THEIR winning performance was almost dwarfed by the massive achievement in ending a 74 year wait for a place in the Cork SHC final, but it took an outstanding team display from Carrigtwohill, highlighted by inspirational play from Niall McCarthy and superb defending, to thwart Midleton in Páirc Uí Chaoimhy esterday.

AFTER an enforced injury lay-off of almost nine months, King Henry is back — and triumphant too.

A CRACKING match, this NHL Division One game in Nowlan Park yesterday, a fitting occasion for the unveiling of the new stand at the O’Loughlin’s end of the ground, even if the result didn’t please the home contingent in the 7,124 crowd.

GALWAY may have their work cut out with Colm Cooper at Pearse Stadium tomorrow, but Joe Kernan’s side will have another dangerous Dr Crokes corner-forward to contend with too.

A SUCCESSFUL start to the their NHL title defence by Kilkenny in Nowlan Park yesterday, but – as you’d expect for this time of year – it wasn’t by any means a vintage performance from the champions.

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.

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.

ALL-IRELAND hurling champions Kilkenny make three changes in personnel and five positional switches from the win over Offaly for tomorrow’s Leinster hurling final with an unchanged Wexford.

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.

Carrigtwohill 3-13 Aghada 1-9

Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary 3-13

Kilkenny 3-18 UCD 0-14

LEINSTER manager John Conran has drafted Kilkenny duo Jackie Tyrrell and Eoin Larkin into his side for tomorrow’s M Donnelly Inter-provincial hurling final against Connacht at Pearse Stadium.

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.

Tipperary 0-10 Kilkenny 0-19

Ballygunner 1-14 Ballyduff Upper 0-8

Ballinacourty 4-9 Rathgormack 2-6

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.

Clonakilty 2-13 UCC 2-6

Kilkenny 6-28 Offaly 0-15

MENTION May 16, 2004 to Anthony Daly and he cringes.

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

Kilkenny 4-16 Galway 1-21

Waterford 0-17 Kilkenny 2-16

REGULAR defender Mark Foley is named at full-forward on the Limerick team to meet Cork in Sunday’s Allianz NHL tie at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Kilkenny 3-21 Tipperary 1-6

Newtownshandrum 16-3 Cork 14-3

Ardmore 3-12 Kilmacthomas 0-5

A DONEGAL GAA player has been suspended for a year following an incident in a Senior Football League match last June.

CORK coach Johnny Keane yesterday outlined the magnitude of the task confronting his charges in tomorrow’s All-Ireland IHC final clash with Kilkenny at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

SPECULATION that Tom Brewster might start for Fermanagh in Sunday’s Bank of Ireland All-Ireland SFC semi-final clash with Mayo at Croke Park has proved to be unfounded.

TYRONE goalkeeper Pascal McConnell has been passed fit to play in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final clash with Mayo at Croke Park.