SCENE SET FOR INTRIGUING ALL-IRELAND HURLING FINAL What has been a memorable All-Ireland hurling championship is all set for a dramatic climax when Kilkenny and Waterford go head to head in the final in Croke Park on Sunday week, September 7 (3.30pm). It's a very special occasion for both counties. Kilkenny are seeking their 6th title this decade and their 31st in all which would put them into the lead - one ahead of Cork - on the all-time honours table. And then there's the three-in-a-row element as Kilkenny bid to complete the All-Ireland treble for the first time since 1911-12-13. Cork were the last to win the three-in-a-row in 1976-77-78. Waterford are back in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1963 when they lost in most unusual circumstances to Kilkenny by 4-17 to 6-8. It was the first time since 1910 (Wexford 7-0 Limerick 6-2) that a team had lost the final after scoring six goals. Waterford last won the title in 1959 when they beat Kilkenny in a replay. PATHS TO THE FINAL Kilkenny Kilkenny 2-24 Offaly 0-12 (Leinster semi-final) Kilkenny 5-21 Wexford 0-17 (Leinster final) Kilkenny 1-23 Cork 0-17 (All-Ireland semi-final) Average For: 2-25; Average Against: 0-16. Kilkenny Scorers H Shefflin........1-27 (0-21f, 0-2 '65's, 1-0 pen) E Brennan.........2-8 E Larkin..........1-9 A Fogarty..........2-5 J Fitzpatrick.....0-6 (1f) M Comerford...1-2 R Power.............1-2 M Rice...............0-2 TJ Reid................0-2 D Lyng................0-2 M Fennelly........0-1 R Hogan..............0-1 W O'Dwyer........0-1 Waterford Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23 (Munster quarter-final) Waterford 6-18 Antrim 0-15 (R1 qualifiers) Waterford 2-18 Offaly 0-18 (R2 qualifiers) Waterford 2-19 Wexford 3-15 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18 (All-Ireland semi-final) Average For: 2-21; Average Against: 1-19. Waterford scorers E Kelly.........................6-34 (1-25 frees, 0-2 '65s') J Mullane....................2-18 E McGrath.................0-13 D Bennett....................0-11 (0-10 frees) D Shanahan................1-5 S Molumphy...............1-5 G Hurney....................1-1 S Prendergast..............0-3 J Nagle.........................0-4 D Coffey......................0-1 P Flynn........................0-1 M Walsh......................0-1 J Kennedy....................0-1 LAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH Kilkenny 3-12 Waterford 0-18 (2004 All-Ireland semi-final) Kilkenny: James McGarry; Michael Kavanagh, Noel Hickey, James Ryall; Tommy Walsh, Peter Barry, JJ Delaney; Derek Lyng, Ken Coogan (0-1); Eddie Brennan (1-1), John Hoyne, DJ Carey (0-2); 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (0-1), Martin Comerford (0-3), Henry Shefflin (2-4). Subs: None Waterford: Ian O'Regan; Eoin Murphy, Declan Prendergast, James Murray; Tony Browne, Ken McGrath, Brian Phelan; Dave Bennett, Eoin Kelly (0-1); Dan Shanahan, Michael Walsh (0-1), Paul Flynn (0-13); Shane O'Sullivan, Seamus Prendergast, Eoin McGrath. Subs: Jack Kennedy (0-3) for O'Sullivan; Paul O'Brien for Eoin McGrath. LAST NATIONAL LEAGUE CLASH Kilkenny 0-25 Waterford 0-14 (16 March 2008, Nowlan Park) Kilkenny: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, J Dalton, J Tyrrell; J Ryall, B Hogan, PJ Delaney; T Walsh, M Fennelly (0-2); R Hogan (0-7), M Rice (0-4), J Fitzpatrick (0-3)), E Brennan (0-2), M Comerford (0-4), A Fogarty (0-3). Sub: D Cody for Delaney. Waterford: C Hennessy; A Kearney, R Foley, K Moran; B Phelan (0-2), K McGrath, J Kennedy; S O'Sullivan (0-1), M Walsh; D Shanahan, S Prendergast (0-1), E Kelly (0-8); S Walsh, D Prendergast, J Mullane (0-1). Subs: E McGrath for D Prendergast, S Molumphy (0-1) for S Walsh; S Casey for Mullane, P Kearney for Shanahan. PREVIOUS KILKENNY-WATERFORD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES This All-Ireland final clash will be the 7th championship meeting between Kilkenny and Waterford. Kilkenny won four of the previous six to Waterford's one while there was one draw. 2004: Kilkenny 3-12 Waterford 0-18 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1998: Kilkenny 1-11 Waterford 1-10 (All-Ireland semi-final) 1963: Kilkenny 4-17 Waterford 6-8 (All-Ireland final) 1959: Waterford 3-12 Kilkenny 1-10 (All-Ireland final replay) 1959: Waterford 1-17 Kilkenny 5-5 (All-Ireland final draw) 1957: Kilkenny 4-10 Waterford 3-12 (All-Ireland final) ALL-IRELAND HONOURS TABLE 30: KILKENNY (1904-1905-1907-1909-1911-1912-1913-1922-1932-1933-1935-1939-1947-1957-1963-1967-1969-1972-1974-1975-1979-1982-1983-1992-1993-2000-2002-2003-2006-2007. 30: Cork (1890-1892-1893-1894-1902-1903-1919-1926-1928-1929-1931-1941-1942-1943-1944-1946-1952-1953-1954-1966-1970-1976-1977-1978-1984-1986-1990-1999-2004-2005). 25: Tipperary (1887-1895-1896-1898-1899-1900-1906-1908-1916-1925-1930-1937-1945-1949-1950-1951-1958-1961-962-1964-1965-1971-1989-1991-2001) 7: Limerick (1897-1918-21-34-36-40-73). 6: Dublin (1889-1917-1920-1924-1927-1938). 6: Wexford (1910-1955-1956-1960-1968-1996) 4: Galway (1923-1980-1987-1988) 4: Offaly (1981-1985-1994-1998) 3: Clare (1914-1995-1997) 2: WATERFORD (1948-1959) 1: Kerry (1891) 1: Laois (1915) 1: London (1901) HOW KILKENNY WON THEIR 30 ALL-IRELAND TITLES 1904 - Kilkenny 1-9 Cork 1-8 1905 - Kilkenny 7-7 Cork 2-9 1907 - Kilkenny 3-12 Cork 4-8 1909 - Kilkenny 4-6 Tipperary 0-12 1911 - Kilkenny 3-3 Tipperary 2-1 1912 - Kilkenny 2-1 Cork 1-3 1913 - Kilkenny 2-4 Tipperary 1-2 1922 - Kilkenny 4-2 Tipperary 2-6 1932 - Kilkenny 3-3 Clare 2-3 1933 - Kilkenny 1-7 Limerick 0-6 1935 - Kilkenny 2-5 Limerick 2-4 1939 - Kilkenny 2-7 Cork 3-3 1947 - Kilkenny 0-14 Cork 2-7 1957 - Kilkenny 4-10 Waterford 3-12 1963 - Kilkenny 4-17 Waterford 6-8 1967 - Kilkenny 3-8 Tipperary 2-7 1969 - Kilkenny 2-15 Cork 2-9 1972 - Kilkenny 3-24 Cork 5-11 1974 - Kilkenny 3-19 Limerick 1-13 1975 - Kilkenny 2-22 Galway 2-10 1979 - Kilkenny 2-12 Galway 1-8 1982 - Kilkenny 3-18 Cork 1-13 1983 - Kilkenny 2-14 Cork 2-12 1992 - Kilkenny 3-10 Cork 1-12 1993 - Kilkenny 2-17 Galway 1-15 2000 - Kilkenny 5-15 Offaly 1-14 2002 - Kilkenny 2-20 Clare 0-19 2003 - Kilkenny 1-14 Cork 1-11 2006 - Kilkenny 1-16 Cork 1-13 2007 - Kilkenny 2-19 Limerick 1-15 HOW WATERFORD WON THEIR TWO ALL-IRELAND FINALS 1948 - Waterford 6-7 Dublin 4-2 1959 - Waterford 3-12 Kilkenny 1-10 (replay) 1959 - Waterford 1-17 Kilkenny 5-5 (draw) PREVIOUS ALL-IRELAND THREE-IN-A-ROW WINNNERS 4 - Cork (1892-93-94; 1941-42-43*; 1952-53-54; 1976-77-78) 2 - Tipperary (1898-99-2000; 1949-50-51) 1 - Kilkenny (1911-12-13) *Cork went on to complete the four-in-a-row in 1944 EOIN KELLY TO TOP THE SCORING CHARTS Waterford's Eoin Kelly is set to top the scoring charts in the 2008 All-Ireland hurling championships. He has scored a total of 6-34 (52 points) in four games (average 13 points per game) which put him well clear of the field. Galway's Joe Canning scored 4-27 (39 points) in three games while Brian Carroll (Offaly) scored 0-38 in four games. Henry Shefflin tops the Kilkenny scoring lists on 1-27 from three games. GAA HURLING ALL IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL SHORTS *Kilkenny have remained unbeaten in the championship since losing to Galway in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final. They have won 13 games since then. *Waterford manager, Davy Fitzgerald is bidding to emulate Michael Bond (Galway) who took over in Offaly during the 1998 championship season and led them to an All-Ireland success. *Brian Cody is managing Kilkenny into an All-Ireland final for the 8th time. Kilkenny won it under his guidance in 2000-2002-2003-2006-2007 and lost in 1999 and 2004. *Waterford are bidding to become the third side to win the All-Ireland final after losing in the provincials. Offaly (1998), Cork (2004) were the previous two who made it through the qualifier route. *What odds a draw? The last All-Ireland hurling final to end level was all of 49 years ago in 1959. Ironically it was between Kilkenny and Waterford who finished all square (5-5 to 1-17). Waterford won the replay by 3-12 to 1-10. "Kilkenny have yet to concede a goal in this year's championship, having kept 'clean sheets' against Offaly, Wexford and Cork. 2008 GAA HURLING ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS ULSTER May 11: First round: Monaghan 2-15 Cavan 1-16, Kingspan Breffni Park; Tyrone 1-11 Fermanagh 2-7, Lisnaskea. May 17: Second round: Monaghan 1-15 Donegal 1-14, Clones. May 18: Second round: London 2-13 Tyrone 1-6, Omagh. May 24: Quarter-final: London 2-23 Armagh 4-16, Newry. May 25: Quarter-final: Derry 7-23 Monaghan 3-13, Celtic Park. June 1: Semi-finals: Antrim 2-17 Derry 1-12; Down 4-16 London 1-16, Casement Park. June 15: Final: Antrim 3-18 Down 2-16 Casement Park. LEINSTER May 25: Quarter-finals: Offaly 4-22 Laois 2-12; Dublin 3-21 Westmeath 0-11, Portlaoise. June 14: Semi-final: Dublin 0-19 Wexford 2-13, Nowlan Park. June 15: Semi-final: Kilkenny 2-24 Offaly 0-12, Portlaoise. June 22: Semi-final (replay): Wexford 2-15 Dublin 1-15, Croke Park July 6: Final: Kilkenny 5-21 Wexford 0-17, Croke Park. MUNSTER June 1: Quarter-final: Clare 2-26 Waterford 0-23, Gaelic Grounds. June 15: Semi-final: Tipperary 1-19 Cork 1-13, Pairc Ui Chaoimh. June 22: Semi-final: Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16, Thurles. July 13: Final: Tipperary 2-21 Clare 0-19, Gaelic Grounds. ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS June 28: Round 1: Galway 6-21 Antrim 1-10, Casement Park. July 5: Round 2: Galway 1-26 Laois 0-9, Pearse Stadium; Waterford 6-18 Antrim 0-15, Walsh Park. July 12: Round 3: Cork 1-17 Dublin 0-15, Pairc Ui Chaoimh; Offaly 3-19 Limerick 0-18, Gaelic Grounds. July 19: Round 4: Cork 0-23 Galway 2-15, Thurles; Waterford 2-18 Offaly 0-18, Thurles. ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS July 27: Quarter-finals: Waterford 2-19 Wexford 3-15, Thurles; Cork 2-19 Clare 2-17, Thurles. August 10: Semi-final: Kilkenny 1-23 Cork 0-17, Croke Park. August 17: Semi-final: Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18, Croke Park. September 7: All-Ireland final: Kilkenny v Waterford, Croke Park. Relegation play-off July 19: Antrim 2-18 Laois 0-16, Navan. Relegation/promotion play-off Aug 9: Laois 4-18 Carlow 3-11, Dr.Cullen Park. CHRISTY RING CUP RESULTS AND TABLES GROUP 2A June 28: Westmeath 3-23 Roscommon 0-13, Cusack Park. July 5: Wicklow 3-21 Roscommon 0-12, Athleague July 12: Wicklow 1-18 Westmeath, 1-15, Arklow .............................P.............W.........D......L....For...........Against..............Pts Wicklow.............2...............2..........0.......0......4-39...........1-27..................4 Westmeath.........2...............1..........0.......1......4-38..........1-31...................2 Roscommon.......2...............0..........0.......2......0-25...........6-44...................0 GROUP 2B June 28: Carlow 2-24 London 1-9, Dr.Cullen Park. July 5: Down 1-25 London 2-8, Ruislip. July 12: Down 3-13 Carlow 0-9, Newry. .........................P...............W.........D......L......For..........Against............Pts Down...............2.................2.........0.......0.......4-38..........2-27..................4 Carlow............2.................1..........0.......1......2-43..........4-22...................2 London...........2..................0.........0.......2......3-17...........3-49..................0 GROUP 2C June 28: Meath 0-16 Mayo 0-12, Pairc Tailteann. July 5: Mayo 0-18 Kerry 0-15, Castlebar; July 12: Kerry 7-11 Meath 4-13, Tralee. ......................P.................W.........D.....L......For...........Against..........Pts Kerry...........2..................1..........0........1.....7-26............4-31................2 Mayo............2..................1..........0........1....0-30............0-31................2 Meath...........2..................1..........0.......1.....4-29...........7-23.................2 GROUP 2D June 28: Kildare 2-28 Derry 1-12, Newbridge. July 5: Derry 4-14 Armagh 5-6, Celtic Park; July 12: Kildare 5-16 Armagh 0-13, Keady. ...................P..................W.........D........L....For........Against.............Pts Kildare......2...................2..........0.........0.....7-44........1-25..................4 Derry.........2..................1...........0.........1.....5-26........7-34..................2 Armagh.....2..................0...........0.........2.....5-19.........9-30.................0 Quarter-finals: July 19: Carlow 1-14 Kerry 2-4, Tralee; Westmeath 2-22 Kildare 3-13, Newbridge; Mayo 3-18 Wicklow 1-22, Aughrim (after extra-time); Derry 1-20 Down 0-18, Newry. Semi-finals: July 26: Westmeath 1-19 Derry 0-12, Mullingar; Carlow 1-16 Mayo 0-17, Castlebar. Final: Aug 3: Carlow 3-22 Westmeath 4-16, Tullamore (after extra-time) July 26: Relegation play-offs Meath 3-19 Roscommon 3-6, Mullingar; Armagh 0-15 London 1-9, Newry. Aug 2: London 3-16 Roscommon 3-12, Portlaoise. Aug 9 Relegation/promotion play-off Roscommon 1-17 Sligo 1-13, Carrick-on-Shannon. NICKY RACKARD CUP RESULTS AND TABLES Group 3A June 28: Louth 1-13 Fingal 0-14, Dundalk. July 5: Fingal 3-15 Longford 3-7, Parnell Park. July 12: Longford 0-15 Louth 0-13, Pearse Park. .......................P............W...........D.........L...............For.........Against.............Pts Fingal............2............. 1............0..........1...............3-29..........4-20.................2 Louth............2..............1............0..........1...............1-26..........0-29.................2 Longford......2..............1............0...........1...............3-22...........3-28................2 Group 3B June 28: Non Ards 3-16 Leitrim 2-16, Newry. July 5: Leitrim 2-13 Fermanagh 1-11, Carrick-on-Shannon. July 12: Non Ards 4-15 Fermanagh 2-13, Enniskillen. .......................P............W...........D.........L...............For.........Against.............Pts Non Ards........2.............2.............0.........0................7-31..........4-29.................4 Leitrim...........2.............1.............0.........1................4-29..........4-27.................2 Fermanagh.....2............0.............0..........2...............3-24...........6-28................0 Group 3C June 28: Tyrone 2-12 Donegal 2-11, Letterkenny. July 5: Monaghan 3-13 Tyrone 3-8, Omagh. July 12: Monaghan 0-19 Donegal 1-15, Clones. .......................P............W...........D.........L...............For.........Against.............Pts Monaghan.....2...........2.............0...........0................3-32..........4-23.................4 Tyrone..........2.............1.............0..........1................5-20.........5-24.................2 Donegal.........2............0.............0..........2................3-26..........2-31................0 Group 3D ...........................P............W...........D.........L...............For.........Against.............Pts Sligo...................1..............1.............0.........1................4-30........3-17.....................2 Cavan................2..............1.............0.........1................1-23.........3-27..................2 Warwickshire...2..............0............0..........2................2-22.........1-31...................0 June 28: Sligo 3-15 Cavan 1-7, Markievicz Park. July 5: Cavan 0-16 Warwickshire 0-12, Kingspan Breffni Park. July 12: Sligo 1-15 Warwickshire 2-10, ***** July 19: Quarter-finals: Fingal 1-19 Leitrim 0-12; Louth 4-13 South Down 2-16; Monaghan 1-11 Cavan 0-9; Sligo 2-15 Tyrone 2-11. July 26: Semi-finals: Louth 0-18 Monaghan 1-13, Clones (after extra-time); Sligo 1-16 Fingal 0-11, Markievicz Park. Aug 3: Final: Sligo 3-19 Louth 3-10, Croke Park. Tweet

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