Carlow's first home game in this year's Leinster senior hurling championship may have made for a heartwarming tale but Kilkenny have never been ones for romance or fairytales.

Brian Cody’s 21st championship campaign got off to a winning start thanks to an inspirational display by captain TJ Reid.

Cork will play in Group A of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 for 2020 after coming from behind to take a two-point win over Kilkenny in Nowlan Park this afternoon.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium director Bob Ryan says “there’ll be no issue with the pitch” for tomorrow week’s Munster SHC opener between Cork and Clare at the venue.

Meanwhile, Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan has handed a first league start to corner-forward Cian Darcy.

Offaly 3-11

Kilkenny 0-19 Wexford 2-18

Allianz HL Division 1A

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.

UUJ 1-7, Maynooth 4-23: A wonky Sat Nav and crazy five-hour bus journey didn’t upset the rhythm of Maynooth, who duly hammered University of Ulster to keep alive hopes of making the knockout stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Kilkenny 0-15 Wexford 0-14: A pointed injury-time free from Alan Murphy secured victory for Kilkenny in a hugely competitive Walsh Cup senior hurling semi-final at O’Kennedy Park yesterday.

Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-12 O’Loughlin Gaels 0-19: Threequarters way through at Nowlan Park yesterday the 9,130 attendance at last began to stir. The first half had been tepid.

Wexford U21s 4-17 Kilkenny 1-09: Wexford hurling may have suffered over recent weeks but they bounced back with a scintillating display to claim a three-in-a-row of provincial titles with a marvellous 17-point victory over arch rivals Kilkenny in their Leinster final clash before a crowd of 7,800 at Innovate Wexford Park yesterday evening.

Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21HC fi nal

Kilkenny 2-14 Carlow 2-12: They never actually trailed but Kilkenny still departed Netwatch Cullen Park wiping beads of sweat from their brow last night.

Leinster U21 HC semi-finals Kilkenny v Carlow, Netwatch Cullen Park (J Heffernan, Wexford), 7.30pm.

Kilkenny 4-12 Dublin 2-16: Kilkenny advanced to the semi-finals of the Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21 Hurling Championship after defeating Dublin by 4-12 to 2-16 at Parnell Park last night.

Two first-half Andrew Gaffney goals in Templemore secured Kilkenny CBS’s passage to the Masita All-Ireland Colleges Senior A hurling championship final.

Kilkenny CBS 2-13 St Kieran’s College 0-13