FAVOURITES James Stephens just about did enough in Nowlan Park yesterday to get back to the Kilkenny SHC final.

TONY BROWNE is named at midfield on the Waterford team for tomorrow’s Munster SHC semi-final replay against Limerick at Semple Stadium, the veteran Mount Sion clubman’s first championship start since last year’s All-Ireland final.

ALL-IRELAND champions Kilkenny have close to their strongest team for tomorrow’s Allianz NHL clash with Cork at Nowlan Park. P. J. Ryan takes over in goal from David Herity; T J Reid comes in at right half forward for Martin Comerford; Henry Shefflin is at centre-forward, with Eoin Larkin on his left. Eddie Brennan is back in the right corner, linking up with Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty.

LIMERICK manager Justin McCarthy introduces James Ryan and Paul Browne for his side’s NHL clash against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow.

FOLLOWING the fireworks in Croke Park on Saturday night, an occasion chosen by the GAA to mark the opening of its 125th year celebrations, Kilkenny and Galway served notice yesterday that hurling too is ready to play its part in what could yet be a really special year for the GAA.

ALL-IRELAND hurling champions Kilkenny make three changes in personnel and five positional switches from the win over Offaly for tomorrow’s Leinster hurling final with an unchanged Wexford.

Kilkenny 2-24 Offaly 0-12

MUNSTER football manager Sean Geaney last night joined the chorus of criticism regarding the timing of the inter-provincial championship. His selection options for tomorrow’s football semi-final against Leinster in Fermoy have been decimated by a combination of factors.

Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary 3-13

Dublin 2-13 Kilkenny 0-19

LEINSTER manager John Conran has drafted Kilkenny duo Jackie Tyrrell and Eoin Larkin into his side for tomorrow’s M Donnelly Inter-provincial hurling final against Connacht at Pearse Stadium.

NATIONAL LEAGUE champions Kilkenny have made wholesale changes on their team to play Galway in the All Ireland Hurling quarter-final in Thurles on Saturday.

Graigue-Ballycallan 3-12 Young Irelands 1-13

Buccaneers 3 Shannon 56

Kilkenny 4-16 Galway 1-21

Waterford 0-17 Kilkenny 2-16

REGULAR defender Mark Foley is named at full-forward on the Limerick team to meet Cork in Sunday’s Allianz NHL tie at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Munster 1-21 Leinster 0-13

CORK are restricted to just two representatives - Ronan Curran and Joe Deane - on the Munster team to face Leinster in the M. Donnelly Interprovincial hurling semi-final in Croke Park on Sunday (12.15pm).

Buccaneers 18 Cork Constitution 12

KILKENNY coach Brian Cody has made two changes from the side that defeated Dublin in round one of the All-Ireland qualifiers for Sunday’s clash with Galway in the second round.

DJ Carey has been left out of the Kilkenny team for their Leinster hurling semi-final against Wexford this Sunday.

DEFENDING champions Kilkenny have named an unchanged team from the side which beat Clare for Sunday's Allianz NHL clash with Dublin at Nowlan Park.

CORK CONSTITUTION lost their unbeaten AIB League record and a bit more besides at Temple Hill on Saturday.

THE 9,000 fans who opted for this Nowlan Park local derby yesterday were served an absolute thriller in a first round Division 1A Allianz Hurling League game that throbbed with excitement throughout 70 minutes.

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD James Fitzpatrick will make his senior debut for Kilkenny for Sunday's NHL clash with Waterford at Nowlan Park.

2002 Allstars 11-20 2003 Allstars 13-10

Douglas NS 3-6 St Anthony’s NS 1-8

WEXFORD skipper Paul Codd last night warned it’ll take at least two goals to down Kilkenny on Sunday.

Kilkenny 3-16

EOIN MURPHY and Peter Queally return to the Waterford team for Saturday’s Munster hurling championship semi-final replay against Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Armagh 1-15, Galway 0-15

Kilkenny 4-17 Cork 3-12

NA PIARSAIGH young lions John Gardiner and Setanta Ó hAilpín have been given starting positions on the Cork team for Sunday's glamour

Kilkenny 2-22 Clare 1-13