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.

Given my Clare loyalty and my Limerick connections to their underage Academy, I stole into Thurles yesterday like a thief in the night; head down, baseball cap pulled tightly down over my eyes, plain clothes, biro and notepad in my hand.

Ballyea’s main problem yesterday was their big names were too busy with a direct opponent, writes Anthony Daly.

If they’re handled properly and don’t burn out in their teens, here’s ten talents who’ll make a name for themselves in 2017...

Na Piarsaigh duo Kevin Downes and Shane Dowling proved their worth to Limerick with 1-8 between them as the Shannonsiders secured a first Allianz hurling league semi-final place in a decade.

Paddy Andrews has warned Dublin have maintained a 100% record in Division 1 so far this year without truly pushing themselves.

St Vincent’s booked their place in the Dublin SHC quarter-finals following an emphatic 6-21 to 0-13 victory over Parnells in Parnell Park on Saturday.

Dublin are set to field an unchanged team when they meet Cork in tomorrow afternoon's All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

David Treacy will line out at top of the left of Dublin when they take on Tipperary in tomorrow's Allianz Hurling League semi-final at Semple Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-11

Reigning All-Ireland and Allianz Hurling League champions Kilkenny make several changes from the side that scraped past Clare last Sunday for tomorrow’s winner-take-all clash with Cork in Nowlan Park.

Tomás Brady, Stephen Hiney and Conal Keaney will complete their recoveries from cruciate knee ligament injuries when they line out for Dublin against Laois tomorrow evening.

Peter Kelly and Paul Ryan have returned from injury to take their places in the Dublin team to face Galway in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play-off.

SINCE the beginning of this year I’ve had Tipperary as my All-Ireland favourites with Kilkenny a close second. Throughout the season I had seen nothing to make me change that opinion.

THE last time we saw this Tipperary team, in the Munster final five weeks ago, it was the attack winning all the plaudits, a seven-goal blitzing of Waterford.

IF ever a team was set up for a beating it’s Dublin in tomorrow’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final. Consider first their injury woes.

AS A long-time resident in Dublin, Tipperary native Richard Stakelum expects plenty of calls from home any week the Premier County are in All-Ireland action.

Dublin forward David Treacy is unlikely to play again in this year's All-Ireland Championship, after picking up a hamstring injury.

Stephen Hiney has had reconstructive surgery on the injured knee which ruled him out of the Dublin hurlers' Championship plans.

DUBLIN hurler Liam Rushe has called on his team-mates to put the lessons learned from the last two championship summers to use when they face Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final at Semple Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

Kilkenny 4-17 Dublin 1-15

Joey Boland will make his first appearance of the summer for Dublin in tomorrow's Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

WITH two crucial games in the qualifiers this evening and the Leinster final tomorrow, it has the makings of a great weekend for hurling.

WE have three hurling games this weekend with Cork, Laois, Dublin, Galway, Tipperary and Clare in championship action.

As expected, Tomás Brady has been restored to the Dublin defence for tomorrow night's Leinster SHC semi-final showdown with Galway in Tullamore (throw-in 7pm).

Dublin 2-21 Offaly 1-20, Croke Park

Defenders Maurice O'Brien and Oisin Gough will start for Dublin in tomorrow's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Offaly at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

IT’S almost unfortunate Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh isn’t commentating on Sunday’s Allianz HL Division 1 final. He would have been in his element reciting the native counties of the Dublin players’ parents.

Paul Schutte and Conor McCormack will line out for Dublin in their Allianz Hurling League Division 1 clash with Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh tomorrow (throw-in 2.30pm).

Wexford 2-15 Dublin 3-21

UL’s aspirations of winning the Fitzgibbon Cup title remain intact, but only after they were forced to survive a stern examination from UCD in yesterday’s quarter-final.

Three players who helped power Tipperary to victory over Galway in the recent All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship final have been shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year award - they are Seamus Hennessey, Brian O'Meara and Brendan Maher.

DUBLIN defender Oisin Gough has backed calls for Anthony Daly to remain in charge of the county’s senior hurlers for a third season.

Dublin senior hurling manager Anthony Daly has stuck with the same side which overcame Clare last weekend for Saturday's GAA All-Ireland SHC Phase 3 qualifier against Antrim at Croke Park (3pm).

DUBLIN captain Finn McGarry insists they need to seize their final chance at claiming provincial silverware in tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC decider against Wexford in Parnell Park at 7.30pm (live on TG4).

FORMER Cork goalkeeper Ger Cunningham believes the GAA may have to alter the scheduling of the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling championship given the demands on young players.

DUBLIN hurling ace Peter Kelly is optimistic that the U21 side’s shock win over Kilkenny will serve as a massive spur for the county senior team in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

KILKENNY U21 boss Michael Walsh is expecting a stern examination of his side’s credentials when they face off in a repeat of last year’s decider against Dublin in tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC semi-final in Nowlan Park at 7.30pm.

TYRONE attacker Stephen O’Neill is in no danger of missing the Ulster final on July 18, despite limping off with a foot injury after just 11 minutes of last Saturday’s semi-final against Down.