Have all the retirements weakened Kilkenny at all?

Limerck and Waterford draw; Wins for Offaly and Wexford

CIT 1-17 UCC 0-19

UCC 0-14 WIT 0-9

In a fascinating climax to the group stages of the Waterford SHC, three-time winners Lismore and 2012 runners-up Dungarvan were the major casualties as Tallow, Ballygunner and Abbeyside all pressed on to the quarter-finals.

MUNSTER U21 HC SEMI-FINAL:

Waterford veteran Tony Browne is hopeful of playing his first county hurling of the year in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier clash with Westmeath in Cusack Park (5pm).

Kilkenny have received a boost with the news that former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly could be available for Sunday’s Leinster SHC semi-final with Dublin in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

Case for the prosecution.

Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15

Under-21 players Paudie Prendergast, Jamie Barron and Jake Dillon will make their senior Championship debuts for Waterford against Clare in Sunday's Munster SHC quarter-final at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

Waterford had four championship debutants against Clare last year in the first round of the Munster championship. This Sunday against the same opposition, they unveil three more in Paudie Prendergast, Jamie Barron and Jake Dillon.

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.

The Waterford hurlers face into the new season without their two first choice midfielders from last summer's Championship, Stephen Molumphy and Philip Mahony.

It bordered on travesty that this gripping All-Ireland Fresher hurling championship semi-final at Carriganore yesterday should end up with a loser.

THURLES CBS survived a late rally by Blackwater Community School at Clonmel yesterday to book their place in the knockout stages of the Harty Cup after Christmas.

THIS all-Waterford Dr Harty Cup Munster Colleges hurling tie at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday may not have been a classic, but it was a feisty and no-nonsense local derby that ended in a deserved victory for Lismore’s Blackwater Community School.

LISMORE made a stunning comeback to force a draw with titleholders Ballygunner in a highly charged Waterford SHC semi-final at Dungarvan’s Fraher Field yesterday.

WATERFORD will include five of the team which won last year’s Munster MHC for tonight’s semi-final against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

JUST over six weeks ago, Clare beat Waterford in the first round of the Munster MHC, a single point the difference down in Dungarvan.

JAMES O’BRIEN scored the vital goal with less than three minutes remaining to give Ard Scoil Rís victory in an enthralling Dr Harty Cup (Munster Colleges SHC) tie at Tipperary Town yesterday.

TWO of Waterford's most renowned hurling clubs find themselves in the last chance saloon this weekend, with one destined to surrender their senior championship status for 2005.

Nire 3-14 Kilmacthomas0-7

Nire 3-14 Kilmacthomas0-7