What the papers say

The camogie final got good coverage in the papers of the finalists, the Kilkenny People (right) and Tipperary Star giving it full colour treatment, while the Nenagh Guardian also pitched in with a comprehensive countdown.

If there was one quibble it has to be the continuous references to "girls" and "cailini" that peppered the pieces. Any female swinging a hurley in an All-Ireland senior final has more than earned the right to be referred to as a woman. The fractious nature of Tuesday night's Munster under-21 hurling final was evident in the coverage from both Tipperary and Clare newspapers, who must have gone to bed late to meet their Wednesday lunchtime print deadlines. The Clare Champion had a front page news story on the after-match fracas involving substitutes and mentors, the thrust of the story being that the Garda would not be pursuing their investigation of the incident any further. Seamus Hayes's piece also highlighted Clare concerns for the eye injury to corner forward Brian McMahon, inflicted by Tom Costello who was booked for what he later described as "a complete accident".

The Guardian's coverage understandably focussed on Tipperary's victory, and its references to the "unsavoury" scenes were buried in James Hayden's match report. However, Hayden's comments about tensions between rival supporters said much about the depth of enmity that has grown between Clare and Tipperary in recent years.

"Following the game many Tipperary supporters spoke of their ordeal in the stands and terraces," wrote Hayden, "and many vowed never to return to Ennis because of the tirade of abuse they were subjected to by certain elements of Clare followers. Indeed the comment was made that Clare had become a team who were neither gracious in defeat nor victory." Strong stuff.