Preview: Weekend's Allianz Hurling League action

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Saturday, January 24

Tipperary v Galway, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm – RTE

All-Ireland champions Tipperary have named two debutants for this match with Holycross-Ballycahill club-man Cathal O’Reilly selected at corner-back and Golden Kilfeacle’s Jack Leamy at corner-forward.

Otherwise it’s a very recognisable and strong looking Tipp team that includes 10 of the side that started last year’s All-Ireland Final and another two who featured as subs.

Keep an eye on young Oisín O’Donoghue who has been shooting the lights out in the Fitzgibbon Cup for UL and starts at full-forward for the Premier County.

Tipp won comfortably when these two teams met in the first round last year and the All-Ireland champions come into this game as favourites but Galway will have some decent momentum after winning the Walsh Cup and this game is likely to be a lot closer than last year’s fixture.

It looks like they’re going to put their trust in youth with exciting young forwards like Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte, and Rory Burke named to start. All of them are prodigious talents, and it’ll be interesting to see how they make the step up to the senior grade.

Sunday, January 25

Kilkenny v Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm

Kilkenny come into this game on the back of beating Kildare in last weekend’s Walsh Shield Final, but that was far from a comfortable four-point win over the Lilywhites.

It was only when they brought on some established stars in the second-half like Eoin Cody, Mikey Butler, Richie Reid, and John Donnelly that they got to grips with an impressive Kildare team.

Manager Derek Lyng will hope to find a few new faces during this year’s League campaign, and the likes of Liam Moore and Ed McDermott impressed in that win over Kildare.

Finding an able replacement for totemic full-back Huw Lawlor who has gone travelling for the year will also be high on Kilkenny’s priority list.

It looks like Mikey Carey will be given a run in the position to see if he fits the bill. He played in the position at underage level, but is better known as a senior county hurler as a wing-back.

Offaly’s League ambitions look like they might be undermined by an untimely rash of injuries. Players like team captain Charlie Mitchell, Killian Sampson, Ciaran Burke, David Nally, Ter Guinan, Shane Rigney, Ruairi Kelly, and James Mahon are all currently sidelined.

In a highly competitive Division 1A, it could be tough for Offaly to survive with their ranks so depleted.

Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm - TG4

Cork will be very determined to put their best foot forward in Ben O’Connor’s first Allianz Hurling League match as manager.

O’Connor’s 36-man panel doesn’t include familiar faces like Jack O’Connor, Conor Lehane, Luke Meade, Robbie Cotter and Jack Cahalane so the new manager has already asserted his authority.

We can probably expect him to use the League to give as many players the chance to impress as possible with the hope of unearthing a gem or two for the Championship, so perhaps the reigning League Champions may not be as focused on winning the competition this time around.

If they could get Padraig Power back to full-fitness after he ruptured his cruciate ligament he would be a serious addition because he’s the profile of a powerful, ball-winning forward they arguably need in attack.

This is a tough opener for a Waterford team who will be without their All-Ireland winning Ballygunner contingent but they performed creditably in the Co-Op SuperStores Munster Hurling League and will be pleased that key players like Jamie Barron, Shane Bennet, and Conor Prunty got some game-time in the final defeat to Limerick.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Saturday, January 24

Carlow v Down, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm

Carlow are under new management as Pat Bennett replaces Tom Mullally who was in situ for five years and had built a strong and consistent team in that time.

James Doyle and Ciaran Whelan are ruled out for this match but it’s still a familiar looking Carlow line-up.

The Barrow-siders banged six goals past Down when they met in last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup and are favourites to win here, but it’s likely to be a much closer game this time around.

Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 4pm

Wexford will start the season without many of their more experienced players with the likes of Lee Chin, Simon Donohoe, Jack O’Connor, Cian Molloy, Rory Higgins, and Kyle Scallan currently sidelined with injury and Conor McDonald, Cathal Dunbar, and Liam Ryan not yet returned to the panel.

It’s a new-look Antrim panel with players like Eoghan Campbell, Nigel Elliott, Ryan Elliott and Niall McKenna stepping away and a host of new faces drafted in.

It might take both teams a bit of time to get into full-stride this year but you’d fancy a Wexford team with home advantage to have the edge here.

Sunday, January 25

Clare v Dublin, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm

It’s only the first round, but you get the feeling this game could go a long way to deciding who ends up topping this division.

Clare and Dublin look like the two best teams in it, and will be keen to put their best foot forward.

Clare are always a tough team to beat in Cusack Park, but Dublin will have some decent momentum from reaching the Walsh Cup Final where they put up a good show against Galway before losing on penalties.

The return of Davy Keogh and Eoghan O’Donnell to their panel is a boost, and last year’s U20 captain, Ollie Gaffney, looks like he’s ready to make an impact this year.

Diarmuid Ryan looks like he’s going to be given a run at centre-back for Clare this year and his progression in that key position will be interesting. Young defenders like Dylan McMahon and Aidan Fawl are two to watch.

This will be a tough, tight battle, but Clare aren’t in the habit of losing on their home patch.

Allianz Hurling League Division 2

Saturday, January 24

Meath v London, St Loman's Park, Trim, 12.30pm

Meath shipped five goals against London in the opening round of the Christy Ring Cup last year and will need to tighten up defensively if they’re get the better of the exiles here.

The Royals were beaten in the Kehoe Cup Final last weekend by Wicklow so their form-line isn't great, but you never know what to expect from London in the first round of the League.

Derry v Kerry, Celtic Park, Derry, 1.30pm

There has been a huge churn in the Derry hurling panel with 16 players who were involved last year not this year. The loss of rising star Ruairí Ó Mianáin to the county footballers is an especially tough blow.

Kerry, in contrast, have been boosted by the return to their panel of players like Michael Leane, James O’Connor, and Colin Walsh and should be stronger here.

Sunday, January 25

Mayo v Laois, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 1pm

Laois should be the strongest team in Division Two. Manager Tommy Fitzgerald is in his second year in charge but this is the first year he’ll have had a proper pre-season with the group so they should be ready to hit the ground running.

The progression of the Tooreen club hurlers to the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Final means Mayo's key players should be match-fit, but this is still a tall task for them.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3

Saturday, January 24

Armagh v Louth, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm

Armagh have won their last three meetings with Louth, the most recent of which was a victory in the Nickey Rackard Cup last year. That was a tight game and this one is likely to go along similar lines.

Sunday, January 25

Roscommon v Wicklow, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 1pm

Wicklow come into this game with a lot of momentum after a fine victory over Meath in the Kehoe Cup Final last weekend. Jonathan ‘Bosco’ O’Neill looks like he’s building a nice team and you’d fancy them to repeat the victory they enjoyed over Roscommon in last year’s League campaign.

Tyrone v Donegal, O'Neills Healy Park, 2pm

Donegal were convincing 10-point winners when these two teams me in the League last year and there’s no compelling evidence to hand just yet that Tyrone will be able to bridge that sort of gulf this time around.

Allianz Hurling League Division 4

Saturday, January 24

Cavan v Warwickshire, Kingspan Breffni, 1pm

Cavan have made a lot of progress as a hurling team in the last couple of years and were a division above Warwickshire last year. You never know what to expect from a team like Warwickshire in the first round of the League, but Cavan are the more proven docket.

Leitrim v Longford, Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán, 2pm

Leitrim edged this game last year but Longford are building nicely under manager Diarmuid Cahill and could turn the tables this time around.

Monaghan v Sligo, Grattan Park, 2pm

Sligo will be without the Kilcullen brothers, Andy and Niall, for the start of the League but otherwise are boost by the return of their Easkey contingent and will be warm favourites to get the better of Monaghan here.