The first provincial silverware of the year was up for grabs yesterday. Kerry and Cork both flirted with picking it up (particularly the latter) but neither could grasp it in the end.
And so the Kilkenny hurlers are the first to ascend the podium for provincial honours. Not a shocker, in truth. It is their 70th senior provincial title in their history (leaving them six behind the Kerry footballers in this field) and Brian Cody's 14th since he took over as manager at the end of 1998.
On Saturday, the hurling qualifiers saw the Wexford and Offaly banished for another year. After their adventure last year, this has been a chastening summer for Wexford. Dublin recuperated after their harrowing loss to Galway with a healthy win over a competitive Laois side.
And in the football, the Rossies bounced back from their sickening loss in Sligo, Longford held firm in a tight finish down in Clare, Fermanagh had too much for Antrim, and a nervy Kildare edged out Offaly.
