A strong first-half performance helped Bennettsbridge retain their senior hurling status when they beat St Patrick’s (Ballyragget) by 1-23 to 1-16 in today’s relegation final.

A five-star first-half performance saw Ballyhale Shamrocks blast their way out of relegation trouble in the Kilkenny senior hurling championship.

TJ Reid was the star man as Ballyhale Shamrocks snatched a Kilkenny senior hurling league victory from the jaws of defeat — but they couldn’t get themselves out of relegation trouble.

If the Leinster SHC has prompted you to experience déjà vu, you’re not alone. For the second season in a row, Galway commence their campaign against the team expected to be the cannon fodder while Dublin and Kilkenny duel for starters.

In his 21 seasons as Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody is not sure if there has ever been a more even and finely balanced hurling championship.

Wexford outscored Kilkenny 1-11 to 0-2 in the second half to seal their Division 1 quarter-final spot.

A strong second-half performance, lit up by the individual excellence of Sean Morrissey, saw Bennettsbridge end a 44-year wait for a place in the Kilkenny senior hurling championship final.

What an amazing spectacle in Thurles yesterday and James McGrath can believe he contributed to it, writes Brian Gavin.

After all the commotion of the past seven days, today's two provincial hurling finals could hardly have come at a better time for the GAA and everyone who follows it. 

Galway 1-22 Kilkenny 2-11

Kilkenny 2-19 Offaly 1-13: It told a tale of the first hour of this game that the loudest cheer in Nowlan Park came from the little pocket of Murray State University visitors.

Dublin 3-16 Kilkenny 1-24

Offaly 1-19 Kilkenny 0-24

Kilkenny took the honours in this pulsating NHL 1A clash in sunny Nowlan Park today, with 10,587 in attendance as the Cats stole the win with a late Richie Leahy point.

DIT 0-19 UCD 0-17: On the face of it this is a big boost for Dublin hurling as two colleges who have never reached the Fitzgibbon Cup final hammer it out in the semi-finals next week and the appearance of either DIT or DCU in the decider will be hailed in the capital.

The word from Kilkenny is that all leave has been cancelled. 

I’ve said this numerous times already in relation to Limerick but they need to be patient now, writes Anthony Daly.

Ballyhale Shamrocks showed a never-say-die spirit to fight their way to a share of the points against Danesfort in the Kilkenny senior hurling league on Saturday.

TJ Reid has warned rivals Kilkenny have scarcely worked on their hurling yet this year.

Allianz HL Division 1A

Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 3-14: An epic draw which few would dispute that Kilkenny, based on their billing coming into the game, won, even if the result was a just end to a scintillating contest.

Kerry, who travel to Dr Hyde Park to face Roscommon in Division 1 of the Allianz FL tomorrow (2pm), have two changes in personnel, as well as a number of positional switches, following their loss to Monaghan.

“You have to remember they all want to get up on the wall,” Tom Hogan says.

DIT 3-15, GMIT 0-11: DIT manager Derek Brennan was delighted that his side gave themselves a fighting chance of making the knockout stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup after they scored an emphatic at Carnmore in Galway.

Tipperary 2-29 Kilkenny 2-20: Just how “bloody arrogant” can you get? On the Irish Examiner podcast this past week, former Offaly hurler Daithí Regan mentioned how Tipperary aren’t lacking in the confidence department. After being under Kilkenny’s thumb these last five seasons, they had been given every reason to keep their optimism in check but then they produce a meteoric performance like this and combust any sense of inferiority. Indian sign? What Indian sign?

Regime change? Tipperary’s emphatic victory over Kilkenny in yesterday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final certainly felt like an administration of long-standing yielding to new rulers.

Inside the white lines, Kilkenny do the simple things well. They no longer have the capabilities to blow inferior teams away, as they did in 2007/08. 

No need to wait until tonight, our hurling analyst predicts the All-Ireland hurling final line-ups.

An All-Ireland hurling final... scratch that, a Kilkenny- Tipperary All-Ireland final not selling out?

He’s more of an iceman on the field but off it Paul Murphy would be closer to an icebreaker.

Back in Cleere’s on Saturday night two of the customers were looking remarkably fresh and spruce for chaps who’d been in Semple Stadium. 

Kilkenny attacker Colin Fennelly has hit back at Ger Loughnane’s controversial comments about the Cats, labeling them ‘absolutely crazy’ and insisting ‘what he said means nothing’.

Kilkenny 6-20 Offaly 0-14: Ger Loughnane probably hasn’t changed his mind just yet, but Kilkenny’s players at least left the Clare legend with a little something to think about at Nowlan Park.