Tipperary only scored two second-half points, but advanced to their fourth Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-final in a row, after a six-point win over Offaly at O'Connor Park today.

There are a lot of lazy offerings made by pundits who are judging all games against the gold standard matches and do very little to educate the viewer, says Humphrey Kelleher.

With Michael Duignan espousing the view that the game has never been in a better state and Donal Óg Cusack suggesting the quality has almost doubled in the two years since he’s left the scene, this year’s All-Ireland championship was another year to saviour.

Having contested one of the most dramatic All-Ireland finals in living memory Kilkenny and Tipperary are set to do battle once more this evening.

Sunday’s drawn All-Ireland final was among the greatest in living memory and of a greater intensity than last year’s contest between Cork and Clare.

By Peter O'Dwyer

As Cork make the long trip to Ballycastle on Sunday in the search for a handsome win over Antrim to boost their scoring difference, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes to the side that beat Offaly last weekend.

Waterford star John Mullane says the number of new players coming on stream with the county shows the “conveyor belt” that’s producing talent in the southeast.

You should never go back? Not according to Cork hurling supporters, who were ecstatic when Jimmy Barry-Murphy was reappointed as hurling manager earlier this year.

Lar and Fabio.

Three factors that may decide tomorrow’s outcome in Croke Park

SOME day, Tipperary hurlers will have another afternoon to forget.

A THURLES man told me last week he knew three different lads from around the town who are going out with former Miss Irelands. A relatively unscientific metric, sure, but more proof, as if any were needed, that confidence is currently coursing through Tipp veins.

LIMERICK IT were deserving victors in this entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup tie at Belfield yesterday, but UCD will look on it as a mission accomplished too.

LIMERICK IT nailed down a Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final berth at Moylish yesterday and left this year’s hosts on the brink of missing the finals weekend.

DAVID CUNNINGHAM, Glen Rovers, takes over the full back slot left vacant by the injury to Eoin Cadogan for Cork’s last game in the preliminary rounds of the Allianz NHL against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

IT was truly atrocious weather for hurling in the Mardyke yesterday afternoon, but the glittering hurling skills of Joe Canning managed to illuminate this Fitzgibbon Cup Group A clash.

UL 3-22 LIT 2-18, LIT Grounds (after extra-time)

HENRY SHEFFLIN broke new ground yesterday – and without swinging a hurley – by becoming the first player in the history of the All Stars to receive an award for a ninth year in a row.

Anyone who thought we might get past an exhilarating game like Sunday's All

Kilkenny 2-22 Tipperary 0-23

Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-07

IT IS a measure of the strength in depth of the Kilkenny panel that in a year when they lose the spine of their defence, they have still strolled to yet another All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final, their 13th in succession.

The All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship was launched at Croke Park yesterday by a number of stars who will be involved in it.

TIPPERARY star Seamus Callinan says the Premier County are keen to meet Kilkenny again in order to make up for their heavy defeat in Nowlan Park earlier in the league.

A DOUR game which endedwith an unexpected splash ofexcitement, yesterday’s Galway-Tipperary clash isn’t likely to live long in the memory of the 4,000 spectators.

Galway 1-15 Tipperary 1-17

Tipperary 2-19 Dublin 4-11, Semple Stadium

Kilkenny 5-17 Tipperary 1-12

KILKENNY will be short ten of their All-Ireland winning squad for their opening Allianz NHL game against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Clare 0-13 Limerick IT 0-12, Meelick

Munster have booked their place in the M Donnelly interprovincial hurling final with a 2-14 to 1-12 win over Ulster in Fermoy.

The official nominees for the 2008 Opel Gaelic Players Awards for hurling have been announced today by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny receiving the most nominations.

Kilkenny's scoring hero from the recent All-Ireland final Eddie Brennan and Tyrone's two-time All-Ireland-winning captain Brian Dooher top the list of nominees for the Vodafone GAA Player of the Year awards.

KILKENNY became the first county in the history of the GAA to win four All-Ireland hurling titles in the one year when their Under-21 side beat Tipperary in a magnificent Bord Gais final at Croke Park yesterday.

HAVING won the minor, intermediate and senior All-Ireland titles, Kilkenny bid to complete the clean sweep of hurling crowns with victory over Tipperary in tomorrow’s Bord Gáis U21 final at Croke Park.

Tipperary 1-20 Derry 0-10

KILKENNY will look to stay on course for a clean sweep on All-Ireland hurling titles, when they play Galway in the under-21 hurling championship semi-final in Thurles this afternoon (2.30pm).

GRACIOUS to the end, Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy wasn’t in the blame business after yesterday’s pulsating All-Ireland semi-final.

THERE WAS a sub-plot to yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Waterford and Tipperary, and not a minor sub-plot either.

Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18

Hugh Maloney, who has had injury problems with both shoulders this season, has been passed fit to play for Tipperary in Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final against Waterford.

MICHAEL WEBSTER is pushing hard for a place in Tipperary’s starting 15 for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Waterford.