September Road: Since the turn of the century, Cork have won five senior hurling championship titles (three Munster crowns and two All-Irelands). And, of course, the summer isn't over for the Rebels - they are still in with a chance of claiming a sixth title since the start of the 2001 season.

During the same period, however, Limerick have nothing to show for their efforts on the field. And yet games between the teams hardly reflect that discrepancy in trophies. Including Saturday's heartbreaking clash for the Treaty men, the sides have met four times this century and, despite the repeated David-Goliath billing, there has never been more than a single score between the teams - the losing team finishing with a respectable total of 18 points each time.

It may be little comfort to Limerick supporters today, but it still shows the great potential waiting to be realised. . .

2006 Cork 0-19 Limerick 0-18 ... (one-point loss)

2004 Cork 1-18 Limerick 2-12 ... (three-point loss)

2002 Cork 1-16 Limerick 1-15 ... (one-point loss)

2001 Limerick 1-16 Cork 1-15 ... (one-point win)

Quote of the Weekend: "Everyone got their money's worth except the boys in front of me who got in for nothing and got paid for it. Good luck!" - Kilkenny manager Brian Cody puts nit-picking reporters in their place after his team had beaten Galway on Saturday.

Next Weekend

All-Ireland SFC - Round Four

Saturday

Kerry v Longford ... Killarney, 5pm

Galway v Westmeath ... Pearse Stadium, 7pm

Sunday

Fermanagh v Donegal ... Enniskillen, 2pm

Laois v Offaly ... Portlaoise, 4pm

Scalpers get Semple arithmetic all wrong . . .

So what was all the fuss about?

According to several reports last week, Semple Stadium would simply not be able to satisfy the ticket demand for the hurling double-header on Saturday. Whatever about Cork officials grumbling, it was a little rich to hear criticism from the other counties - especially Kilkenny, considering only about 2,500 tickets for this year's Leinster hurling final were sold in the county.

Either way, attendance at the Tipperary venue was 20,000 short of capacity at the weekend - leaving many of those who tried to make a killing off the expected high demand feeling hot and bothered, even after the rains arrived.

One punter put 20 terrace tickets for sale on Ebay at €55 each (face value €20). At 9.30pm on Saturday night, according to the site, 18 of the tickets were still available.

Even the traditional ticket touts were fooled - and the "Anyone buying or selling?" business looked dead slow on the streets of Thurles.

In fact, two touts took to standing either side of the entrance to the town's Garda station - desperately asking passers-by were they looking for tickets.

Presumably everyone knew they weren't talking about a policeman's ball.

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Fermanagh versus Donegal

We know there is fierce and recent rivalry between these sides, but surely one won't turn out next weekend to be a . . .

Half-mad, uneven aggressor

What a Difference a Day Makes: Liam MacCarthy Cup

(Odds at start of weekend)

Cork 6/5

Kilkenny 2/1

Clare13/2

Tipperary 11/1

Galway 12/1

Waterford 12/1

Limerick 40/1

Wexford 66/1

Cork 6/5

Kilkenny 5/4

Waterford 13/2

Clare 8/1

(Odds at end of weekend)

Hard to beat the bookies: the odds on Cork, Clare, Kilkenny and Waterford winning were less than 5/2.

There were some very important GAA games played at the weekend - and not just in Ireland. The 2006 Continental Youth Championships were held during the past three days in Canton, Massachusetts - hosted by the the Irish Sports Youth League of New England.

It is the third edition of a tournament that is, apparently, the biggest gathering of underage GAA players outside of the homeland.

Open to players from all over North America, the event brought teams from Boston, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago and Canada - with girls and boys playing hurling and football from under-6 level through to under-18. Teams even travelled from London to take part.

In all, 201 games were played over the weekend - an extraordinary achievement. It is so reassuring, and humbling, to realise that there are so many people doing so much for the sport, in the background.

Top 2006 SHC Scorers

Eoin Kelly (Tipperary)3-38 (47)

James Young (Laois)1-33 (36)

David Curtin (Dublin)0-34 (34)

Andrew Mitchell (Westmeath)0-30 (30)

Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)1-25 (28)

Niall Gilligan (Clare)2-22 (28)