LAST year’s captain Willie Ryan is one of six players axed from Liam Sheedy’s Tipperary senior hurling championship panel ahead of their big championship clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh at the end of next month.

THE KERRY management’s desire to employ Marc Ó Sé’s footballing talents in the half-back line gets another trial tomorrow in Tralee, with the youngest of the Gaeltacht brothers selected at right half-back for the clash with Mayo.

NICHOLAS MURPHY returns to the Cork team for Saturday’s NFL game against Tyrone in Omagh.

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy has named a team featuring no NHL debutants for tomorrow night's Division 1 opener against Kilkenny at Semple Stadium (throw-in 7.30pm).

2006 champions Aherlow advanced to the Tipperary SFC final after this facile win at a chilly Semple Stadium yesterday.

THEY came within a whisker of deposing Kilkenny earlier this month but Brendan Cummins has warned that Tipperary will have to evolve if they are to deliver on their undoubted potential and claim a first All-Ireland title since 2001.

1. The Kilkenny penalty decision.

THE cover of the match programme in O’Connor Park on Saturday night for Cork-Offaly was significant.

Clare 1-22 Tipperary 3-18

BEFORE we get into any details, I want to address something here in general terms, namely the lack of buzz around the championship this year.

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.

MONAGHAN GAA chiefs will today decide whether to appeal the eight-week ban handed down to attacker Tommy Freeman arising out of last week’s controversial Ulster SFC clash against Derry.

Tipperary 1-19 Cork 0-19

AFTER a lack-lustre football decider the week before and all the hype created by the Heineken Cup semi-final, this epic Allianz National League final in Thurles yesterday was just what hurling and the GAA needed to reclaim the feelgood factor.

TIPPERARY have re-arranged their attack for Sunday’s Allianz National Hurling League final against All-Ireland champions in Thurles, making no fewer than four changes from the last round game against Limerick a fortnight ago.

Tipperary 2-19 Dublin 4-11, Semple Stadium

2008 team colleagues Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Jerry O’Connor return to the Cork colours for Sunday’s Allianz NHL clash with Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kilkenny 5-17 Tipperary 1-12

LIAM SHEEDY couldn’t help but raise a quizzical eyebrow when John McIntyre described Tipperary as the second-best team in the country at the launch of the NHL earlier this week, but the man from Portroe wasn’t just being coy.

THERE WAS a sub-plot to yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Waterford and Tipperary, and not a minor sub-plot either.

Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18

Portumna (Galway) 2-13 Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) 2-9

NO MATTER who comes out of the two Munster Club hurling semi-finals tomorrow, one thing we already know for certain — there will be new, first-time champions crowned in 2007.

Tipp manager Babs Keating has ditched five-time all-star Eoin Kelly from the Tipperary team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Wexford at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

Tipperary are monitoring the fitness of wing back Eamonn Corcoran and midfielder Shane McGrath ahead of Sunday's second Munster SHC semi-final replay against Limerick (Gaelic Grounds, throw-in 3.30pm).

Tipperary manager Babs Keating has made five changes to his side for Sunday's NHL Division 1B showdown with Galway at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 3.30pm).

Philip Maher is expected to be missing from the Tipperary senior hurling panel for some time after the Borrisoleigh defender decided to withdraw himself temporarily from the squad.

Babs Keating has made six changes to his Tipperary team for Sunday's NHL Division 1B encounter with Kilkenny (Nowlan Park, throw-in 2.30pm).

In a repeat of last year's Munster SHC decider, Cork and Tipperary will contest next Sunday's Waterford Crystal Cup final after wins in the competition this afternoon.

There were wins for the hurlers of Clare, Limerick IT and Tipperary in today's preliminary round of the 2007 Waterford Crystal Cup.

The Tipperary County Board have confirmed that 2007 will see Michael 'Babs' Keating continuing in his role as the Premier county's senior hurling manager.

According to a statement issued by the Tipperary county board this afternoon, only two players have been dropped from the Tipperary senior hurling panel, and not five as previously reported.

Tipperary's team selection for Sunday's Munster SHC final could spell double trouble for champions Cork as both of the Kelly brothers, Eoin and Paul, will line out for the Premier men.