UCC 1-19 - CORK IT 0-12: UCC’s class was always going to be the telling factor. And so it proved, even if it took a little longer than expected to boil to the surface.

Ballyhale Shamrocks showed a never-say-die spirit to fight their way to a share of the points against Danesfort in the Kilkenny senior hurling league on Saturday.

Kilkenny won the first All-Ireland at the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh, off the back of a strong second-half showing, writes Eoghan Cormican.

AIB All-Ireland Club IHC final

Suddenly the Carrickshock supporters took to singing.

Former Galway All-Star nominee Pádraic Mannion says playing hurling in Division 1B won’t put the Tribesmen at any disadvantage heading into the championship.

While the proposed changes to the county junior hurling championship were the source of much debate at last night’s Cork County Board meeting, a decision was put back until the next gathering.

One glance at this weekend’s fixture programme should be enough for the penny to drop. You certainly don’t need a third-level degree to take from it that the dominance of certain counties on the big stage is perfectly mirrored at club level.

UCC 5-13 Ulster University 2-4: With an 18-point winning margin, this Fitzgibbon Cup Group D clash might appear to have gone as expected. But it was never a cakewalk for UCC at the Mardyke yesterday.

Richie Power has no intention of joining some of his erstwhile Kilkenny teammates in self-imposed retirement, but the Carrickshock forward knows all too well the sacrifices needed to hang on to the inter-county merry-go-round.

Henry Shefflin says his club Ballyhale Shamrocks’ victory in the Kilkenny county final on Sunday "defers his decision" on whether to play for the Cats next year.

Ballyhale Shamrocks secured their place in an eighth Kilkenny senior hurling decider in 10 years (against reigning champions Clara) with a routine 1-19 to 0-14 victory over St Martin’s at a sunblessed Nowlan Park yesterday.

The way has been cleared for the Kilkenny SHC semi-finals.

Kilkenny SHC: Champions Clara and St Martin’s (Muckalee) won through to the Kilkenny senior hurling semi-finals, but the remaining two places are still wide open.

A super goal from Keith Hogan, brother of county star Brian, fired holders Clara to victory over a young James Stephens team in the first round of the Kilkenny senior hurling championship yesterday.

ALL-IRELAND SHC FINAL REPLAY:

Kilkenny SHL

Such an epic All-Ireland hurling semi-final I have not borne witness to in a long time.

Kilkenny 0-24 Dublin 1-9

Kilkenny, who play Offaly in the Leinster SHC at Nowlan Park tomorrow (7pm), have made three changes from the league final win over Tipperary.

Two-time All Star Richie Power is back in training with Kilkenny after an extended break from the panel.

Hear about the brothers who won Kilkenny senior hurling titles three seasons apart with two different clubs?

Clara 1-15 Carrickshock 2-10

KILKENNY SHC FINAL:

Carrickshock 4-14 Shamrocks 2-14

All-Ireland intermediate club champions Clara have marked their return to the Kilkenny senior hurling grade in spectacular fashion by winning the league.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte will give debuts to three players in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Offaly in O’Connor Park in Tullamore (3pm).

2011 Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly is certain to miss Kilkenny's Leinster SHC opener against Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday week.

The Kilkenny County Board have confirmed that John Tennyson has decided to retire from senior inter-county hurling.

Kilkenny’s John Tennyson has decided to retire from senior inter-county hurling.

Kilkenny received a massive boost over the weekend with news that TJ Reid is ready to resume his inter-county career.

Eoin Larkin inspired James Stephens to victory over gritty Graigue-Ballycallan in an exciting Kilkenny SHC quarter-final in Freshford yesterday.