Preview: Weekend's Allianz Hurling League action

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Saturday, February 7

Cork v Tipperary, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm (RTE)

A close to a sell-out crowd is expected for this eagerly awaited repeat of last year’s All-Ireland Final.

Both teams bring good form into the game with Cork recording wins over Waterford and Galway and Tipp beating Galway and Offaly.

New Cork manager, Ben O’Connor, has gone with the tried and trusted so far in the League campaign rather than blooding a host of new faces.

The only notable changes have been the placing of Dáire O’Leary at full-back and the introduction of the lively looking William Buckley to the attack.

Tipperary have been a little bit more experimental with young players like Cathal O’Reilly, Conor Martin, Josh Keller, Jack Leamy, and Paddy McCormack given an opportunity to stake their claim.

This is arguably a more important game for a Cork team desperate to make amends for last year’s All-Ireland Final defeat than Tipperary, and that motivation combined with a more settled team could give them an advantage.

Sunday, February 8

Waterford v Offaly, Azzurri Walsh Park, 1.45pm (TG4)

Waterford bounced back from a chastening first round defeat to Cork with a morale-boosting victory over Limerick last time out.

There was much to admire about that four-point win over Limerick as they dominated the physical exchanges and took their chances clinically.

Young players like Mairtín Power and Charlie Treen look like great additions and the siting of Shane Bennett at wing-back is a very encouraging work in progress.

It’s been a tough start to the League campaign for Offaly who have lost back to back games against Kilkenny and Tipperary.

They didn’t lack for spirit in either of those two encounters but a long injury-list has weakened their hand and could go against them in this game too.

Limerick v Kilkenny, TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 3.45pm (TG4)

Limerick manager John Kiely was given plenty of food for thought by his team’s defeat to Waterford in their first match of the campaign last weekend.

By his own admission after the game they were out-fought for breaking ball by Waterford which is something we’ve very rarely see happen to Limerick in recent years.

He’ll demand an improvement in that area of their game against Kilkenny, so expect Limerick to come with a lot of physical intensity.

Limerick could do with finding a new face or two in defence this year and Matthew Fitzgerald did enough against Waterford to suggest he’s a player with a lot of promise. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops over the rest of the campaign.

Kilkenny laboured to a four-point victory over Offaly in their only match of the campaign so far. Their starting six forwards contributed just seven points from play to a total of 20, and the Cats will need to find a much sharper attacking edge if they’re to win this game.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Saturday, February 7

Wexford v Carlow, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5.15pm - TG4

Wexford have won two from two in Division 1B but were less than convincing in those narrow victories over Antrim and Down.

They needed a last gasp goal from Mark Fanning to beat Antrim and two late points from Simon Roche and Conor Hearne to get the better of Down.

They’re weakened by a lengthy injury list but manager Keith Rossiter will still demand more from his players for this game because Carlow are dangerous opposition.

They enjoyed a comfortable 10-point win over Down in their only match of the campaign to date and that was without suspended star forward, Chris Nolan, who returns for this game.

Newly appointed Carlow manager, Pat Bennett, has a great knowledge of Wexford hurling. He worked under Davy Fitzgerald during his time there as manager and still manages Ferns St. Aidan’s who he led to the 2022 Wexford championship, so he’ll have no shortage of intel on Carlow’s opponents which he can put to good use.

If Wexford hurl to their full potential they should win, but it’s likely to be another tight game.

Sunday, February 8

Clare v Down, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 1.30pm

Clare have made a strong start to their Division 1B campaign with wins over Dublin and Antrim.

Manager Brian Lohan has been fielding very strong, experienced teams and the mission seems to be to be gain promotion as quickly as possible.

Down came agonisingly close to pulling off what would have been a famous win over Wexford last weekend and they’ll need to reproduce their second-half form from that match for the totality of this one to be competitive.

Kildare v Antrim, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 2pm - TG4 player

Neither team has won a match yet in the campaign with Kildare losing their sole outing away to Dublin last weekend and Antrim falling just short against Wexford before being convincingly beaten by Clare last weekend.

Kildare will take confidence from the fact that they beat Antrim when the teams met in the Walsh Cup last month but the stakes are much higher this time around.

The return to fitness of Keelan Molloy is a big boost for Antrim. If the Saffrons can get a good supply of ball into forwards like James McNaughton, Conal Cunning, and Seaan Elliot they should have enough firepower to edge this.

Allianz Hurling League Division 2

Saturday, February 7

Kerry v London, Austin Stack Park, Tralee, 12.30pm

Kerry have started the year impressively. They hammered Derry by 26 points and then ground out a draw with Westmeath last weekend despite playing with 14 men for much of the game.

2025 Christy Ring Cup champions, London, don’t seem quite so strong this year. They were well beaten in Round 1 by Meath and could only manage a draw at home against a very depleted Mayo last weekend.

That form-line suggests Kerry should win with a bit to spare.

Derry v Mayo, Celtic Park, Derry, 1pm

This match is already looking like a must-win one for both teams if they’re to survive in the division.

The Derry panel has had a turnover of 16 players from last year with the loss of outstanding young talent, Ruairí Ó Mianáin, to the county football team a particularly big blow.

Heavily beaten by Kerry in Round 1, Derry showed some improvement last time out against Laois but were still beaten by 10 points.

Mayo were hammered in Round 1 by Laois but had a creditable draw with London in Round 2 and are strengthened now by the return of their Tooreen contingent.

Derry are favourites, but this should be a close game.

Sunday, February 8

Westmeath v Meath, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm

Meath enjoyed a big win over London in Round 1 but it looks like the Exiles aren’t as strong this year as they were last year so that result may not be a reliable barometer of the Royals this early in the season.

Westmeath showed some character to dig out a draw away to Kerry last weekend and if Killian Doyle and David Williams can play to the same standard again in this game the Lake County should have the firepower to come out on top.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3

Saturday, February 7

Armagh v Roscommon, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2.30pm

Armagh have had a disappointing start to their League campaign, losing to both Louth and Wicklow.

That heavy 22-point defeat to the Garden County suggests they could be in more trouble here because Roscommon beat Wicklow in Round 1.

Players like Conor Morris, Cian Bowes, and Conor Mulry are in good form and can shoot the Rossies to victory.

Sunday, February 8

Tyrone v Wicklow, Garvagher, 1pm

Wicklow were a touch unlucky to lose to Roscommon in Round 1 but bounced back impressively with a 22-point win over Armagh in Round 2.

Tyrone were well-beaten by Donegal in Round 1 but got their campaign back on track with an eight point win over Louth.

Wicklow’s subs scored 1-9 between them in that win over Armagh and that sort of impact from the bench could give them the edge here.

Fermanagh v Louth, Brewster Park, 2pm

Fermanagh might be feeling a bit sorry for themselves after shipping a 32-point defeat at the hands of Donegal last time out.

Louth have one win from two games and if they play like they did in that victory over Armagh they should have enough to come out on top here.

Allianz Hurling League Division 4

Saturday, February 7

Sligo v Lancashire, Enniscrone, 1pm

The form-line suggests this should be a convincing win for Sligo. They beat Monaghan by 18 points whereas Lancashire were beaten by Monaghan.

Monaghan v Longford, VBC Cloughan, Castleblayney, 2pm

Longford have shown some grit to win their two games so far against Leitrim and Cavan by narrow margins. A similar result is possible here.