Yesterday’s win over Waterford puts Kilkenny in a good position ahead of next Sunday’s clash at home to Tipperary, said Cats boss Brian Cody yesterday.

Waterford midfielder Colin Dunford says the doubters drove the Déise on last year and he has promised they will dig deep to go one step further in 2018.

Waterford midfielder Colin Dunford says the doubters drove the Déise on last year and he has promised they will dig deep to go one step further in 2018.

Fitzgibbon Cup: IT Carlow 1-22 - Mary Immaculate, Limerick 0-22: Fourteen-man IT Carlow, coached by Kilkenny legend DJ Carey, laid down an impressive marker when taking the scalp of defending Fitzgibbon Cup champions Mary Immaculate of Limerick in a thrilling, full-blooded opening-round tie at the Heywood Community College in Laois yesterday.

The sweeper system works

When defeated in a big game you cannot wait to get a crack at the same opposition, seeking revenge. There’s a matter of pride and unity of purpose involved. This is a powerful stimulus which provides a strong incentive for a committed response.

Waterford got over Wexford to book their place in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, but their previous outing still resonates with Colin Dunford.

Waterford got over Wexford to book their place in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, but their previous outing still resonates with Colin Dunford.

Prior to last year’s All-Ireland U21 hurling decider, Waterford selector Paul Flynn opened up on why the grade is his favourite competition

Former Waterford hurler Brian Flannery says it would be a “disaster” if the most talented Déise team of the past 20 years had their summer ended as early as the second weekend of July.

IT Carlow 2-20 UCC 1-20: IT Carlow manager DJ Carey has no clue what shape his bruised and battered team will be in for today’s Fitzgibbon Cup final, but says whatever happens they’re in bonus territory now.

IT Carlow 2-20 UCC 1-20 (AET): Stephen Maher hit 11 points as IT Carlow reached their first Fitzgibbon Cup final at the expense of UCC in Dangan.

Here’s the lowdown on today’s seven games...

The natural next step for this Waterford group now is to win a Munster title and they are ready to take that step this weekend, writes Anthony Daly.

And they thought Waterford was a tough draw.

Other than how referee John O’Brien could have got it so wrong on Saturday, the most pertinent question arising from the Christy Ring Cup final surrounded the role of HawkEye in Croke Park. 

Pauric Mahony can’t say the wait was worth it but the satisfied look on his face coming off the field on Sunday said it all.

The last time this amount of attention was paid to tactics ahead of play Wellington and Napoleon were glowering at each other across a muddy field in Belgium.

Admit it. You weren’t expecting Waterford to have begun the season with such a flourish. You weren’t expecting them to be two from two. You might not have been expecting them to struggle, to be instantly mired in Second Season Syndrome, but you surely weren’t anticipating that they’d do a job on the All-Ireland champions at Walsh Park, then travel to Páirc Uí Rinn and breeze past the hosts.

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has sounded a pragmatic note ahead of this weekend’s NHL clash with Dublin.

Cork 1-14 Waterford 0-20: Make sense of that. Waterford dominate a game and yet need their ‘keeper to make a last-minute save to ensure the points. Cork are listless until a player gets injured, then ignite. A late goal and two straight reds colour an earnest competition with a sharp palette.

Mary I v GMIT Mary I, 2pm

Derek McGrath hears them knocking — but they can’t come in.

St Pat’s/Mater Dei 2-14 IT Carlow 4-17: IT Carlow claimed victory after a highly entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup clash with St Pat’s/Mater Dei in the Na Fianna’s club grounds in Dublin.

Kilkenny’s last two All-Ireland successes haven’t been replicated in the All Stars honour lists, where the runners-up in both years, Galway in 2012 and Tipperary last year, trumped them. As of now, Kilkenny look set to take the lion’s share of personal honours but Galway have plenty of strong contenders too.

When Waterford’s senior hurling management visited the Kilkenny dressing-room last Sunday they came away with a fresh appreciation for their opponents, and their physical presence in particular.

Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 0-18: Maybe now people will stop saying the best time to face Kilkenny is in an All-Ireland semi-final.