We’re often guilty of patronising the likes of Mickey Quinn and Eoin Cleary, asking what motivates them to keep going. It’s the same for any player

Concession of 3-12 against a Division Four side will be a concern for Royals boss Colm O’Rourke

Who ranks as the main All-Ireland contender heading into the first weekend of championship action?

While critics call for league finals to be scrapped, Laois, Longford, Wexford and Leitrim are pursuing a place in the Division Four decider. Each knows that winning it would give their county a lasting lift

Three months after being threatened with expulsion from the league by the GAA’s CCCC, Cavan hurlers knuckling down to their task in Division 3A

Wexford and Tipperary among the teams eyeing promotion and escape football’s basement division

Original proposal would have seen counties not play league hurling on grounds they did not have sufficient clubs

Statement signed by clubs, management and the captains of all Tier 1 hurling teams comes in wake of five county boards also opposing the move

Louth, Fermanagh, Longford and Cavan say they will vote against the proposal, while Leitrim hurling manager Olcan Conway labels it ‘a cost-cutting exercise’

Counties with too few clubs could be confined to the Lory Meagher Cup

The announcement of the O’Byrne Cup fixtures reveals Dublin will start football season away to Laois or Offaly

Louth champions Ardee to meet Kilmacud Crokes in the next round

Ballygunner and Sarsfields meet in Munster SHC quarter-final while Leinster SFC quarter-finals are down for decision

Limerick beat Longford at the Gaelic Grounds while last year’s finalists Cavan see off Laois

In a fixture memorable for several superb scores, good play and errors, the sides were level on five occasions

Tipperary are aiming to beat the the All-Ireland champions for the first time since 2018

Division Three round-up: Tipperary relegated and Longford also drop down to Division Four after loss to Down; Antrim and Fermanagh secure tight home wins against Cavan and Westmeath

The Monaghan-Tyrone game in a couple of weeks will be an interesting test of the changing climate

Sean Quigley leads the way with seven frees in Ederney

Westmeath already guaranteed of All-Ireland football later in the year after Tailteann Cup victory