LEINSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL:

Grace Walsh is immensely proud of the achievements of her famous brother but it is only natural that you grow weary of being introduced in somebody else’s context rather than your own.

Brian Cody will take charge of Kilkenny for a 16th season in 2014 but will do so without long-term selector Martin Fogarty.

Brian Cody has always railed against the notion that there are hurlers growing on trees in Kilkenny and yet every year another handful of unfamiliar faces blossom as spring cedes to summer.

Clare 1-15 Kilkenny 3-10,

... is a very different animal to the Kilkenny full-back who has prowled his square and wore the famed No 3 jersey with distinction for more than a decade. Michael Moynihan took advantage of Noel Hickey’s downtime.

The future was his.

Kilkenny v Galway in Thurles this Sunday in the second of the two All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-finals (Clare v Antrim 4pm, Kilkenny vGalway 6pm) — a prelude to what might happen on September 9 in Croke Park, the big one?

By Daragh O Conchuir

KILKENNY senior panellists Richie Doyle and Kieran Joyce have both been named in the starting 15 for the county’s intermediate team that do battle with Wexford in the Leinster IHC final in Nowlan Park tonight at 7.30pm.

LEADING Kilkenny GAA figures last night rallied around crestfallen star Henry Shefflin and insisted he will return to full fitness from a fresh cruciate injury blow.

KILKENNY U21 boss Michael Walsh is expecting a stern examination of his side’s credentials when they face off in a repeat of last year’s decider against Dublin in tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC semi-final in Nowlan Park at 7.30pm.

ANYONE complaining of tiredness in the Ballyhale Shamrocks camp ahead of the Leinster Club SHC final against Tullamore in Tullamore on Sunday would be given short shrift by the management because of the example of Henry Shefflin.

When Laois man Michael Dempsey got the call from Brian Cody to get involved with Kilkenny, the first issue on the agenda was ‘what does he know about hurling?’ DIARMUID O’FLYNN explains

KILKENNY U21 hurling coach Michael Walsh refuses to accept his team is under added pressure to complete the grand slam of All-Ireland titles on Sunday.

Cork 2-10 CIT 1-11

Kilkenny U21 manager Adrian Finan is unperturbed by the favourites' tag his side has been landed with for Sunday's Erin All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary.

Centre back John Tennyson is a serious injury worry for Kilkenny ahead of next month's All-Ireland SHC final against champions Cork.

TWELVE months ago, then Kilkenny U21 hurling manager Martin Fogarty assembled his panel to prepare for the following weekend’s Erin-sponsored All-Ireland final against Tipperary.

JAMES STEPHENS bid to end a 23-year wait for a Kilkenny SHC title against Young Irelands in tomorrow’s county final at Nowlan Park (3pm).

TREVOR GILES will appeal to the Leinster Council tonight against the four-week suspension that rules him out of Sunday’s Meath SFC final.

KILKENNY’S failure to win the Leinster minor title three years ago had been a powerful motivating force behind their All-Ireland Under-21 success in Thurles on Sunday, believes selector Mick Dempsey.