All Ireland SHC Quarter-final The appendix which was removed. The extra-time which was subtracted. For a few minutes in Croke Park yesterday confusion broke out. There would be extra-time. No there wouldn't. Afterwards nobody was bitter. A business between friends, writes Tom Humphries

"There was not due to be extra-time today," said the GAA's Seán O'Leary. "The proposal was made at the outset when the competitions were approved. It was suggested there be extra-time in the quarter-finals. That got beaten down at central council.

"The word got through in the Clár an Lae that there was extra-time due to be played today. That was a mistake. We got the word to everyone today apart from the PA official. We apologise to all concerned."

Anthony Daly, the Clare manager, was inclined to laugh it off with good grace.

"I don't make the rules. I was gone down the tunnel, shook hands with Brian Cody, said see you next week. Next thing somebody says there's 10 minutes each way. Somebody would want to talk to somebody here, wouldn't they. We would have played it, the same way as we would have played the next day.

"We didn't do any hurling on the 16th of May so maybe our season is starting later than a few other teams. We felt our legs were okay, but Kilkenny would have been back to 15. There were pros and cons."

And for Brian Cody? Was there a little confusion at the end? "There was a good bit of confusion at the end alright! There was an announcement made that there'd be extra-time. The announcement is usually correct so we assumed there was.

"We were trying to get ready for it and word kept coming through that there wasn't to be extra-time. Look it's fine. It's over. We have to go playing next Saturday. That's grand."

Nobody died.