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.

FIVE minutes into the second-half of the second Kilkenny SHC semi-final in yesterday’s double-header at Nowlan Park, it looked like a shock (pardon the pun) was on the cards as Carrickshock took a surprise if well-merited one-point lead.

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

Kilkenny 3-18 UCD 0-14

Galway 0-10 Kilkenny 1-16

THE Galway hurling management have no intention at this stage of calling teenage prodigy Joe Canning into their squad, despite the perceived benefit to the team’s coring potential.

UCC 2-10 LIT 1-11

THE Kilkenny team to play Galway in Sunday’s Erin All-Ireland U-21 HC final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick (2pm), is the same as that which trounced Antrim in the semi-final.

THE struggle between club and county continues in Antrim. With the county U21 hurlers due to play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in Navan on Saturday, several clubs are reluctant to release their players because of county championship matches the following day.

JASON SHERLOCK has been given a starting place on the Dublin team for next Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC final at Croke Park, while former Austin Stack’s clubman Billy Sheehan retains his place on the Laois side.

Kildangan (Tipperary) 2-13 Carrickshock (Kilkenny) 1-13

Kilkenny 3-21 Tipperary 1-6

Kilkenny 2-13, Galway 0-12

KILKENNY will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of All-Ireland hurling titles when they play Galway in tomorrow’s U21 decider in Thurles. Throw-in is at 3pm.

CIT 3-6

FITZGIBBON CUP champions University of Limerick served notice they will be hard to dethrone in this year’s championship with this gutsy victory over UCC in the Higher Educational SHL final at Kilmallock yesterday.

Kilkenny 2-13