After a long summer of enthralling encounters and some controversial decisions we’ve finally reached the climax of an interesting hurling year. Thankfully we are where we set out to be at the beginning of the year and that’s preparing for the biggest game of our careers. Everyone dreams of being in Croke Park on the first Sunday in September when they go back training in December/January and now it has all been worth it.

As I predicted Tipp and Galway advance through to the final of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Final. Which in some ways disappointed me – it would have been great to see Antrim reach a first ever U-21 Final and for Dublin, likewise it would have been good to see them take another progressive step. But I was glad to see they didn’t take that step against Galway

Well…here we are in the middle of August already and unbelievably heading into the last of the Hurling Semi Finals. I don’t know about you but I find time is going way too fast for me. Could someone put the brakes on please and give us all a chance to draw breath? Mentioning speed and drawing breath…what did you think of Kilkenny?

It’s hard to take. Sometimes sport is cruel and to have lost again by a point for the second year running, it is depressing. Personally, I had one of the worst games ever. I know that things did not go well for me at all. I let Galway down. I just hope I will get a chance to redeem myself again

“Would you mind being a guest blogger” they said. No problem I said. But now the problem begins! What to say? I don’t do this week in week out like Joe does! “Just talk about your own experiences with Cork U-21s and what you think of this year’s championship” they suggested. Right so…

It’s not easy to make the transition from Minor success to U-21 success but that’s what the Dublin U-21 hurling team did last week when they won the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-21 Hurling title.

I must say I have been hugely impressed with Dublin this year. First of all…

When a weekend of GAA action makes more headlines than the World Cup Final, you know something is up! But that’s exactly what happened when Louth were robbed. And not by the referee in my opinion, but by the umpire. Why he didn’t tell the ref that Joe Sheridan threw the ball over the line I will just never know.

What a week of Leinster hurling it has been – both on a personal level and of course with regard to the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship!

It is hard not to start with the Dubs. That was some performance by their 21s against Kilkenny last Wednesday evening in Nowlan Park. Personally I didn’t see that one coming at all!

As I eagerly await the arrival of my own Clare into this years’ Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship, it hasn’t taken long for a number of teams to put their hands up as leading contenders.

Cork looked impressive despite keeping Cork senior footballer Aidan Walsh in reserve in their opening Championship encounter against Waterford.

The medical experts say stress is bad for you so allow me to get something off my chest! Who in their right mind wanted to get rid of the Under 21 Championship?

I understand fully the need to condense the Championship season to allow the club….which is the epicentre of the GAA world…to flourish but really, as John Mc Enroe used to say….you can’t be serious?