And it’s back…after a thrilling summer of hurling in 2018, the championship action in 2019 is about to commence. It’s Leinster where the focus is on this evening as Kilkenny take on Dublin in the opening game in the province.

Nowlan Park hosts the round-robin clash with Brian Cody the familiar presence in charge of Kilkenny as he goes up against a Dublin team guided by Mattie Kenny, the Galway native and Cuala All-Ireland club winning supremo, for the first time in the championship arena.

Throw-in is 7pm and we’re counting down to the action.

There’s also a few football encounters that we’ll be keeping an eye on tonight. After the first shots were fired in Connacht last Sunday, it’s the turn of Leinster and Munster for their openers this evening.

• Leinster SFC: Wicklow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7pm.
• Munster SFC: Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 7pm; Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, 7pm.

And there’s also hurling ties in the Joe McDonagh Cup of interest today. Later on it’s Offaly against Laois in Tullamore at 7pm and currently in Dunloy, it’s Antrim entertaining Kerry. 11 minutes into the second half and it’s 2-11 to 0-11 in favour of Antrim.

TV coverage of tonight’s game is on Sky Sports. Here’s the teams named to start:

Dublin

1. Alan Nolan (St. Brigids)

2. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
4. Daire Gray (Whitehall Colmcille)

5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
6. Seán Moran (Cuala)
7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)

8. Seán Treacy (Cuala)
9. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala)

10. David Treacy (Cuala)
11. Danny Sutcliffe (St. Jude’s)
12. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)

13. Oisín O’Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Liam Rushe (St. Patrick’s Palmerstown)
15. Eamon Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra)

Kilkenny

1. Darren Brennan (St Lachtain’s)

2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)

5. Enda Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)
6. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7. Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own)

8. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
9. Alan Murphy (Glenmore)

10. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
11. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

13. Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Ger Aylward (Glenmore)

Couple of late changes for Dublin that we’re hearing of – Tomas Connolly and Paul Ryan in for Daire Gray and Oisin O’Rorke.

Kevin O’Brien is on duty in Nowlan Park for The42, here’s his pre-match offering.

There’s a steady stream of supporters filling into Nowlan Park ahead of the 7pm throw-in and the pitch is looking in superb condition. Dublin fans have travelled in numbers and they arrive confident of victory against a Cats side that are missing some key men.

There’s plenty of pressure on Kilkenny goalkeeper Darren Brennan, who replaces injured netminder Eoin Murphy between the posts. The Cats have an inexperienced spine to their defence, but have Dublin the firepower to exploit it? We’re in for an entertaining curtain-raiser to the 2019 championship.

So both sides really eager to a strong start to their campaigns, let’s see how it goes as the game is about to begin.

Dublin aiming to beat Kilkenny in the championship tonight for only the second time since 1942.

And we’re under way at Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny 0-1 Dublin 0-0
Alan Murphy pops over a point from the right wing and Kilkenny grab the opening score of the game.

Kilkenny 0-2 Dublin 0-1
And now Dublin are off the mark, David Treacy fouled and the Cuala man obliges from the free. Then Colin Fennelly is fouled at the other end by Eoghan O’Donnell, pivotal match up that, and TJ Reid slots over his first chance from a placed ball.

Kilkenny 0-2 Dublin 0-2
Level for the second time, Darragh O’Connell showing good footwork close to the sideline and clipping over a lovely point.

Dublin 0-3 Kilkenny 0-2
Paul Ryan on target from play and Dublin creep ahead for the first time in the game.

Dublin 0-3 Kilkenny 0-3
Enda Morrissey brings Kilkenny level in the sunshine at Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny protesting that it was soft but Dublin get the penalty. Liam Rushe fouled with Conor Fogarty booked. Good work by Fergal Whitely in the build up to that for Dublin.

Sean Moran will take it, the Cuala man comes upfield.

Dublin 1-3 Kilkenny 0-4
Such a well-struck shot by Sean Moran, planted the ball into the corner as Kilkenny goalkeeper Darren Brennan was rooted to the spot. Big boost for Dublin but Kilkenny try to recover with Alan Murphy popping over a point.

Dublin 1-3 Kilkenny 0-5
Now the gap is down to one, Walter Walsh striking over the latest Kilkenny point.

Dublin 1-4 Kilkenny 0-6
Treacy and Reid both step up to the mark to nail frees. Kilkenny have settled well after the setback of conceding that goal.

Here’s the latest state of play in the evening’s other GAA games:

Munster SFC
Clare 0-4 Waterford 0-0
 Tipperary 0-3 Limerick 0-2

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-4 Wicklow 0-3

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 1-5 Offaly 0-5

Dublin 1-6 Kilkenny 0-6
Three in it now with Danny Sutcliffe flighting over a neat point. He’s a player Dublin will hope can shine here. After that Sean Moran knocked over a long-range free.

Dublin 1-7 Kilkenny 0-7
Reid pointed a free but Dublin quickly go three clear again thanks to Tomas Connolly.

The rival managers for tonight’s game.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 1-7 Kilkenny 0-8
Quiet so far but Padraig Walsh showcased what he could do there, sprinting clear of the cover and finishing in style for a Kilkenny point.

Dublin 1-9 Kilkenny 0-8
It could have been a Kilkenny goal at one end but Eoghan O’Donnell got back to deny Walter Walsh. From the turnover Dublin raided, working the ball cleverly upfield and Sutcliffe smashed over a point. Then a poo Kilkenny puckout is capitalised on by Dublin with Rushe pointing.

Dublin 1-11 Kilkenny 0-8
And now the gap looks sizeable. Sean Treacy pushes Dublin five clear and then Fergal Whitely follows it up with another to become their 9th scorer of the game in the process.  

Latest scores:

Munster SFC
Clare 0-8 Waterford 0-2
Limerick 0-6 Tipperary 0-4

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-7 Wicklow 0-3

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 0-10 Offaly 1-7

Kilkenny's Tommy Walsh and Dublin's Eamon Dillon. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

So close to a second Dublin goal! Paul Ryan gathered a Shane Barrett delivery and stepped inside before unleashing a stinging drive that flashes just past the post.

Dublin 1-11 Kilkenny 0-10
A couple of pointed frees from TJ Reid keeping Kilkenny in touch.

Now that was interesting. Before the second of those frees from Reid, he tried to work it short to Colin Fennelly but a Dublin mentor, who was on the pitch, intercepted to catch the sliotar. Kilkenny supporters and manager Brian Cody were furious with that.

Liam Rushe fouled again for a Dublin penalty, awarded after a foul by Paul Murphy who was booked.

And it’s blazed over the bar by Sean Moran!

Dublin 1-12 Kilkenny 0-10
We’re in to first-half injury-time and Moran didn’t properly connect with that as he lifted before striking over the bar for Dublin.

Dublin 1-12 Kilkenny 0-11
And Reid converts a free for Kilkenny after Colin Fennelly was fouled.

Half-time scores:

Munster SFC
Clare 0-8 Waterford 0-2
Limerick 0-8 Tipperary 0-8

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-9 Wicklow 0-4

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 0-13 Offaly 1-10

So Dublin ahead by four at the break, couple of penalties for them in that half after Liam Rushe was fouled. They only grabbed a goal from one of them so Kilkenny still in the hunt. Big second-half of action ahead.

Second-half action under way at Nowlan Park.

Sub: Kilkenny bring in Richie Leahy for Enda Morrissey for the second half.

Dublin 1-13 Kilkenny 0-13
Leahy wins an early free for Kilkenny and it’s converted by Reid.

Dublin 1-14 Kilkenny 0-13
David Treacy on target and Dublin are back in front by four.

Dublin 1-14 Kilkenny 0-14
Yellow card for Dublin defender Shane Barrett for a foul on TJ Reid, fortunate the punishment wasn’t greater. Reid slots over the free.

Dublin 1-15 Kilkenny 0-15
The tale of free-takers scoring continues in the second half as David Treacy swings over a point to push Dublin four clear. Then Colin Fennelly is fouled at the other end and it creates the chance for Reid to nail a point.

Richie Hogan on for Kilkenny as David Treacy uncharacteristically misses a chance to point a free for Dublin.

Reid off target then for Kilkenny from distance. Still three in it.

We’re still waiting for the first score from play in this second half. 

Kilkenny 1-15 Dublin 1-15
And there it is, the first score from play in the second half! It’s Kilkenny’s talisman who delivers when they needed it most. TJ Reid gathered from Padraig Walsh, worked the space before flicking a pass to Colin Fennelly, surging forward to gather a return pass from his Ballyhale team-mate and finish with aplomb to the net.

Latest scores:

Munster SFC
Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-4
Limerick 0-9 Tipperary 0-8

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-11 Wicklow 0-5

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 2-15 Offaly 2-13

Dublin 1-16 Kilkenny 1-16
Treacy holds his nerve to nail a free to make amends after the one he had earlier missed for Dublin. Then Reid scores a ’65 for Kilkenny and we’re level once more. Riain McBride in for Dublin for Tomas Connolly.

TJ Reid celebrates scoring his goal for Kilkenny. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 1-16
Chris Crummey launches over an inspirational point for Dublin from wing-back, firing over under huge pressure on the sideline.

Yellow cards shown all over the place, Dublin duo McBride and Crummey along with Kilkenny’s Walter Walsh all in the book.

Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 1-17
All square again and it’s debutant Adrian Mullen who lashes over a point for Kilkenny to the delight of the home faithful.

Looks like Colin Fennelly was fouled, he ended up bundling to the net but the penalty was awarded at that stage. TJ Reid to take it.

Yellow card for Dublin’s Sean Moran.

Kilkenny 2-17 Dublin 1-17
It’s Kilkenny’s main man who stands up once more. Reid rams home a fiercely-struck shot to the net past Alan Nolan. That’s 2-10 from him this evening and Kilkenny have gone three points ahead.

Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 1-17
Richie Leahy nudges Kilkenny four clear after Treacy’s free drifted wide for Dublin before that. Dublin need to mount a response from somewhere.

Kilkenny 2-19 Dublin 1-17
Marvellous interplay from Kilkenny with defender Tommy Walsh exchanging passes with Richie Hogan, tearing into a huge amount of space and he bangs over a point.

Latest scores:

Munster SFC
Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-7
Limerick 2-9 Tipperary 0-8

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-14 Wicklow 1-8

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 3-17 Offaly 3-17

Kilkenny 2-19 Dublin 1-18
Four points the deficit now Dublin face as Tracey strikes them a badly-needed point.

Sub: Cian Boland in for Dublin for Sean Treacy.

Kilkenny 2-20 Dublin 1-18
Richie Leahy has made a real difference in the second half for Kilkenny, he pushes them five clear.

Kilkenny 2-21 Dublin 1-18
And TJ Reid knocks over another. Six in it with not much left in normal time here for Dublin to turn this around.

Kilkenny 2-21 Dublin 1-19
Good score from Danny Sutcliffe but looks like it’s too late for Dublin.

Kilkenny 2-22 Dublin 1-19
Ger Aylward points, six in it again and there’s five minutes of injury time to be played.

Kilkenny 2-22 Dublin 1-20
Dublin chipping away, Crummey lands another point.

Kilkenny 2-23 Dublin 1-20
TJ Reid again from a free and that should confirm Kilkenny’s victory. He’s been immense in the second half.

2-12 for the brilliant TJ Reid as Kilkenny hold on to defeat Dublin in the Leinster senior hurling championship. Superb comeback by the home side but disappointment for Dublin again.

So it’s finished in a five point success for Kilkenny, here’s the other results after a good night’s work for the footballers of Limerick, Clare and Kildare and the hurlers of Laois.

Munster SFC
Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-8
Limerick 3-11 Tipperary 1-10

Leinster SFC
Kildare 0-15 Wicklow 1-10

Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois 4-22 Offaly 3-21

That’s all from us tonight, we’ll have reports from all the big games shortly. Thanks for joining us.