Kilkenny continued their pursuit for Allianz League honours with a commanding victory over a brave Laois side in Nowlan Park.

The yawning chasm in class between these neighbours was fully in evidence as Kilkenny thrashed Colm Bonnar’s by 21 points in a NHL Division 1B mismatch before an attendance of 3,000.

Defending champions CBC advanced to the semi-finals of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup with this 11-point win over Castletroy College.

You won’t be astonished to learn that here was not one of those matches where the scoreline failed to tell the whole story.

TJ Reid was tight-lipped about the identity of the “ex-Kilkenny hurler” who helped Ballyhale Shamrocks prepare for the All-Ireland club final against Borris-Ileigh on Sunday.

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin paid tribute to the late Eugene Aylward in the aftermath of his side’s win in the All-Ireland club hurling championship today.

"The site of Ireland’s first witch trial."

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin remembered the late Eugene Aylward after yesterday’s county final win — Shamrocks panellist Aylward passed away a few weeks ago and captain Michael Fennelly dedicated the title win to him.

In the end, history was achieved with the minimum of fuss by Galway who cruised to a three-in-a-row of Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor hurling titles at Croke Park.

Wexford overcame local rivals Kilkenny to claim the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship, with James Sheil’s side full value for their four-point win.

Carlow's first home game in this year's Leinster senior hurling championship may have made for a heartwarming tale but Kilkenny have never been ones for romance or fairytales.

John Meyler has reacted to Cork’s defeat to Tipperary by making four changes for tomorrow’s Munster SHC Round 2 in the LIT Gaelic Grounds.

The warmest round of applause on Leeside ever for a Kilkenny team? Considering the context, the sincerity of the welcome was no surprise.

The scoreline suggests a rip-roaring contest but that is a false reading.

He was wearing the No 13 jersey on his back last Sunday, and only registered 0-1, but the positioning of Ger Aylward at centre-forward for Kilkenny against Cork was extremely eye-catching, writes Peter McNamara.

Any time I’m on the road on a Saturday evening, I always tune into Céilí House, one of RTÉ Radio’s most popular programmes of traditional Irish music and song, writes Anthony Daly.

Hurling aficionados love drama, an enjoyment forever in need of the unexpected.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is facing a widescale backbench revolt over his pro-choice abortion views, after half of his party’s TDs voted against allowing any referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

A High Court judge has deferred, pending the outcome of a further hearing, a decision on whether to direct payment of about €10,500 arrears of living expenses to Sean Quinn Junior and his wife.

Complaints by Sean Quinn Junior and his wife Karen Woods about a recent failure to pay some of their €100,000 annual living expenses should be seen in the context of a “scheme of misappropriation on a grand scale”, the High Court has been told.

The Cabinet will next week discuss the thrust of the abortion referendum question and what specific legislation could follow any yes vote.

Wexford were thoroughly deserving winners against Kilkenny. Twenty-one scores to 14 scores is an eloquent ratio, writes PM O’Sullivan. 

Wexford may not be favourites, but after their successful league campaign and with a home fixture the level of expectation brings its own pressure. Sometimes, this can overwhelm individuals, leading to simple mistakes, writes Donal O’Grady.

After this Saturday night’s battle in Innovate Wexford Park, the picture will become clearer.

The World Health Organisation routinely spends about $200m per year on travel expenses, figures show - more than what it doles out to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

There will be an opportunity for people to try on a hijab and to chat with local Muslim women at Waterford Institute of Technology next month.

Brian Cody would have no problem acceding to Galway’s wishes to enter into home and away agreements in the Leinster senior hurling championship and their minor and U21 teams to be incorporated into the province.

Members of Sean Quinn’s family are opposing an application for court orders to stop them receiving any further living expenses out of accounts controlled by receivers appointed over assets linked to Quinn companies.

TJ Reid says the Kilkenny attack will need as many as three new faces to take the mantle left by this season’s absentees.

For Kilkenny newcomer Joe Lyng, his AC joint injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. The NHL throws in this weekend and the Rower-Inistioge clubman will be looking on from the sidelines.

The State is facing almost 900 claims for compensation from members of the gardaí who have allegedly suffered harm in the line of duty, it has been confirmed.

There will be a sense in Kilkenny that order has been restored after they claimed the largest share of this year’s GAA-GPA Opel hurling All Stars with seven accolades.

Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 0-18: Maybe now people will stop saying the best time to face Kilkenny is in an All-Ireland semi-final.

Galway 2-15 Kilkenny 1-25

Ger Aylward is keen to make up for lost time, according to his Glenmore club-mate and former Kilkenny forward Christy Heffernan.

Kilkenny 5-25 Wexford 0-16: Nothing personal, just business. At the final whistle, Kilkenny players reached for the hands of their opponents as if to utter the line from The Godfather.

Brian Cody had no concerns about the 12-week break Kilkenny endured prior to yesterday’s championship opener.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and his TDs yesterday moved to minimise the fallout over the shock resignation of Senator Averil Power as the party welcomed its newest TD to the Dáil.

On Saturday, Kilkenny was filled with thoughts of tightrope walking, fire juggling that has burned more than a few, and a horse-and-pony show that still keeps at least some entertained.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has finally won a by-election at the seventh time of asking in a badly needed victory that has relieved pressure on his leadership position.

Selecting the right candidates for the general election is a big problem, writes Gary Murphy

Fianna Fáil’s Bobby Aylward is the country’s newest TD after winning the seat in the Carlow Kilkenny by-election.

Fianna Fáil may not be far enough ahead on first preference votes to see off a transfer-based challenge from other parties in the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.

On the face of it, Fianna Fáil and Renua Ireland have little in common.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has insisted his head will not be “on the chopping block” if his party fails to win the upcoming Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.