Yet another Croke Cup final beckons for St Kieran’s College of Kilkenny after they held on to narrowly defeat a game Ardscoil Rís side in this second semi-final in Clonmel.

St Kieran’s College (Kilkenny) 2-12 Coláiste Cholmáin (Fermoy) 1-12: With 40 minutes played Coláiste Cholmáin had their noses in front in Clonmel as they aimed to claim All-Ireland hurling glory at U16 level but they could only manage a single point thereafter as rivals St Kieran’s grabbed control.

Castletroy College 16 Crescent College 13

Dripsey leapt around like spring lambs at the final whistle as if they’d won the championship, and heaven knows what the celebrations would be like if they actually did, but at least they’ll have the chance to do it next year after retaining their intermediate ‘A’ hurling status on Saturday night.

Two goals in the space of three second half minutes gained Éire Óg a hard-won victory over a dogged Blackrock side in the third round of the Cork IHC at Ballincollig on Saturday.

Aghada 0-16Blackrock 0-12

FORMER GAA President Joe McDonagh will chair a committee of former Fitzgibbon Cup players and managers that will select a ‘Team Of The Century’ from a shortlist of 75 third-level hurling stars, as part of the competition’s centenary celebrations this year.

Limerick 0-20 Laois 1-14

Galway 5-29 Laois 0-17

It is the day of reckoning for Leinster hurling - a new dawn as Galway enter the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship today for the first time.

THE switch of Eamon Collins from the left wing to full forward reaped a handsome reward for Valley Rovers, victors over Aghada in the first round of the Evening Echo Cork County IHC at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

AFTER years of near-misses Valley Rovers, finally landed football silverware at Páirc Uí Rinn by winning the Cork IFC final with a 1-12 to 3-4 win over Kildorrery.

Laois manager Damien Fox has made seven changes in personnel to his team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC qualifier visit of Clare (Portlaoise, throw-in 3pm).

Laois 1-14 Galway 3-20

JJ McHugh and Philip Russell have both been included in the Laois side for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Galway (O'Moore Park, throw-in 7pm).

Laois manager Damien Fox has named an unchanged team for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Offaly (Tullamore, throw-in 3.30pm).

Limerick 3-15 Laois 1-13, Nenagh

Laois hurling manager Damien Fox has made two changes in personnel to his team for tomorrow's NHL Division Two final against Wicklow at Semple Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Laois 4-15 Kerry 4-9, Gaelic Grounds

Wexford's good run in the Walsh Cup competition continued at Rathdowney today when they put paid to Laois' hopes of progression to the final thanks to a 2-22 to 1-14 win.

John Brophy hit the match-winning point in the 68th-minute as Laois gave the Dublin hurlers an early season shock at Rathdowney.

Damien Fox's reign as Laois hurling manager got off to a very satisfactory start as the midlanders ended Down's Walsh Cup hopes with a 2-15 to 1-9 defeat at Rathdowney.

Leinster 1-23 Connacht 0-17

Laois 1-13 Waterford 2-17

Dual star Darren Rooney will be missing from the Laois hurling team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC Group A qualifier clash with Waterford (O'Moore Park, throw-in 3.45pm).

WESTMEATH 2-09 LAOIS 2-15

With Laois already at the foot of SHC qualifier Group A, manager Dinny Cahill has rung the changes for Saturday's must-win clash with Westmeath at Cusack Park (throw-in 7pm).

Alan Kerins banged in four goals as Galway got their All-Ireland SHC qualifier campaign off to a thrilling start in Portlaoise.

GUTSY Sarsfields upset former champions Na Piarsaigh at Páirc Uí Rinn to reach the third round of the Evening Echo Cork Co SHC, 2-12 to 0-9, and force the city side, with Sean Óg Ó hAilpin and John Gardiner in their ranks, into a relegation battle.

Offaly 2-12 Laois 0-08

Kilkenny 1-26 Laois 1-13

Munster 1-21 Leinster 2-14

THERE are hardly two more competitive men on the planet than Davy Fitzgerald of Clare and Donal Óg Cusack of Cork.

Boston-bound Leinster manager John Conran has included nine Kilkenny players in his side for Sunday's M Donnelly Interprovincial hurling final.

Laois 1-23 Antrim 1-15

It may be just a curtain raiser to the headline act of the Ulster football final replay later today, but there is just as much riding on the Offaly hurlers' relegation semi-final showdown with Antrim at Croke Park (throw-in 2.15pm).

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

Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill walked out on his squad's training session last night after only fifteen players turned up.

PAUL CARLEY is recalled to the Wexford team for Sunday’s Guinness Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny at Croke Park.

Laois and Limerick have named their sides for tomorrow night's All-Ireland SHC qualifier second round clash at Portlaoise (throw-in 7.45pm).