GAA: The GAA season hit the ground limping with some disappointing centrepiece action yesterday. The Galway hurlers had too much in hand for Waterford in the National League final at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds and comfortably claimed an eighth title.

Manager Conor Hayes was a happy man in the aftermath of his team's 2-15 to 1-3 victory. Waterford were supposed to be more motivated given the 41-year wait since their previous league win but the match didn't support such supposition.

"We set out to get as far as we could," said Hayes. "When we got to the final we put a bit of extra pressure on the lads to win it and we got our chance today. I was most pleased with the teamwork. The forwards played well and some of the defensive work was outstanding.

"If you were to name names Ollie Canning and Damien Joyce particularly, and Derek Hardiman would be the three.When the pressure came on they came up trumps."

Given that the team's full forwards had gathered most of the pre-match attention, the performance of the corner backs was unexpected but not out of character.

"It's a day for boasting," said Hayes, "and I think we've the two best corner backs in the country.When the pressure came on that's when they resisted most."

The pleasant surprises didn't end there and a rounded performance from the entire attack had been another important part of the winning formula.

"Eugene Cloonan and Damien Hayes were expected by some to do all the scoring but other forwards popped up. They kept their lines and didn't panic."

As soon as the match was over attention turned to Waterford's plight in having to go out again next Sunday and put their Munster championship campaign on the line against Clare. Hayes sympathised with his opposite number Justin McCarthy.

"It wasn't fair. It should have been put back a week for them. I wouldn't like to be manager of a team that had to go out a week later, particularly against the likes of Clare who are bursting to get going again this year.

"The league could have been pushed forward and played with the football final or the Munster championship could have been put back. There's no problem doing that. If they're going to give credit to the league, it's crazy to have two different bodies fixing the games and not talking to each other," he added.

McCarthy himself wasn't really in a position to subscribe to this generous understanding, nor did he. "No. In fairness it wasn't a distraction. We went for the league and came up against a very good team and didn't perform as well as we felt we could. We couldn't take chances and couldn't create the openings we thought we would be able to.

"And when we came back they went back up and got more scores. They always had a cushion and we were always chasing. That's the reality of it but next Sunday is another day.

Ian O'Riordan adds: For All-Ireland football champions Tyrone the first step in their title defence turned into an exhibition. Clones has rarely witnessed such a tame affair, and Derry have rarely suffered a more humiliating defeat. In the end, a 1-17 to 1-6 victory was even more convincing than it sounds.

Tyrone were burning high-octane fuel throughout and Derry were choking on the smoke. Behind 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time and going out with only 14 men after defender Pádraig O'Kane was sent off, Derry needed a miracle. Instead they got a thrashing.

None of the Tyrone players put a foot wrong. Most of them did everything right. The forwards ran like clockwork and at midfield Seán Cavanagh displayed the greatest appetite for destruction. He ended with 0-4 and the accolades of all those around him.

"Most of all we wanted to get back to winning ways," said Cavanagh afterwards. "And we'd come in thinking it could be our toughest match in the Ulster championship. Especially after what happened last year. So we were very determined not to let Derry into the game.

"And we didn't want to experience anything other than a good performance. And to prove we got our legs back after the league. To do it as well without the likes of (Peter) Canavan and (Owen) Mulligan shows we're in good shape to retain the Ulster title, and then start looking at the bigger picture, and get on with the All-Ireland."

To all those in the press box it was an unexpectedly calm afternoon. Cavanagh admitted the win had been easy in the end, but the loss of O'kane was a great setback for Derry: "Well it was definitely a turning point for them. And it was hard on Pádraig, especially after going last year too. Clones is the sort of pitch where you can use the extra man well, and it helped us get the scores we wanted. But it wasn't so much about laying down a marker. Every day we go out we want to get better, and that's the way Mickey Harte does things."