BE wary. That’s the advice of former All-Ireland-winning captain Andy Comerford to Kilkenny in advance of Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford in Croke Park.

THIS is the biggest day in the year for GAA clubs, St. Patrick’s Day, All-Ireland club finals, and due respect to the players from the four clubs who have made it this far – regardless of results today, it’s a magnificent achievement.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS manager Andy Comerford had little difficulty in pinpointing the moment yesterday’s Leinster club decider turned in their favour.

The season is not long over and already there has been plenty of movement on the management merry-go-round ahead of 2011’s campaign, writes Fintan O’Toole.

Former Kilkenny ace Andy Comerford has stepped down as Kildare hurling boss after a three-year stint.

FORMER Kilkenny ace Andy Comerford has stepped down asKildare hurling boss after a three-year stint.

Christy Ring Cup SH Semi-Final

Clare 2-15 Kildare 0-11

NHL DIVISION 2:

Kildare 4-10 Westmeath 0-11

WHILE Kieran McGeeney has been getting all the plaudits for his exploits with Kildare footballers, another All-Ireland winning captain from 2002 has been bringing about an improvement in standards to much less fanfare.

WHATEVER doubts there may have been about the outcome up to the time Henry Shefflin converted that penalty, Kilkenny didn’t need to win yesterday’s All-Ireland final to have greatness conferred on them.

HE has a dry wit, has Tipperary’s Lar Corbett, droll enough in delivery but effective nevertheless.

Mayo 1-16 Kildare 1-10

Carlow 1-16 Kildare 1-13

Kildare, Carlow, Kerry and Down were victorious in the opening round of the 2009 GAA Christy Ring Cup as the competition got underway this afternoon.

Kildare 2-18 Meath 1-18

MEATH maintained their perfect record in Division 3A with a four points win away to Derry in Swatragh yesterday (1-17 to 1-13).

Armagh 1-13 Kildare 1-12

Kilkenny 0-15 Limerick 0-14

SO MUCH for this being regarded as one of the greatest Kilkenny teams of all time! The accolade is certainly flattering to the players and manager Brian Cody but in the opinion of many shrewd judges, it’s hardly justified.

CHRISTY RING CUP GROUP 2D: ARMAGH 0-13 KILDARE 5-16

Westmeath got their Christy Ring Cup defence off to a rip-roaring start at Cusack Park as they demolished Roscommon on a 3-23 to 0-13 score-line.

Westmeath 0-11 Kildare 0-9

Mayo 2-14 Westmeath 2-13, Castlebar

The sight of former Kilkenny All-Ireland winner Andy Comerford pacing the sidelines at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge helped to inspire his Kildare side to a facile 9-12 to 2-7 Kehoe Cup victory over DCU this afternoon.

Kilkenny’s great hurling nursery is St Kieran’s College. Michael Moynihan visited a place where they take the game so seriously one of their pitches is lined to exactly the same dimensions as Croke Park.

Leinster champions Kilkenny will have to soldier through the rest of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship without full-back Noel Hickey.

Leinster champions Kilkenny are waiting on the fitness of Andy Comerford, Noel Hickey and skipper Peter Barry ahead of their All-Ireland SHC quarter-final clash with Limerick on Sunday week.

FOUR days on from the drawn game, both Newtownshandrum and O’Loughlin Gaels will have gone over the tapes of last Sunday’s All-Ireland club hurling semi-final in Thurles in the most minute detail.

ON the field there was a marked contrast in styles between Newtownshandrum and O'Loughlin Gaels in their exciting drawn All-Ireland hurling club championship semi-final on Sunday.

THOUGH only the middle of February, tomorrow’s meeting of O’Loughlin Gaels and Newtownshandrum, Leinster champions against Munster’s best is whetting the appetite of hurling folk just about anywhere.

All-Ireland winning Kilkenny boss Brian Cody has named three new faces in his squad for the upcoming National League and championship campaign.

Former All-Ireland winning hurling skipper Andy Comerford is set to regain his captain's armband, according to speculation in Kilkenny.

MARTIN COMERFORD has enjoyed many glorious days of hurling, days which have garnered him championship medals and Allstars in the service of Kilkenny.

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-15 Birr 0-9

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-20 Rathnure 2-11

O'Loughlin Gaels 2-12 Young Irelands 2-10

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS wing-back Sean Dowling, pointed to centre-back and captain Andy Comerford as the driving force in their victory.

IT’S one of the few remaining games left on the local club hurling scene but tomorrow’s Kilkenny SHC final replay between champions Young Irelands and O’Loughlin Gaels, is a perfect example of reserving the best wine ‘til last.

O’Loughlin Gaels 3-9 Young Irelands (Gowran) 2-12

IT SHOULD have been the sweetest of seasons for Charlie Carter, the perfect inter-county valedictory year. But with a bitter twist, it all went sour.

THE end of another purrfect week for Kilkenny, but should the Cats now carry a public hurling health warning? Can anyone stop their relentless pursuit of three All-Irelands in a row, and three league titles to boot?