A powerful performance from Luke Swan left Kilkenny in a flap as the Dublin minor hurlers blasted their way to Leinster glory.

Kilkenny 0-17 NUI Galway 0-15

A strong finish ensured an inexperienced Kilkenny side advanced to the last four of the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup following a 0-17 to 0-15 win over NUI Galway at St. John's Park in Kilkenny.

The start of something special – that was the reaction of joint Clare manager Donal Moloney after his side’s outstanding second half performance helped them claim the county’s second U-21 title in four years.

One of the great attractions of the U21 championship over the years was that it was so spontaneous, so off-the-cuff, scorefests in which teams simply tore into each other.

The management teams from Clare and Kilkenny have opted for unchanged starting line-ups for tomorrow's Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship final in Thurles (throw-in 7pm).

While Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has built his reputation on innovation, on tactical thinking, his counterparts on the U21 team that has qualified for Saturday’s Bord Gáis All-Ireland U21 hurling championship final (7pm, Semple Stadium) have a more straightforward approach.

Something strange happened in Walsh Park last Sunday.

There will be those who think last Saturday’s All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final win by Kilkenny over Galway in Thurles is a guide towards what’s likely to happen in the senior final.

Kilkenny 4-16 Galway 2-15

A hat-trick of first-half goals helped carry Kilkenny into the Bord Gais All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling final, and Cats boss Richie Mulrooney was thankful of his sides good start.

Kilkenny Under 21 manager Richie Mulrooney has included Cillian Buckley in his starting 15 for Saturday's Bord Gáis All-Ireland semi-final against Galway at Semple Stadium.

A great opportunity beckons for Laois and Carlow as they clash in the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21 hurling semi-final at Dr Cullen Park tonight (7.30pm).

Star performer John Power produced four points during the closing five minutes, and boosted by another from Ger Aylward, 14-man Kilkenny cobbled together a battling victory over Westmeath yesterday.

It may have been a senior development squad team on duty, but the New Year began as the old one finished for Kilkenny — a victory, albeit a hard-earned one.

The hurlers of Galway, Laois and Kilkenny all claimed victories in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup quarter-finals this afternoon.

He may be entering his 13th season, which some might regard as being unlucky, but Kilkenny County Board had absolutely no misgivings when re-appointing Brian Cody as senior hurling manager last night.

HE may be entering his 13th season, which some might regard as being unlucky, but Kilkenny County Board had absolutely no misgivings when re-appointing Brian Cody as senior hurling manager last night.

IT WASN’T the historic success most Kilkenny fans travelled to Croke Park hoping for but, according to manager Richie Mulrooney, his minor team can take their own place in the county’s GAA annals.

IT was not as facile as their runaway last four win over Galway, but after a white knuckle ride at Croke Park yesterday Kilkenny were crowned All-Ireland minor hurling champions.

Kilkenny 2-10 Clare 0-14

HENRY SHEFFLIN and John Tennyson, the two wonder boys in the Kilkenny squad, have been named in the team to face Tipperary in the All-Ireland SHC final in Croke Park tomorrow.

DONAL MOLONEY reckons it was about 15 years since he’d laid eyes on his former school friend Gerry O’Connor when he walked into the Half Way House bar in Ennis a few years back.

THE theme of demolition jobs by Kilkenny hurling sides began early in Croke Park yesterday afternoon.

Kilkenny 5-19 Galway 0-15

TOMORROW’S ESB All-Ireland MHC semi-final in Croke Park is the latest in a series of compelling clashes between Kilkenny and Galway.

GALWAY and Kilkenny both have injury concerns ahead of next Sunday’s ESB All-Ireland MHC semi-final in Croke Park.

ANY belief that Kilkenny might be about to surrender the bragging rights at under-age level in Leinster to Dublin was emphatically dispelled at Croke Park yesterday.

SLICK Kilkenny demolished Offaly by 12 points in yesterday’s ESB Leinster MHC semi-final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore. The ‘Cats’, managed by Richie Mulrooney, face Dublin in the final next Sunday at Croke Park.

Galway minor hurling manager Mattie Murphy basked in his side's glory yesterday as the Tribesmen avenged last year's All-Ireland MHC final defeat to Kilkenny.

GALWAY’S excellence on the national minor hurling stage manifested itself once more in yesterday’s ESB All-Ireland MHC final.

LAST year’s heartbreaking All-Ireland minor final reversal still grates amongst the Galway hurling fraternity. But they have the opportunity for redemption in tomorrow afternoon’s decider in Croke Park.

THE ability to react to danger is an innate characteristic of a Kilkenny hurler – no matter how young.

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte and Kilkenny manager Brian Cody were amongst the attendees at the ceremony to launch the championships at Croke Park today.

KILKENNY coach Richie Mulrooney admitted his side got out of jail in yesterday’s All-Ireland MHC final against Galway.

SUBSTITUTE Danny Purcell was Kilkenny’s hero with a match-winning goal two minutes from the end of time in a disappointing All-Ireland MHC final yesterday.

WITH the county in line for a clean sweep of All-Ireland hurling titles and the intermediate one already in the bag, the minors of Kilkenny will endeavour to keep the ball rolling against Galway in their final tomorrow (1.30 pm).

KILKENNY minor hurling coach Richie Mulrooney is only too well aware that his side’s ambition of winning their 19th All-Ireland title will come under intense scrutiny when they line out against Galway in tomorrow’s final.

IT WAS the kind of performance every coach dreams about, when everything you do in training is replicated on match day.

GIVEN their tremendous record at minor hurling, it’s hard to credit that Kilkenny haven’t won the All-Ireland title since 2003.