Stomachs are lined, wallets are bulging, and it’s going to rain for the week. It can only mean one thing — the Galway Races have arrived.

Kilkenny forward Colin Fennelly insists he never felt any added pressure coming from the one of the most famous families in hurling.

John Fogarty looks at 10 goals that while impressive, could have been ruled out on another day.

The frightening thing is they might just be starting out.

John Considine won an All-Ireland and an All-Star in 1990. He’d have been happy enough just to hurl once for Cork in the championship.

It was only weeks after JJ Delaney’s retirement at a function in Kilkenny’s Cíllin Hill that Brian Cody was approached by a supporter about replacing what the manager himself has described as the greatest defender he has ever seen.

Ballyhale Shamrocks secured their place in an eighth Kilkenny senior hurling decider in 10 years (against reigning champions Clara) with a routine 1-19 to 0-14 victory over St Martin’s at a sunblessed Nowlan Park yesterday.

Injured Kilkenny star Michael Rice has echoed his manager’s assertion that Henry Shefflin is capable of starting the All-Ireland final and lasting the 70 minutes against Tipperary next Sunday.

Munster 2-14 Leinster 4-15

Clara 1-15 Carrickshock 2-10

KILKENNY SHC FINAL:

Carrickshock 4-14 Shamrocks 2-14

2011 Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly is certain to miss Kilkenny's Leinster SHC opener against Offaly in Tullamore on Sunday week.

Michael Fennelly has revealed the Kilkenny players were kept in the dark again about Brian Cody’s return to duty.

The Kilkenny County Board have confirmed that John Tennyson has decided to retire from senior inter-county hurling.

Kilkenny’s John Tennyson has decided to retire from senior inter-county hurling.

Promising Kilkenny hurler Luke Harney is waiting to discover whether he will be left with long-term damage from a serious eye injury.

Kilkenny selector Martin Fogarty says Henry Shefflin doesn’t as yet know if his ankle operation has been a success.

In the drawn final Galway were missing the composure necessary to use possession tellingly in counter attacks in the second half.

Kilkenny have announced the team to play Galway in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final.

Suspension, injury, loss of form. In time there might be an accepted acronym for that deadly trio. For now, it’s safe to say Richie Power believes bad things come in threes.

As anticipated, Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has made two changes to his team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has been given a timely boost by being able to name JJ Delaney, Michael Fennelly, Michael Rice and Aidan Fogarty in his team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Limerick.

The second game taking place in Thurles tomorrow offers something of an unknown element.

There is one enforced change to the Kilkenny team to face Galway in tomorrow's Leinster SHC final, with Noel Hickey replacing the injured JJ Delaney in defence.

Jackie Tyrrell insists Kilkenny aren’t paying any attention to pundits criticising their style of play.

Henry Shefflin's long-awaited return from injury was postponed last night after he failed to line out for Kilkenny in their challenge match against Offaly.

Brian Cody welcomed John Tennyson back for his first game in a Kilkenny jersey since the 2010 All-Ireland final as they annihilated Offaly in a challenge last evening to mark the official opening of Clara’s impressive new facilities.

Three factors that could decide tomorrow’s Allianz Hurling League final

Brothers Richie and Paddy Hogan have been drafted into the Kilkenny team for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final against Cork at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

Jackie Tyrrell has recovered from injury to earn a place in Brian Cody's Kilkenny team to face Clare in the Allianz Hurling League semi-final in Semple Stadium, Thurles, tomorrow.

Irish boxing has gone from strength to strength over the past decade and more, medals galore won at European, World and Olympic level.

ST MARTIN’S (Muckalee) and James Stephens eased into the Kilkenny SHC semi-finals yesterday, but league kings and championship favourites Ballyhale Shamrocks and neighbours and fierce rivals Carrickshock must meet again after a thrilling draw.

IT was Monday, it was early afternoon, it was raining, but there were no blues in Kilkenny yesterday, just black and amber, a city en fete as the 2011 All-Ireland senior hurling champions were welcomed home.

RECENTLY retired Kilkenny star Martin Comerford has surprisingly claimed the Cats shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty in the 2009 All-Ireland final against Tipperary.

KILKENNY ace John Tennyson is set to lose his race to return for the Cats’ All-Ireland semi-final date on August 7.

ANYONE closely watching Henry Shefflin in Wexford Park last Saturday will have noticed how freer he moved as Kilkenny’s Leinster semi-final developed.

Five players struck down with the injury.

ONCE upon a time, cryotherapy was all the rage in Irish rugby. Former national coach Eddie O’Sullivan certainly subscribed to it.

Both Dublin manager Anthony Daly and his Kilkenny counterpart Brian Cody are sweating on the fitness of some key players ahead of Sunday's Division 1 decider.

TIPPERARY goalkeeper Brendan Cummins believes the patronising reaction to Dublin’s qualification for Sunday’s League final will provide manager Anthony Daly with “huge ammunition” ahead of the championship.

Kilkenny’s injury crisis has worsened ahead of Sunday week’s Allianz Hurling League decider against Dublin with Aidan Fogarty, Michael Fennelly and John Dalton all the latest additions to the treatment room after their victory over Offaly in Nowlan Park last weekend, the Irish Examiner has reported.

KILKENNY’s injury crisis has worsened ahead of Sunday week’s Allianz Hurling League decider against Dublin with Aidan Fogarty, Michael Fennelly and John Dalton all the latest additions to the treatment room after their victory over Offaly in Nowlan Park last weekend.