ROAD TO CROKER

700 hurlers compete for sevens glory:KILMACUD Crokes has announced the draw for tomorrow's All-Ireland Hurling Sevens. Now in its 36th year, the competition will see some 700 hurlers from 40 teams and from 10 counties compete for the Sevens Cup, with 16 teams contesting the Sevens Shield.

The tournament will involve over 50 games, played in six venues around the Stillorgan area. Group games begin at 10.30am, with the throw-in for the final scheduled for 6.45pm at the Kilmacud Crokes home ground, Páirc de Burca, Glenalbyn in Stillorgan village.

Some of the intercounty players due to take part tomorrow include Donal Óg Cusack and the O'Sullivan brothers, Diarmuid and Paudie, who represent Cloyne (Cork), Joe Deane of Killeagh (Cork), and the Kerins brothers, Alan and Mark who play with Clarenbridge (Galway).

Kilmacud Hurling Sevens Draw

Group One (at Clonkeen College) - Cormacs (Tipp), Cloyne (Cork), St Martin's (Wexford), Padraic Pearses (Galway). Group Two (at Clonkeen College) - Nenagh Éire Óg (Tipp), Liam Mellowes (Galway), St Lachtains (Kilkenny), Fourmilewater (Waterford). Group Three (at Clonkeen College) - Carrick Swan (Tipp), Moyne-Templetuohy (Tipp), Craughwell (Galway), Faughs (Dublin).

Group Four (at Clonkeen College) - Kilruane MacDonaghs (Tipp), Knockainey (Limerick), Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny), Kinvara (Galway). Group Five (at Silverpark) - Garda College (Tipp), Portroe (Tipp), Beagh (Galway), Carrickshock (Kilkenny). Group Six (at Silverpark) - Lorrha-Dorrha (Tipp), Bishopstown (Cork), Glenealy (Wicklow), Clarenbridge (Galway). Group Seven (at Silverpark) - Borrisileigh (Tipp), Mullagh (Galway), O'Donovan Rossa (Antrim), Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin). Group Eight (at Benildus College) - Toomevara (Tipp), Carrigtwohill (Cork), Ballindereen (Galway), St Johns (Antrim). Group Nine (at Benildus College) - Upperchurch-Drombane (Tipp), Killeagh (Cork), Rathdowney (Laois), Ballygunner (Waterford). Group 10 (at Benildus College) - St Patrick's (Dublin), Arklow Rocks (Wicklow), Tracton (Cork) and Oisín Glenariffe (Antrim).

All-Ireland hurling winners to be presented with redesigned medal

THE GAA has announced that the winning players in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final will be the first to be presented with the redesigned All-Ireland medal.

The new medal design includes the redesigned heritage crest of the GAA. The original insignia of the GAA stemmed from the first All-Ireland medal, crafted around 1910, and which drew its inspiration from the Irish High Cross.

On the new heritage crest the name, GAA, sits at the heart. The date, 1884 is a reminder of the foundation of the GAA and also of the founding fathers. The words, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael remain, etched within the cross to record the contribution made to the preservation of Irish, the oldest written vernacular language in Europe. The cross itself remains an iconic symbol of Ireland.

Galway stick with the tried and trusted

GALWAY minor hurling boss Mattie Murphy has announced an unchanged team for Sunday's All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, thus starting with the same 15 that beat Cork in the semi-final.

Kilkenny are favourites, but Galway have an excellent record at minor level in recent years, winning four titles in the last decade. Murphy was involved with all four of those winning teams.

GALWAY (MH v Kilkenny): F Flannery;

D Connolly, D Cooney, G O'Halloran; R Burke, N Donoghue, R Foy; D Burke, D Fox; N Burke, N Quinn, A Dolan; R Cummins, D Glennon,

B Burke.

Scoring chances

BOYLESPORTS have interesting odds on the first and last scores of the match on Sunday afternoon . .

First scoring play of the match

Kilkenny point from play2/1

Waterford point from play2/1

Kilkenny point from a placed ball4/1

Waterford point from a placed ball4/1

Kilkenny Goal20/1

Waterford Goal20/1

Last scoring play of the match

Kilkenny point from play2/1

Waterford point from play2/1

Kilkenny point from a placed ball4/1

Waterford point from a placed ball4/1

Kilkenny Goal20/1

Waterford Goal20/1