Liam Blanchfield played for Kilkenny in the 2016 All Ireland SHC Final.
By William Dunne
***Wednesday June 21
Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship Semi-Finals
Wexford v Carlow, Innovate Wexford Park, 7:30pm
It is an exciting time for both these counties. Wexford, of course, are on a high with a Senior championship win over Kilkenny following a fantastic Allianz Hurling League campaign, while Carlow’s senior hurlers will compete in the preliminary round of the All-Ireland Championship after winning the Christy Ring Cup.
Wexford collected three successive Leinster titles at this grade between 2013 and 2015 and, after falling at the first hurdle in 2016, they’ll be looking to get back to a provincial final with a victory over Carlow.
Wexford made light work of an Offaly challenge three weeks ago on a scoreline of 4-21 to 2-9 to progress.
This game will remarkably be Carlow’s fifth Leinster semi-final in six years, and they are yet to advance to a provincial decider.
They beat Kildare in the previous round and five of the starting 15 that day, were on the bench as Carlow triumphed in Croke Park in the Christy Ring Cup.
Westmeath v Kilkenny, TEG Cusack Park, 7:30pm - TG4
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After disposing of 2016 Leinster champions Dublin, in the last round, Kilkenny will be strong favourites to progress to a provincial decider, however, if they will learn anything from last year, it’s to not be complacent.
Westmeath’s under 21 hurlers provided one of the shocks of 2016, knocking out Eddie Brennan’s men in last year’s quarter-final.
That feat might not be as easy achieved this time out, as they’ll come up against a Kilkenny side, who were All Ireland minor champions three years ago.
The Bennettsbridge trio of Jason Cleere, Liam Blanchfield and Sean Morrissey, who were part of the 2014 All-Ireland winning team, all started in the win over Dublin.
Brennan also has added to his panel with some minors from 2015 such as Tommy Walsh, Michael Cody and Richie Leahy - who impressed for Brian Cody’s men in this year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Westmeath are the only team left in the Leinster championship that have played two games, beating Meath before carving out a hard-fought win over Laois in the quarter-final.
They will need to draw on that momentum as well as their sharpness if they are to produce a massive shock in this grade once again.
**WESTMEATH: **Sean Maher; Sean Quinn, Conor Shaw, Darren Giles; Naoise McKenna, Darragh Eggerton, Joe Rabbit; Michael Daly, Shane Clavin; Darragh Clinton, Killian Doyle, Niall Mitchell; James Goonery, Jack Galvin, Ciaran Doyle.
KILKENNY: Darren Brennan; Michael Cody, Conor Delaney, James Burke; Conor Doheny, Jason Cleere, Tommy Walsh; Luke Scanlon, Pat Lyng; Alan Murphy, John Donnelly, Sean Morrissey; Shane Walsh, Liam Blanchfield, Billy Ryan.
Note GAANOW will have live clips from Westmeath vs Kilkenny on GAA.ie
Cian Lynch is a key player for Limerick.
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Thursday June 22
Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 7:30pm - TG4
John Walsh’s heroics for Kilkenny on All-Ireland minor final day in 2014 denied Limerick in the decider at that level.
Limerick had claimed the Munster title earlier that year and dismantled Galway in the semi-final progress to an All-Ireland final - in which they were tipped to win - however, Walsh bagged 2-5 as the Cats ran out 2-17 to 0-19 winners.
Limerick have seven players in their squad who featured against Clare in the Munster SHC semi-final two weeks and they will be confident of progressing past Tipperary in their bid to claim a second All-Ireland title in three years at this grade.
Tipperary have claimed two Munster minor championships in the last two seasons.
Recent history between the two sides is favourable for the Shannonsiders, having beaten the Premier County at under 21 level in 2015 and minor in 2014.
Limerick’s Cian Lynch, Kyle Hayes and Barry Nash all scored against Clare in the Senior Championship and will have to be well marshalled by the Tipperary defence if they are to have any chance of claiming a first Munster title since 2010.
LIMERICK: Eoghan McNamara; Sean Finn, Darragh Fanning, Dan Joy; Ronan Lynch, Kyle Hayes, Josh Adams; Robbie Hanley, Colin Ryan; Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Peter Casey, Barry Nash, Barry Murphy.
TIPPERARY: Brian Hogan; Paul Maher, Emmett Moloney, Kevin Hassett; Robert Byrne, Brian McGrath, Enda Heffernan; Billy McCarthy, Ger Browne; Andrew Coffey, Stephen Quirke, Mark Kehoe; Lyndon Fairbrother, David Gleeson, Willie Connors.
Note GAANOW will have live clips from Limerick vs Tipperary on GAA.ie
