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.

Galway manager Micheál Donoghue has been handed a boost ahead of their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship campaign.

The Cats are already set to be without Cillian Buckley and James Maher against Dublin.

The 2017 hurler of the year did suffer a dead leg following the collision with Waterford's Kevin Moran in additional time in last Sunday's Division 1 semi-final in Nowlan Park, which saw him stretchered off the field.

Nobody over-eggs anticipation like World Rugby. The draw for next year’s World Cup in Japan was made last May, a full 803 days before the start of the tournament.

So here’s a thing: There are three counties left in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and three counties from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship are still in contention to win the All-Ireland.

The Rathnure man has returned to his club and is managing a knee injury.

The GAA will cut the number of inter-county matches in April, August, and September by 79 in 2018 to make more space for club fixtures.

A goal in the 51st minute from corner forward Killian Doyle proved to be the decisive score as Westmeath survived the handicap of playing the entire second half with just 14 men to eke out a crucial win against neighbours Meath in the third and final round robin series of the Leinster senior hurling championship, in ideal conditions at Mullingar yesterday afternoon.

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.

Galway hurling PRO Jarlath Cloonan has raised the possibility of the county negotiating a return to the Munster senior hurling championship if the Leinster Council continue to refuse them home games and entry to their underage competitions.

Westmeath staged a strong second-half display, to maintain their unbeaten run in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Austin Stack Park, Tralee this afternoon.

Bruce Springsteen isn’t going to be a popular man in Dublin club football circles this summer.

As Anthony and Ger Cunningham prepare for Saturday’s Leinster senior hurling championship replay in Tullamore both bosses have plenty to ponder.

Peter McNamara looks ahead to this weekend’s GAA Championship action.

Niall Quinn has emerged as the hot favourite to front Sky Sports’ GAA coverage this summer.

No county in the Leinster senior hurling championship should be guaranteed a quarter-final place, insists Carlow chairman Michael Meaney.

A heartbroken community yesterday heard that people with issues need to speak out and let others know that they are experiencing difficulties.

That hoary old headline — END OF AN ERA — is certain to find a few homes in the aftermath of Kilkenny’s defeat to Dublin in Saturday’s night Leinster senior hurling championship semi-final.

LEINSTER SHC FIRST ROUND

London look set to compete in next year’s Leinster senior hurling championship following last weekend’s historic Christy Ring Cup success.

Westmeath boss Brian Hanley believes his native Galway should not underestimate the importance ofprovincial pride when playing in the Leinster senior hurling championship.

A blowout in this hugely disappointing Leinster senior hurling championship quarter-final in Tullamore on Saturday as Dublin cruised through the 70 minutes against an outclassed Laois side.

Offaly and Wexford, both in need of a fillip, have the right men in charge to provide it

Westmeath manager Brian Hanley was ecstatic after his side ousted Antrim from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship following a two-point win at Cusack Park yesterday.

John Kerr and Michael Gettens are the two Championship newcomers in the Antrim team to take on Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday (throw-in 3pm).

Star midfielder Michael Fennelly is set to miss Kilkenny's defence of their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship crown after fracturing his right ankle.

A REVIEW group in Galway under the chairmanship of former GAA President Joe McDonagh is urging the Tribesmen to lead the drive for an open draw system to be introduced for the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.

WHETHER as player or manager, there was never a more proud or more fiercely competitive individual on a hurling field than Brian Cody.

OLLIE CANNING believes Galway’s players are perfectly content to be wedded to the Leinster senior hurling championship until 2013.

GALWAY GAA officials are shocked after discovering that their senior hurlers will have to participate in the Leinster senior hurling championship until at least 2013 — two seasons longer than they agreed to.

TIPPERARY have been rocked by the news that Brian O’Meara’s yellow card from last Sunday’s Munster SHC quarter-final has been upgraded to red.

LAST year it was Kilkenny in Tullamore in the semi-final, this year it’s Wexford in Nowlan Park in the quarter-final.

The GAA have confirmed that the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship relegation play-offs will go ahead as scheduled next weekend and that the controversy surrounding the promotion and relegation issue has finally been put to bed.

DUBLIN 2-16 ANTRIM 0-12

WERE it not for a quirk of fate, instead of watching last Sunday’s exciting Tipperary/Cork Munster championship match on TV in his native Dublin, David ‘Dotsie’ O’Callaghan could well have been a central part of the action in Thurles.

It is the day of reckoning for Leinster hurling - a new dawn as Galway enter the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship today for the first time.

TOMORROW sees a baptism of sorts in hurling. It is Galway’s first game in the Leinster senior hurling championship as they face Laois in Portlaoise.

LEINSTER secretary Michael Delaney has warned that the GAA’s seven year strategy is doomed to failure without the hard work and proactive approach of all Association members.