The Morning Sports Briefing

Kilkenny and Galway with 12 All Star nominations, Robbie Henshaw set for RWC debut versus Italy, Paul Dunne cards a hole-in-one and what to watch out for

GAA: All Stars

This year's hurling All Star nominations have been revealed and unlike the one-team domination of the day before's football selection - both All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Galway share the biggest presence on the short list with 12 players apiece, while league winners Waterford also have 11 nominations.

This morning’s announcmeent also acknowledges seven players from Munster champions Tipperary, as Cork, Clare and Dublin (Mark Schutte) are also represented amongst the nominations with one each.

Then for the Hurler of the Year gong; firm favourite TJ Reid is joined by his Kilkenny team mate and last year’s winner Richie Hogan, as Tipperary’s talisman Seamus Callanan makes up the shortlist for the second year running.

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The Young Hurler of the Year nominations include two Galway attackers; corner forwards Cathal Mannion and Jason Flynn, who ended the year as the championship’s top scorer from play. Waterford’s Tadhg de Búrca is also nominated for his impressive performances as a sweeper in the team’s new defensive strategy this year.

Elsewhere in GAA news and the GPA have unveiled their, player-led they insist, 'Champions League'-type proposals for changes to the current intercounty football structures.

Rugby : World Cup

Robbie Henshaw is set for his World Cup debut after recovering from a hamstring injury which has ruled him out of the opening two games. Gerry Thornley has selected his 'possibles' team for Ireland's next game against Italy on Sunday and he expects neither Rob Kearney nor Jared Payne to be fit to play in what is set to be a very strong Irish selection. The actual team announcement is at lunchtime today.

Last night Wales failed in their attempts to earn a bonus point victory against Fiji, yet their wounded outfit did do enough to win 23-13 - while a plucky Canada side made for an uncomfortable French victory in the night's other game, Les Bleus still ran out 41-18 winners.

Tonight the All Blacks play Georgia in Cardiff - hopeful that the soundproof windows they've requested in their hotels will work a treat

Soccer

Liverpool's early season stutters continued last night as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Swiss side FC Sion at Anfield. An early Adam Lallana goal rewarded a lively start but after conceding on 17 minutes the home team's spark faded and they failed to convert a number of glaring chances as the 90 minutes progressed.

Celtic again surrendered a lead as they led 2-0 after 32 minutes against Turkish giants Fenerbahce, only to draw 2-2.

Golf

Meanwhile Paul Dunne's first day at the office as a professional golfer proved an eventful one as he carded a hole-in-one to share the lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links.

What to watch out for:

There's Pro12 action tonight - Munster v Glasgow Warriors is at 6pm while five minutes later Ulster host Treviso.

Sky Sports 3 from 5.45pm (Munster)

BBC 2 from 6pm (Ulster)

In tonight's FAI Cup Semi-final Dundalk play Longford Town.

Sky Sports 2 from 7pm

New Zealand versus Georgia is kicking off at 8pm in the Millennium Stadium.

TV3 from 7.30pm