Allianz GAA Hurling League Previews

--Sunday, March 12—

Páirc Úi Chaoimh: Cork v Kilkenny, 2.30pm

Cork go into Sunday's clash with Kilkenny with two wins under their belts after a fine start to the season under manager Denis Walsh. Unburdened by winter strife and acrimony, the Rebels look to be building another capable team and will relish the challenge provided by the Allianz National League and All-Ireland champions.

Impressive in beating Offaly, the Rebels were scarcely tested in the defeat of an under strength Limerick side at the Gaelic Grounds. That was the night Michael Cussen announced himself as a talented inter-county hurler, but the Sarsfields man is left out this time around, with Aisake Ó hAilpín getting the nod at full—forward.

Walsh won the battle with football counterpart Conor Counihan for the services of Eoin Cadogan and the Douglas man slots in at full-back, where he enjoyed a brilliant maiden season last year. Walsh also welcomes back his Newtownshandrum contingent, with Ben O'Connor and Cathal Naughton set to make their first competitive starts of the year. Martin Coleman, Conor O'Sullivan and Graham Calnan all drop down to the bench having started in the Limerick clash.

Kilkenny, of course, will be without many of their star names, who will be doing battle for Ballyhale Shamrocks in the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Club final on St Patrick's Day. However, manager Brian Cody will still be able to send out a strong team with John Mulhall staking his claim for a starting place after making a successful step up from the U21 grade last year to the starting line-up in last week's defeat to Tipperary.

That defeat will stick in the Cats' craw and they would love to make amends with a win over another of their close rivals this Sunday. Last year, Kilkenny won the corresponding fixture by 27 points, but the likelihood of a repeat is very remote as Cork are a very different proposition in 2010.

Cork: D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, B Murphy; T Kenny, C Naughton; B O'Connor, M O'Sullivan, N McCarthy; K Murphy, A O hAilpin, P Horgan.

Kilkenny: TBC

Tullamore: Offaly v Dublin, 2.30pm

If Offaly are to have any hope of avoiding the drop to Division Two hurling next year, they have to beat Dublin in Tullamore on Sunday.

As expected, Joe Dooley's side lost their opening games against Cork and Kilkenny, but the prospect of facing Dublin is equally daunting, especially in light of their stunning defeat of Tipperary last time out. However, Offaly always have their Walsh Cup win over Kilkenny at the start of the season to give them hope.

It's been a wildly inconsistent start to the league for the Dubs, who opened their campaign by being walloped by Waterford. Pride was more than restored against the Premier County, but manager Anthony Daly would probably settle for something more solid than spectacular against the Faithful men.

Daly has been able to include Liam Ryan in his side for the first time this season. Ryan comes into the attack at right half-forward and in the rejig Shane Durkin moves to midfield alongside Johnny McCaffrey. Simon Lambert, who picked up an injury in the victory over Tipp, loses out with Joey Boland once again named in the half-back line. Boland was a late replacement for Ronan Fallon for the victory over Tipperary.

The Dubs have a clean bill of health; the same cannot be said for Dooley, who is still without the influential Brendan Murphy. However, Murphy's continuing absence is offset by the return of the David Franks (groin) and Ger Oakley (knee) to the squad.

The power shift in Leinster hurling is illustrated by the fact that Dublin will be warm favourites to come away from this game with two league points.

Dublin: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, J Boland, M O'Brien; J McCaffrey, S Durkin; P Kelly, L Rushe, L Ryan; D Treacy, D O'Callaghan, A McCrabbe.

Offaly: TBC

Thurles: Tipperary v Galway, 2.30pm

Had it not been for the mouth-watering match-up between Cork and Kilkenny, this game would no doubt be the plum tie of the weekend.

Tipperary must still be on a high after their thrilling win over Kilkenny last week, but they will face a Galway side that is more than capable of living with the best the Division has to offer this year.

Manager John McIntyre is looking for a third successive league win after the opening day defeat of Limerick and the subsequent impressive win over Waterford. He is still without his Portumna contingent but he scarcely missed the attacking qualities of the likes of Joe Canning when his charges fired four goals past the Déise. Iarlath Tannion and Niall Healy have been in sparkling form for the Tribesmen in his absence.

McIntyre has recalled Conor Dervan to the Galway team for the first time since 2008. The Mullagh clubman comes in for Dónal Barry with the only other change being the inclusion of James Skehill between the posts ahead of Colm Callanan.

Tipp boss Liam Sheedy has shown that he is not afraid to change a winning formula by making four alterations to the side that beat the Cats last Sunday. Paddy Stapleton, Michael Cahill, Seamus Hennessy and Jody Brennan come into the side in place of Paul Curran, Thomas Stapleton, Benny Dunne and Miche´l Webster.

Tipperary: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Maher, B Maher; D Fanning, C O'Mahony, S Maher; M Cahill, Shane McGrath; S Hennessy, J Brennan, J O'Brien; E Kelly, L Corbett; N McGrath.

Galway: J Skehill; F Moore, S Kavanagh, D Joyce; C Dervan, T Og Regan, D Collins; G Farragher, N Cahalan; A Callanan, C Donnellan, A Harte; I Tannian, J Gantley, N Healy.

Fraher Field: Waterford v Limerick, 2.30pm

Waterford face Limerick in both Allianz League competitions this weekend, but for once it is the footballers who will fancy themselves to fly the flag for the Treaty this week.

While the return to the Limerick squad of James O'Brien prompted rumours of the imminent return of more of his disenfranchised team-mates, that scenario failed to materialise and Justin McCarthy will once again put a second string team into battle on Sunday. Unfortunately, the outcome looks inevitable. Limerick are on the cusp of a third straight defeat having been heavily beaten by Galway and Cork already in the competition.

Waterford are expected to inflict further damage with Dan Shanahan, Eoin Murphy, John Mullane and Seamus Prendergast all expected to return to action have featured in last week's challenge game against Carlow.

The Déise are looking to bounce back after conceding for goals against Galway last time out. The return of Eoin Murphy and Seamus Prendergast will help shore up a leaky defence while Dan Shanahan could do some damage alongside his in-form brother, Maurice.

Waterford: TBC

Limerick: TBC