Following in the footsteps of the ultra-dominant Kilkenny teams of this decade and last, Limerick secured national league silverware seven months after claiming Liam MacCarthy.

So far, so good for Paraic Fanning in Division 1B of the Allianz League.

Kilkenny teenager Mark Power is gunning to become the youngest winner of the West of Ireland since Rory McIlroy in 2006 after he completed two impressive wins on the opening day of matchplay combat at Rosses Point.

Meanwhile, Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan has handed a first league start to corner-forward Cian Darcy.

The honours went to Waterford in this Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash at Walsh Park yesterday, but it is important to note Clare were already guaranteed a quarter-final (pitted against Limerick).

Noel McGrath has been relegated to the Tipperary bench for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC second round qualifier against Dublin.

Kerry, who travel to Dr Hyde Park to face Roscommon in Division 1 of the Allianz FL tomorrow (2pm), have two changes in personnel, as well as a number of positional switches, following their loss to Monaghan.

A powerful first-half showing delivered Waterford a first All-Ireland U21 hurling title since 1992.

Waterford 5-25 Antrim 1-8: Concrete solutions may have been thin on the ground, but at least there was general agreement Saturday’s futile exercise in Thurles did no-one any favours. 

Waterford 2-19 Tipperary 0-15: A powerful final quarter burst — in which the home outfit outscored Tipperary by 1-8 to 0-1 — delivered Waterford a first Munster U21 hurling title in 22 years.

A decent first-half showing in which they built up a seven-point interval advantage secured Waterford a second successive All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kilkenny.

Jackie Tyrrell makes his first since last year’s Leinster final as one of five changes to the Kilkenny side for tomorrow’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Galway at Nowlan Park tomorrow (2pm).

Brian Cody has made four changes to the Kilkenny side for today’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary in Nowlan Park (throw-in 2pm).

Limerick IT 0-16 Waterford IT 0-8: Limerick IT manager Davy Fitzgerald was thrilled as his side easily accounted for 14-man WIT to reach the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final after a powerful performance at Moylish in Limerick.

St Patrick’s Drumcondra 0-9 - Waterford IT 1-19, Fitzgibbon Cup DCU Sportsgrounds

Tiarnan McLarnan and Eugene Smith, both 23, and Robin Dawson, 20, and Alex Gleeson, 21, have qualified to meet in this morning’s semi-finals of the AIG Irish Close Championship at Tramore.

Eamon O'Shea claimed his first piece of silverware as Tipperary manager when his side claimed the county's first provincial title since 2012.

Waterford 1-21 Cork 1-11: Shane Bennett didn’t travel on the team bus to Páirc Uí Rinn, his father Pat transporting him across the border.

The all-too-familiar criticism surrounding Cork hurling’s underage plight was yet again dragged front and centre in the wake of the county’s Munster semi-final defeat to Waterford earlier this month.

Cork U21 star Anthony Spillane admits that the county carry an extra weight of expectation at underage level, based on tradition.

Waterford 4-18 Wexford 3-13 (SH Challenge): Waterford manager Derek McGrath will wait until the last minute to make a decision on Maurice Shanahan’s fitness for Sunday’s Munster semi final against Cork.

Waterford booked their place in the league semi-finals as they weathered a Galway revival in the second half to emerge as eight-point victors.

Waterford 0-22 Wexford 0-16

Offaly 1-14, Waterfrord 2-18: The previous four league meetings between these two counties were evenly shared, the latter three decided by a goal or less.

Corner-back Tom Fox's point on 80 minutes ensured this dramtic Fitzgibbon Cup final would require a second day out.

Corner-back Tom Fox’s point on 80 minutes ensured this dramtic Fitzgibbon Cup final would require a second day out.

WIT kept alive their title defence with a four-point extra-time win over luckless CIT this afternoon.

Waterford 3-21 Laois 0-12: A patient approach worked best for Waterford as Derek McGrath and Seamus Plunkett turned Fraher Field into a chessboard on Saturday night.

IT Carlow 9-24 Maynooth University 1-3: A merciless performance from IT Carlow got their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign back on track at the North Campus last night.

WIT 3-13 IT Carlow 0-9: WIT’s first defence of the Fitzgibbon Cup was a winning one as, despite being reduced to 14 men for almost the entire second-half, the holders were never seriously troubled in seeing off IT Carlow in this first round clash in bitterly cold conditions at the IT Carlow grounds last evening.

Waterford 1-22 Limerick IT 0-18: On a glum January afternoon at Carriganore, Brian O’Halloran’s vibrant performance gave the two packed stands something to raise the spirits.