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In recent years Semple Stadium has become the spiritual home for the National Hurling League Final. Geographically it probably suited all participating counties. However with the Dubs reaching the final for the first time since 1946 the authorities in HQ have in one way made a constructive effort to attract a big crowd by holding it in Croke Park only to shoot themselves in the foot with the admission fee of €25.

Tipperary's emphatic semi-final victory over Waterford last Sunday guarantees us another mouth-watering All-Ireland final. Hurling fans worldwide will be looking forward to September 5 for Kilkenny v Tipp Part II. During the noughties it was Kilkenny and Cork who went head to head on a couple of occasions. The Cats are still going strong but the Rebels have passed the baton onto the Premier county. This is the first back to back final between these two counties. When you talk of sporting rivalries they simply don't come any greater than Kilkenny and Tipp. The colour, excitement and raw emotion of last year’s decider is a testament to this.

Back in 1998 Kilkenny supporters were getting edgy, we had gone through the longest barren spell in terms of winning Leinster championships. Five years had elapsed since the famous Bob O'Keeffe Cup had visited the Marble City.

The Galway hurlers have often been referred to as one of the great underachievers. The fact that they have not brought the Liam McCarthy back across the Shannon since 1988 probably has something to do with this tag. Judging by the way they disposed of the Cork challenge in the National Hurling League final at Thurles last Sunday evening they highlighted the fact they mean business this year. The first half of this game was as good as I've seen for some time, it was as close a championship pace as you're likely to see.

Connacht’s front-line players will return from injury for Saturday’s much-anticipated European quarter-final against Bourgoin at the Sportsground on Saturday (1pm).

Connacht’s front-line players will return from injury for Saturday’s much-anticipated European quarter-final against Bourgoin at the Sportsground on Saturday (1pm).

Connacht are facing an injury crisis ahead of tomorrow evening’s Magners League clash against title-chasing Edinburgh at the Galway Sportsground (6pm).

The game between Kilkenny and Cork will get a quick analysing next week due to the clash of Ballyhale Shamrocks and Portumna, the two best club teams in recent years. If Kilkenny and Tipperary were the two teams most neutrals wanted to see in last year’s All-Ireland final, these are the two that everyone wanted for a club final appearance.

The Kilkenny senior hurlers finally got their year up and running with a hard earned league victory over Offaly last Sunday in Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny intermediates’ great victory over Dublin after extra time last Saturday afternoon means once again it's a clean sweep of provincial titles. This achievement in itself would satisfy most hurling counties, but in Kilkenny the players are only too aware that their greatness is judged on their ability to land All-Ireland titles. Pressure it may be but that's the reality you face when you pull on the famous black and amber shirt. This Sunday, both the seniors and minors head to Croker hoping they can get the job done which would give them a tilt at All-Ireland glory.