling semi-final draw.

'If he was on Twitter he'd double Donald Trump's followers' - Brendan Cummins on Davy's post-... 

David Brady and Brendan Cummins have taken differing views on Davy Fitzgerald's post-match criticism of hurling pundits following Wexford's All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Waterford yesterday.

'I'd encourage him to grow up' - Michael Duignan fires back at Davy Fitzgerald criticism 

Offaly legend Michael Duignan has strongly hit back at Davy Fitzgerald's criticism of his punditry, telling the Wexford manager to 'grow up'.

'I don't know what is going to happen' - Davy Fitzgerald casts doubt on his Wexford future 

Wexford boss Davy Fitzgerald has hinted that he may consider leaving his role with the Model county over the huge demands it is having on his time.

Cuala boss Kenny leads race for Dublin hurling job after Cunningham walks away 

Mattie Kenny has been installed as favourite to become the new Dublin hurling manager after Ger Cunningham announced on Saturday that he is stepping down from the role.

Cyril Farrell: I don't buy the view that you can't win an All-Ireland playing with a sweeper 

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, so I have huge admiration for Derek McGrath sticking to his guns with the sweeper system despite all the outside noise.

Relieved Ryan looks to the future while Clare live with big regrets 

Defensive frailties may have figured high on the discussion list for Tipperary supporters as they left Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening, but if it was bothering Michael Ryan he was keeping it to himself.