“Every game is an All-Ireland” is Kilkenny captain Brian Kennedy’s mantra as he leads the county into this evening’s Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21 final against Wexford at Wexford Park (7.30pm).

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has made two enforced changes for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC second phase qualifier against Tipperary at Nowlan Park (throw-in 7pm).

Jackie Tyrrell has recovered from a quad muscle injury to be named in the Kilkenny team for tomorrow's Leinster SHC semi-final replay against Dublin in Portlaoise (throw-in 7pm).

Erin's Own clubman Conor Fogarty will replace the injured Jackie Tyrrell in the Kilkenny defence when they meet Dublin in Sunday's Leinster SHC semi-final at O'Moore Park (throw-in 3.50pm).

Defending champions Kilkenny closed out their first win of this year's Allianz Hurling League yesterday in efficient fashion against Waterford, but hamstring injuries to corner backs Jackie Tyrrell and Paul Murphy tempered the celebrations.

2008 All-Ireland minor winning captain Tom Breen will start for Kilkenny when they launch their Allianz Hurling League title defence away to Galway tomorrow.

There are those who look at the Clare team for this game in Thurles this evening, the all-senior half-back line (Seadna Morey, Conor Ryan, Patrick O’Connor), the established senior stars in midfield (Colm Galvin) and up front (Aaron Cunningham, Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath), then look at Kilkenny against Galway last week in the All-Ireland senior final, not a single U21 player with even a minute of game-time, and think — Clare’s final to lose, surely.

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).

2012 has already been a marquee year for Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley, the year he made the breakthrough to senior.

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.

Kilkenny v Galway in Thurles this Sunday in the second of the two All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-finals (Clare v Antrim 4pm, Kilkenny vGalway 6pm) — a prelude to what might happen on September 9 in Croke Park, the big one?

There is one enforced change to the Kilkenny team to face Galway in tomorrow's Leinster SHC final, with Noel Hickey replacing the injured JJ Delaney in defence.

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).

Brothers Richie and Paddy Hogan have been drafted into the Kilkenny team for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final against Cork at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

A feature of this year’s Allianz Hurling League has been the number of exceptionally talented youngsters coming through and having a real impact.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody praised opponents Cork after they ended the Cats' winning streak in this year's Allianz Hurling League with a 1-17 to 1-15 defeat.

John Mullane returns to the Waterford side for tomorrow’s crucial Allianz League Division 1A clash with Galway at Pearse Stadium (2.30pm).

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.

HE may have an All-Ireland senior medal in his back pocket and more than a decade of representation at the elite level of the intercounty game behind him, yet Niall Gilligan remains on the hunt for glory.

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.

DUBLIN have the perfect opportunity for revenge presented to them when they face off against Kilkenny in tomorrow afternoon’s ESB Leinster MHC final in Croke Park at 2pm.

Kilkenny minor selector Brendan O'Sullivan believes that it will be extremely tough for his side to put back-to-back All-Ireland successes together, when they face Galway in the ESB All-Ireland Minor Hurling final today at Croke Park (throw-in 1.15pm).

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.

CONOR O’MAHONY is set to captain Tipperary in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final against Kilkenny at Croke Park.

GAA chiefs yesterday announced that the country’s lesser lights are set to take centre stage in Croke Park on July 4th, with the fixing of the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup deciders.