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Winners take it all but 3 from Cork and 8 from Clare seems a bit skewed.

Shane O'Neill must have been very close possibly just ahead of Kelly from Dublin who I'm a big fan off, splitting hairs in all fairness.

Paul Murphy of Kilkenny was every bit as good as Richie McCarthy, but Limerick being a semi-finalist needed an all-star fitted in somewhere.

There's as much politics in this crap as there is ability.

Agree about Paul Murphy - as good a corner back as there is.

Shane O'Neill was taken apart in the replayed final. I would have had Brian Murphy ahead of him although he was out for a few games

Fantastic victory for the Banner and a great game to watch. McGrath's goal to win it was worthy of the occasion. What an occasion to remember for Shane O'Donnell
SG team of the year:
Nash - Cork
O'Neill - Cork
Kelly - Dublin
McInerney - Clare
Bugler - Clare
Rushe - Dublin
Donnellan - Clare
Browne - Limerick
Galvin - Clare
Harnedy - Cork
Kelly - Clare
Sutcliffe - Dublin
Collins - Clare
Horgan - Cork
McGrath - Clare

Hurler of the Year - Tony Kelly

Great game and great excitement. Clare were the better team and for most of the match Cork didn't seem sure how to deal with them. Clare's swarm tackling didn't give Cork an inch. Conor Ryan looked as if he could win any ball sent down on top of him. He had a great game. Score of the match for me was Podge Collins' point in the second half. Even though Clare played well they can still improve. Tony Kelly got 3 points but wasn't very conspicuous. John Conlon was quite enough as was Darach Honan. Cian Dillon looked under pressure and Patrick Kelly was poor for Lehane's goal. His arse stopped Nash's first effort. Nash's lift turns a 21 into a 14m free.  Cork are hard beat however. Hats off to Conor Lehane. I thought he was not having a great year but he did well yesterday. Horgan and Harnedy were very good and Joyce came into at the end of the game. Did Clare leave it behind them?

Congratulations to Waterford on a great win. They have some serious hurlers.

Very disappointed as I thought this was a chance to win and reach a final. Felt we were getting on top before the sending off. But hats off to Cork. Scoring points was that bit easier for them. At times Dublin players crowded under a dropping ball and loose Cork players got the half yard that was all they needed. Congratulations to Cork and to their gentleman of a manager.

On a separate point, this 'advantage' that referees play is a real pain. From what I can see, all it seems to do is to give a tackler a second opportunity to dispossess a player.

Perhaps the analysts were focusing more on the reason why Sutcliffe was on the ground and why Burke was sent of for putting him there.

From the Irish Times - an illustration of the man


Sir, – My sense of elation on Saturday night in O'Moore Park, as the Dublin hurlers defeated Kilkenny in the Leinster championship, is difficult to put into words. Beside me was my father who was six years of age the last time Dublin achieved such a feat. Gaels up and down the country will appreciate that the feeling of sheer wonder at such a powerful Dublin performance stems not from the fact that we won a Leinster semi-final but that we out-played and out-fought what is almost certainly the greatest team in the history of the game.

However, as I walked around the hallowed turf after the match, mingling with supporters from both sides exhibiting shock and disbelief for very different reasons, I was taken aback by a sight that will linger in my memory as long as the Dublin victory.

There, in the middle of the field, some 10 minutes after the final whistle, stood Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny – still glistening with sweat in the warm evening sun, his jersey marked with splashes of blood; possibly his own, possibly not. He was surrounded by children decked both in sky blue and black and amber. He signed every single jersey and match programme. He posed for every single photograph. This man is not accustomed to the bitter of taste of defeat. This living legend who has garnered a record nine all-star awards in a row and won six all-Ireland titles and will surely see more of both, has never before been humbled at such an early stage of the championship. And yet, there he stood, as I watched in awe for a further 10 minutes, putting his arm around every youngster that was ushered before him by an eager parent and patiently waiting as yet another camera phone was pointed at him by an outstretched arm.

What can I say? For anyone who wonders what is special and unique about the GAA, who wonders what makes it the finest organisation in this country with nothing even remotely like it in the rest of the world, who occasionally, like myself, unthinkingly takes for granted its place at the heart of communities up and down the island, I give you Tommy Walsh – the embodiment of the spirit of the GAA and, for that matter, what might just be great about the people of this country. – Yours, etc,

PADDY MONAHAN,

Clancarthy Road,

Donnycarney, Dublin 5

From today's Irish Times

Punter dials 999 to complain about prostitute's looks
Caller wished to report woman for breaching Sale of Goods Act

A man has been warned by police in Britain after he dialled 999 to complain about a prostitute's looks after meeting her outside a hotel.
West Midlands Police said they were contacted by the caller who said he "wished to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act".
An officer in the call centre at Solihull, Birmingham, responded by telling the man the woman had not committed any offences and explained to him that soliciting for sex was illegal.
The force has now sent the man a letter warning him about wasting police time. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "A 999 call was received by police at around 7:30pm on Tuesday evening from a man wishing to complain about a sex worker he had met on a hotel car park.
"The caller claimed that the woman had made out she was better looking than she actually was and he wished to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act.
"When he raised this issue with the woman concerned, she allegedly took his car keys, ran away from the car and threw them back at him, prompting him to call police.
"An officer in the Solihull contact centre advised the caller that no offences had been committed by the woman and that soliciting for sex was in fact illegal." He added: "Despite the man refusing to give his details, police have been able to identify him and have sent him a letter warning him about his actions.
"Wasting police time is a serious offence and carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment."
The Sale of Goods Act 1979 gives consumers legal rights, stipulating goods which are sold must be of satisfactory quality, be fit for purpose and must match the sellers' description.

He only writes about the Galway hurlers if they lose a game. When they were winning last year he had nothing to say.
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As good a reason as any to hope that Galway do well this year!

Summer

Hitting the ball just right off a sideline cut

As a young lad, getting a new skill right for the first time and afterwards acting as if it was no big deal while inside you were chuffed to pieces

Its 59 years since Dublin footballers beat Tipp in league or championship!
Havent played them since 1971.
Havent played Waterford since 1972.

I think its 91 since we played Wicklow, which is a very long time considering we're in the same province.

We beat Tipp in the qualifiers 2 years ago

Rolling Stones  Gimme Shelter
Third World  96 Degrees in the Shade
Bob Marley  Fussing and Fighting
Nina Simone  See Line Woman
Jesus & Mary Chain  Catchfire

The 128 will also get you there and leaves from the same bus stop.

Tipp backs just couldn't handle the Cork forwards throughout. Lehane, O'Sullivan and Farrell found space and were very fast and accurate. In contrast, the Cork backs were much tighter and only for Michael Wadding, Cork would have won much more comfortably.

As Ross Matt says, he was a very good minor player and a great fielder. Terrible news and my condolences to his family and friends.