Offaly legend Johnny Pilkington believes the time is now for his county to return to winning ways and announce their return to the big leagues by clinching the All-Ireland minor hurling Championship tomorrow afternoon against Tipperary.

Cian Lynch is back in the Limerick squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Limerick’s win over Waterford in the second round of the Munster Championship, 10 weeks ago.

The final whistle had barely blown on July 26, 2009 in Thurles when our attention immediately turned to the monstrous task ahead – stopping the Kilkenny juggernaut which was laying waste to all of the hurling world.

Galway captain Seán Kelly has been cleared to play against Derry in next week’s All-Ireland semi-final after having his red card overturned at a hearing last night.

When Galway played Tipperary in the 2020 All-Ireland quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, David Burke’s afternoon lasted just over 35 minutes. At half-time he was withdrawn, Jason Flynn pressed into action instead.

Earlier this year, Wexford great Billy Byrne assessed the hurling landscape and issued a warning when it came to Kilkenny: “The deeper they go into the championship the more dangerous they will be.”

ALL-IRELAND SHC SEMI-FINAL Limerick v Galway, Croke Park, Sunday 3.30, T Walsh (Waterford), RTÉ2 and Sky Sports Arena

Right now, as that forgettable Leinster hurling final recedes from view and their All-Ireland semi-final against Clare takes centre stage, everyone waits and wonders about Kilkenny’s place in the pecking order.

After Christy Ring fired a late winning point against Tipperary in a National League game a zillion moons ago, Mick ‘Rattler’ Byrne is reputed to have barked, “By God Christy, we’ll have to shoot you!”

You often have to deal with the darkness before experiencing the light and while he departed the county scene with Limerick at the pinnacle after two All-Ireland SHC successes in three years, Tom Condon was also there when they hit rock bottom.

It’s only eight years since Clare legend Ger Loughnane famously claimed that the Offaly senior hurlers were “the only team in the modern era where you still see players with fat legs, bellies and a***s”.

Con Houlihan’s column on the back page of the Evening Press on the Monday after All-Ireland finals was essential reading for players from the Kerry women’s Gaelic football team.

GALWAY captain Seán Kelly has been cleared to play in next week’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Derry.

CIAN Lynch is back in the Limerick squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Limerick’s win over Waterford in the second round of the Munster Championship, 10 weeks ago.

GEARÓID McInerney has been named in the Galway team to face Limerick in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.

Offaly legend Johnny Pilkington believes the time is now for his county to return to winning ways and announce their return to the big leagues by clinching the All-Ireland minor hurling Championship tomorrow afternoon against Tipperary.

Cian Lynch is back in the Limerick squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Limerick’s win over Waterford in the second round of the Munster Championship, 10 weeks ago.

The final whistle had barely blown on July 26, 2009 in Thurles when our attention immediately turned to the monstrous task ahead – stopping the Kilkenny juggernaut which was laying waste to all of the hurling world.

Galway captain Seán Kelly has been cleared to play against Derry in next week’s All-Ireland semi-final after having his red card overturned at a hearing last night.

When Galway played Tipperary in the 2020 All-Ireland quarter-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, David Burke’s afternoon lasted just over 35 minutes. At half-time he was withdrawn, Jason Flynn pressed into action instead.

Earlier this year, Wexford great Billy Byrne assessed the hurling landscape and issued a warning when it came to Kilkenny: “The deeper they go into the championship the more dangerous they will be.”

ALL-IRELAND SHC SEMI-FINAL Limerick v Galway, Croke Park, Sunday 3.30, T Walsh (Waterford), RTÉ2 and Sky Sports Arena

Right now, as that forgettable Leinster hurling final recedes from view and their All-Ireland semi-final against Clare takes centre stage, everyone waits and wonders about Kilkenny’s place in the pecking order.

After Christy Ring fired a late winning point against Tipperary in a National League game a zillion moons ago, Mick ‘Rattler’ Byrne is reputed to have barked, “By God Christy, we’ll have to shoot you!”

You often have to deal with the darkness before experiencing the light and while he departed the county scene with Limerick at the pinnacle after two All-Ireland SHC successes in three years, Tom Condon was also there when they hit rock bottom.

It’s only eight years since Clare legend Ger Loughnane famously claimed that the Offaly senior hurlers were “the only team in the modern era where you still see players with fat legs, bellies and a***s”.

Con Houlihan’s column on the back page of the Evening Press on the Monday after All-Ireland finals was essential reading for players from the Kerry women’s Gaelic football team.

GALWAY captain Seán Kelly has been cleared to play in next week’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Derry.

CIAN Lynch is back in the Limerick squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Limerick’s win over Waterford in the second round of the Munster Championship, 10 weeks ago.

GEARÓID McInerney has been named in the Galway team to face Limerick in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.