The Waterford hurlers face a difficult task trying to lift themselves for next Sunday's All-Ireland quarterfinal against Galway in Thurles. Prior to the seven-goal defeat to Tipperary in the Munster hurling final, there was speculation that Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald might be about to quit, move back to his native Clare and take over from the departing Ger "Sparrow" O'Loughlin. Naturally the speculation grew after the embarrassing defeat to Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Fitzgerald is a good motivator, but I doubt if he has the motivational skills to get the Deise to beat Galway. The Tribesmen, with Joe Canning back in top form, have bounced back from their defeat to Dublin in the Leinster semifinal. Since then they have beaten both Clare and Cork in the qualifiers and if they maintain their current good run should be too strong for Waterford, who ended Galway's participation in the All-Ireland series at this stage in Thurles two years ago.
Meanwhile Dublin has a great chance of reaching an All-Ireland semifinal for the first time since 1948 when they meet Limerick in the first game of the double header at Semple Stadium on Sunday. (They did make it to the 1952 and 1961 finals, years when there weren't semifinals.)
The Dubs should be back to near full strength after their heavy defeat to Kilkenny in the Leinster final. Limerick are doing very well under Cork-born manager Donal O'Grady, who certainly seems to have united the camp after a disastrous few years under Justin McCarthy. Limerick have two bright young stars in Kevin Downes and Declan Hannon and they have had morale-boosting wins over Wexford and Antrim since going out of the Munster championship to Waterford. This is a hard one to call, but I think at this stage Dublin have the confidence to win the big games and they should end that 63-year gap on Sunday and get to an All-Ireland semifinal.
MCILROY SPLITS WITH GIRLFRIEND, AGAIN
Rory McIlroy played last week's British Open Championship having broken up with girlfriend Holly Sweeney, the Irish Times has reported.
The U.S. Open champion's management company issued a statement tonight saying: "Rory McIlroy's long-time relationship with Holly Sweeney came to an amicable end before the Open Championship."
The pair had a period apart earlier in the year, but 20-year-old student Sweeney, a cheerleader for the Ulster rugby team, was at Augusta to greet him after his hopes of winning the U.S. Masters were crushed by a closing 80.
She did not attend last month's U.S. Open, where he claimed his first major title by an incredible eight shots and with a record score, but wrote on Twitter: "My fabulous boyfriend has played flawlessly all week!"
"Drink up Northern Ireland, he's done us proud! Champagne flowing .?.?. Sooo happy for the curly one! 1st major down, millions to go!"
Their earlier break-up was reported to have shocked family and friends at the time. And just on Sunday night, they appeared together in a BBC documentary.
LOSING BOSSES QUIT
Normally at this time of year we have intercounty managers quitting as their championship season comes to an end. This year is no exception and already four hurling managers have quit. Shane Dooley was first to go in Offaly, he was followed by Cormac Bonner in Wexford, Ger O'Loughlin in Clare and Brendan Fennelly in Laois. No resignations in football so far, but Val Andrews will have sole control of Cavan next year. Andrews and Terry Hyland were joint Cavan managers this year, but it has been confirmed that Hyland will only be a selector next year, while also managing the under 21 team.
SUNDERLAND STILL HOME FOR IRISH
Even though the Drumaville Irish consortium no longer own Sunderland the Irish connection continues at the Stadium of Light. Former Irish international Niall Quinn is still chairman and the new CEO of the club is 31 year old Margaret "Mags" Byrne from Dromintee in South Armagh. When Roy Keane was manager of Sunderland there were several Irish players at the club, but they all moved on after Keane left the club. However, last week John O'Shea joined from Manchester United and Darron Gibson could also be on his way to Sunderland.
WALSH WILL MISS GALWAY RACES
Jockey Ruby Walsh will miss the big Galway Festival at the end of this month after suffering a crushed vertebrae at Killarney last week. Walsh, who missed a huge chunk of last season after breaking his leg at Down Royal, picked up the most recent injury when his mount fell at the first hurdle at the Kerry track. Ruby walked back to the weigh room, but after having the injury checked at Cork University Hospital, it was discovered that he damaged his vertebrae. Walsh is expected to be out of action until the big Listowel festival in September.
O'GARA SAY INJURY IS MINOR
Irish rugby outhalf Ronan O'Gara is confident that he will be fully fit in time for the Rugby World Cup after tearing a calf muscle in pre-season training at Carton House, Maynooth. O'Gara, who is expected to share the out-half and place kicking duties with Jonny Sexton at the tournament, said: ''I just pushed my body so hard I the first week that I got a bit of twinge. It was a one or a one point five tear, with three being the worst kind of tear. So it was very minor but I'm now a bit behind the other lads in training, but I'm hoping to catch up in the coming weeks.''
Meanwhile the Irish Rugby League team is hoping to stage their 2013 World Cup group game against Australia at Thomond Park. The revamped Limerick venue will stage its first Rugby League fixtures on Nov. 4 when Ireland play France.
ITALIAN TO SWITCH TO OLYMPIC STADIUM
The Italian Rugby Federation has confirmed that they will play their home games in the RBS Six Nations Championship at Rome's Olympic Stadium next year. For the past 11 years Italy has played their home games at the smaller Stadio Flaminio, also in Rome.
