Hurling:
Cork midfielder Jerry O'Connor has rubbished the theory put forward by some commentators that his team, who lost to Tipperary in the Munster SHC, is over the hill.
'I don't believe that at all. We have some players 28, 29 alright, but John Gardiner, Ronan Curran, Tom Kenny, Brian Murphy, all 25 or 26. How can anyone realistically say that we’re over the hill?'
The Newtownshandrum clubman also said that the criticism the Rebels received in the wake of Sunday's defeat will act as motivation for the rest of the season.
'Any time you're criticised, no matter how small it is, can be a spur. I was walking off the field last Sunday, and a Tipp' fan roared at me was "you better go on strike again". And just left then. Horrible comments like that will be kept in the back of the head for future reference and by God, if we get another chance, hopefully we'll make people like that suffer.' (Various)
Waterford forward Dan Shanahan has denied that he deliberately sidestepped former Déise manager Justin McCarthy when he was substituted during the defeat by Clare.
The Lismore man has come in for a lot of criticism for the incident, but last year's Hurler of the Year insisted that any avoidance was inadvertent.
'Sure every player hates being taken off. And I'm no different. But the pictures in the papers made me look, actually, bad. But there was no intention there or anything like that.
People took it up the wrong way, but there's nothing I can do about that except get out on the field and do my best again. But I didn't deliberately do that, to any man.' (Various)
Dublin attacker Kevin Flynn has said the pain of last year's loss to Wexford is still with the Metropolitans ahead of Saturday's provincial semi-final with the Slaneysiders.
A controversial last-gasp pointed free by Barry Lambert was all that separated the two sides when they met at the same stages in 2007.
'Last year against Wexford will linger in the minds a small bit – it 
was devastating to lose in such a fashion,' said veteran forward Flynn.
'It was a dubious free and it could have gone either way. I suppose looking at the match afterwards, they should have beaten us out the gates, they had a lot of wides and were fairly poor.
'But we hung in there and didn't panic. We got the scores to square things up and we were unlucky to lose out.' (The Star)
Offaly's Ger Oakley is convinced the Faithful County can prevent Kilkenny recording an eighth successive Championship victory against them on Sunday.
Oakley and Co put up some resistance in last year's clash between the sides, but the Cats still eventually ran out 14-point winners.
'We should take something from that and it was an honest team effort,' the Carrig & Riverstown man said.
'They (Kilkenny) can be beaten but you need so much to go right. It will require a huge team effort – a massive performance and luck. (The Star/The Sun)
But Offaly selector Pat Moloughney reckons the opportunity to land three All-Ireland titles in a row will make Kilkenny all the more dangerous.
'Kilkenny realise they have the chance to create a piece of history,' Moloughney said.
'They'll be really intent on making up for the fact that Cork deprived them of the three in a row in 2004.' (The Sun)
Football:
Cavan will be without the services of Paul Brady when they face Armagh on Sunday as the Mullahoran man will be away defending his US National Handball title.
Brady's absence for the Ulster SFC quarter-final was flagged by the player when he accepted the offer to return to the Breffni men's panel.
'It’s a pity. It's probably the toughest thing I've had to do, training away with the lads knowing I would be missing it,' he said.
At least the defender is in handball for the love of the game, and not just for the money.
The winner at the US Nationals will receive €3,200, but if Brady wins he has to hand the money over to Croke Park because of his amateur status before claiming back VAT and expenses. (The Star/Irish Examiner)
Kildare's rookie manager Kieran McGeeney has said he has no intention of stepping down as the Lilywhites' boss.
The Armagh All-Ireland winning captain of 2002 has endured a poor start to his managerial career.
His side were relegated from NFL Division 1 before an insipid performance against Wicklow at Croke Park saw them dumped out of the Leinster Championship.
But these setbacks have not diminished McGeeney's desire to become a success with the county.
Asked in an interview with the Kildare Nationalist if he was going to quit, he said: 'No. Why? I played ten years with Armagh before I won anything, so why would I quit?
'I'm not saying it's going to take me that long with Kildare but if I'm given a job I'll stick it out. I was given a job for three years and I'll not be walking.' (Various)
Down manager Ross Carr has hit out at GAA officials, who he 
claims are bowing to the opinions of TV pundits when it comes to disciplinary matters.
Carr was referring the Martin Cole, who faces a four-week ban after an incident in last Sunday's draw with Tyrone was caught on camera.
The Mourne supremo has suggested that the full-back now finds himself 'on trial by TV'.
'I can guarantee you this, if it was a league game Martin wouldn't be facing a suspension now. Where is the consistency there?' he asked.
'Would he be going to a hearing tonight if there wasn't such scrutiny of the incident on TV on Sunday night? I feel TV pundits are setting an agenda that the GAA’s disciplinary body feel they have to follow.' (Irish Independent)
Mayo's Conor Mortimer has said he is confident he will overcome a thigh injury in time to face Sligo in the Connacht SFC semi-final on Sunday week.
'It's coming along slowly but surely,' the former All Star said. 'It's a quad muscle problem I've had for the last while but it should be alright in a few days.' (The Star/The Sun)
The mass exodus of Longford players to the US predicted by manager Luke Dempsey has failed to materialise.
Only one player (Paul Kelly) has opted to go travelling and Dempsey has praised star forward Brian Kavanagh for setting an example for the rest of the panel.
As a teacher, Kavanagh has a job that would allow him time to travel, but he declared shortly after the defeat by Westmeath that he was committing himself to Longford’s cause for the summer.
'It was great that Brian came out so strongly in public of his intention to remain at home and play in the qualifiers,' said Dempsey.
'And Brian's comments could well have influenced a number of players to think twice about going the other way.' (Irish Examiner)
Limerick midfielder John Galvin believes the Treatymen can reclaim their position as one of the top sides in the country.
The Treatymen came close to Munster glory in both 2003 and 2004, hammering Cork by the points in the Championship five years ago.
Galvin recalled: 'In 2003 we were written off. It was a game we were up for and we went out there to prove a point.'
However, he also acknowledges that they need to earn promotion from NFL Division 3 if they are to start making significant progress.
'We never got to an All-Ireland quarter-final when we were good enough to be there, but back then we were playing Division 1 football. You need to be there to improve.' (The Sun)
