The intercounty action may be over for another year but there is still plenty of activity going on around the country.
Waterford have ratified Michael Ryan as their new manager. It is hard to believe he is the first native to take hold of the managerial reigns since 1995.
He may not be as high a profile name as his predecessor Davy Fitzgerald, but his track record with teams in the past is quite good. His backroom team includes ex-Kilkenny minor and St Kieran’s manager Nicky Cashin.
Elsewhere, Limerick's new manager John Allen has wielded the axe – dropping several high profile names from last year’s panel. Two years ago Justin McCarthy dropped some big names, which led to a strike, but I don't see a repeat on the cards this time around.
Allen looks like giving plenty of this year’s winning Munster u-21 side a chance to stake a claim. Down in Cork, Jimmy Barry Murphy has taken a gamble by including Sean Óg Ó hAiplin in his squad. To be honest, I thought he would have stuck to a youth policy and built for the future.
Maybe JBM feels he is a good presence to have in the dressing room. It is hard to know if, at 34, will he be able to roll back the years.
There could well be two Ó hAilpins on the panel next year, as former star Setanta has been released by his Australian AFL club Carlton. If he decides to return home, I would imagine an invitation to link up with the squad would be on the cards.
The former young 'Hurler of the Year' hasn't hurled since 2004, but if he has retained his ability he could be a handful on the edge of the square. Before I finish on the inter-county scene, I would like to wish the Kilkenny players the best of luck when the All-Stars are announced on Friday night. You can read my All-Star selection at the bottom of the page.
‘At times, Ballyhale have looked unstoppable, but at other times they have looked ordinary’
Several Kilkenny players will pick up All-Stars this Friday night, but for some of them the most important honour this weekend would be lifting the Tom Walsh Cup in Nowlan Park on Sunday.
County final day has come around once again, and it is a repeat of the 2009 clash as Ballyhale Shamrocks and James Stephens do battle for honours. The form book would suggest that the Ballyhale men should win with a bit to spare, but as we have seen in the past, shocks have happened before on county final day.
The bookies have made the Shamrocks red-hot favourites; this in itself will bring unwanted pressure. At times this year the Ballyhale men have looked unstoppable, but then at other times – strangely enough – they have looked ordinary.
It is hard to know what happened them against O'Loughlins in the semi-final. They went from cruise mode to near meltdown in the space of 10 minutes. If they can produce high octane hurling for 60 minutes, they will lift the Tom Walsh Cup for the 14th time – but if they turn up in the same casual mood as they finished against O'Loughlins, well then you'd have to give the Village a chance.
James Stephens have absolutely nothing to lose next Sunday, and history has shown that they don't fear the Ballyhale men. They certainly didn't wipe them off the Park in 2009; a three-point victory was hard-earned on that occasion. Jackie Tyrrell and Eoin Larkin were inspiration in the semi-final victory over St Martin’s and they will relish the challenge again this Sunday. Those two will produce the goods again this Sunday, but if they are to have a chance their supporting cast will have to reach a new level.
It is almost impossible to look beyond the Ballyhale men, as the talent they have at their disposal is unbelievable. If their Big Guns cut loose, they could win with a bit to spare.
The curtain raiser next Sunday is a local derby between Thomastown and Bennettsbridge.
It has been a while since two country teams have battled it out for minor honours, and the fact that both are from junior clubs shows how much work is going on at grassroots level. Thomastown had a ding-dong battle with St Lachtain’s in the semi-final.
They went to being 14 points up to a couple down, as they entered the home straight. However, they rallied late to claim a two-point victory.
Bennettsbridge had four points to spare over Barrow Rangers in their semi-final. It has been the early eighties since either of these sides have landed the Roinn A title; Thomastown won the u-16 Roinn A title two years ago and they have already beaten the Bridge in this year’s league decider.
Who knows – revenge for that defeat might spur on the Bridge men. I hope we get a good contest: As regards who I think will win – I honestly haven't a clue.
‘Danesfort carried more punch upfront with Richie Hogan and Robbie Walsh’
I'm sure there have been great celebrations around Danesfort and Ballyragget this past week after landing the Intermediate and Junior titles last Sunday.
Two early goals did the trick for Danesfort. It wasn't the greatest game of hurling in the world, but that won't bother the Danesfort men.
After those two early goals from Richie Hogan and Robbie Walsh, it became a tactical affair as it seemed both managers were trying to tie down the opposition’s main scoring threat. However, on the day, Danesfort carried more punch upfront with Richie Hogan and Robbie Walsh leading the way.
The Rower-Inistioge men found Danesfort's defence – well marshalled by Paddy Hogan and Paul Murphy – very hard to break down. Paddy turned hero to villain in the 43rd minute when he got a straight red. It could have been a turning point, but it wasn't.
The remaining 14 players rolled up their sleeves and dug in to maintain their lead to the finish. Their deserved victory sees them back in the top ranks for the first time in eighty years.
The junior title went to St Patrick’s Ballyragget after they saw off Piltown.
The Ballyragget men were too slick for a very nervous-looking Piltown side. This game would have been over after 15 minutes only for three excellent saves by Piltown ‘keeper James Norris.
The northern side have some very classy hurlers and should have no problem holding their own at the next level. The one element they must improve on for next year is putting away teams while they are on top, as last Sunday, they left Piltown in the game when they should have been out of sight.
After doing his cruciate last year, it was fitting that Brian (Brooky ) Phelan threw over the last score. Believe me – after spending a bit of time in the gym in the Springhill Hotel last winter – I know the effort he put in to make it back. Who says dreams don't come true?
Charlie’s All-Star Selection
1. David Herity (Kilkenny )
2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny )
3. Paul Curran (Tipperary )
4. Peter Kelly (Dublin )
5. Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny )
6. Brian Hogan (Kilkenny )
7. Padraic Maher (Tipperary )
8. Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny )
9. Liam Rushe (Dublin )
10. John Mullane (Waterford )
11. Richie Power (Kilkenny )
12. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny )
13. Paul Ryan (Dublin )
14. Lar Corbett (Tipperary )
15. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny )
HOTY: Michael Fennelly
YHOTY: Liam Rushe
