The retired John Mullane has insisted he will not be returning to the Waterford hurling squad despite his friendship with the new county team boss Derek McGrath.

Speaking on the All-Star tour to China, Mullane confirmed: “Derek did check in with me.  But no I am happy with my decision. The level of commitment required nowadays is colossal” he said . . .

NEW Sligo football boss Pat Flanagan is prepared to welcome midfield Eamonn O’Hara out of retirement. O’Hara quit after a row with former manager Kevin Walsh but may consider a return under Flanagan . . .

COLM “Gooch” Cooper was sent off late in the game as Kerry champions Dr. Crokes somehow hung to beat Clare’s Cratloe by just a point, 0-13 to 0-12, in the Munster club football final in Limerick on Sunday. Cooper saw red for a second bookable offense before a last gasp Johnny Buckley point won the day for the Kerrymen . . .

DUBLIN’S footballers will play their home league games at Croke Park next year, but the fixtures won’t feature any double headers with the hurlers. Instead, Anthony Daly’s hurlers will revert to playing their home matches in the NHL at the smaller Parnell Park . . .

CROKE Park bosses have declined an invitation to stage the 2014 inter-provincial finals in Dallas next March. Director general Páraic Duffy said, “That’s gone. An approach came from Dallas but the figures weren’t adding up so it’s dead and buried now.” . . .

A CLARE-born hurler now living and working in Shanghai came off the bench to score a hat-trick of goals as the 2012 all-stars defeated their 2013 counterparts in the annual exhibition game on Saturday, staged this year in the Chinese city . . .

DERRY champions Ballinderry broke Glenswilly’s hearts with a 2-13 to 1-6 win in the Ulster club football final on Sunday despite Donegal captain Michael Murphy scoring 1-3 for his side . . .

CORK brothers Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín have resisted the chance to return home and play for Cork after signing for semi-professional Australian Rules club Albury.