Preview: Weekend's Allianz Hurling League action

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Sunday, March 1

Galway v Waterford, Pearse Stadium, 2pm

This is a huge game in terms of the relegation picture in Division 1A.

Galway are currently in the drop zone but a win here would likely see them swap places with Waterford.

After encouraging displays in defeat against Tipperary and Cork, the Tribesmen got their first win of the campaign last time out against Offaly.

A new generation of players is bedding in nicely with Cillian Trayers at full-back and Jason Rabbitte and Aaron Niland in attack looking especially promising.

Waterford recovered well from a heavy opening round defeat to Cork to record wins over Limerick and Offaly, and were a tad unlucky to lose by a single point to Kilkenny in UPMC Nowlan Park last weekend.

They’re developing new options in attack where young players like Rueben Halloran, Charlie Treen, and Sean Walsh have impressed.

This should be a match of fine margins, but Waterford’s greater bench impact could swing it their way.

Offaly v Limerick, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm

It’s been a very tough Allianz Hurling League campaign so far for an injury-hit Offaly team that has lost four from four by an average margin of 10 points each.

This could be another tough day at the office against a Limerick team that produced the performance of the year so far last weekend when hammering All-Ireland champions Tipperary by 15 points.

Team manager John Kiely’s biggest problem now must surely be picking a starting XV such is the abundance of riches at his disposal, especially in attack.

Forwards like Aidan O’Connor, Shane O’Brien, and Peter Casey were excellent against Tipperary and he had the luxury of holding others like Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, and David Reidy in reserve.

Such is the competition for places now that whoever is picked for duty on any given weekend knows they have to hurl to their absolute maximum.

That spells bad news for Offaly here.

Kilkenny v Cork, UPMC Nowlan Park, 3.15pm - TG4

It’s been an impressive start to life under new manager Ben O’Connor for the Cork hurlers who have won three games from three in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League.

They’ve scored an average of 30 points per game which is more than any other team and conceded an average of 22 which is less than any other team.

It’s that defensive steel that will probably please O’Connor most because with the calibre of forwards that Cork have they’ll always be capable of building a big score.

You couldn’t currently say the same for Kilkenny who have lacked a cutting edge so far this year, averaging just 22 points a game, which is a good deal shy of the bar you normally need to be reaching to consistently win matches at the highest level.

It says something about their grit and defensive resilience that they’ve still manged to win two from three games despite a negative scoring difference, and that character was very much in evidence when coming with a late charge to beat Waterford last weekend.

That relative lack of firepower is likely to see them come up short in this game though.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Saturday, February 28

Carlow v Clare, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm

Clare have really grabbed this division by the scruff of the neck, winning four games in a row by an average of 12 points each.

Brian Lohan has been mainly sticking with the tried and trusted, and the strategy seems to be to get his best players up to speed as quickly as possible so they can hit the ground running in the Munster Hurling Championship.

Having beaten Down and performed creditably against Wexford, Carlow came unstuck in a major way last weekend against Antrim when they fell to a surprisingly comprehensive defeat.

It sees them slip into the relegation places and may have sapped morale somewhat ahead of what was already going to be the toughest game of the campaign.

The Barrow-siders are always hard to beat in Netwatch Cullen Park, but Clare are hot favourites to win well here.

Sunday, March 1

Down v Kildare, Fontenoy Park, Liatroim, 12.45pm

This is a game that Down simply must win if they’re to retain their Allianz Hurling League Division 1B status.

They’ve lost three from three so far, with the most recent defeat a chastening 29-point clipping at the hands of Clare.

As they showed when losing by just two points against Wexford, they’re a much tougher nut to crack on their home patch and they’ll believe they have every chance of beating Kildare here.

The form-line still favours the Lilywhites though. They already have an impressive win over Antrim under their belts and gave Clare a serious match last weekend before losing by just four points.

If they can replicate that showing here, they should make it two wins from four.

Antrim v Dublin, Corrigan Park, 2pm

What a difference a win makes. Antrim were down in the dumps after three consecutive defeats, but the world is suddenly looking a lot rosier after a handsome victory over Carlow last weekend.

For the first time this year they played with a sharp cutting edge as players like Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliot, and James McNaugton caught fire.

More of the same will be needed here, but Dublin come into the game as big favourites based on their body of work to date.

They were unlucky to lose to Clare, were very convincing winners of Kildare, and despite being down to 13 men found a way to draw with Wexford last weekend.

That result means they’re very likely to finish in the top two if they win their remaining three games so they’ll come with a lot of intent to Corrigan Park.

They’re scoring an average of six points more per match than Antrim and conceding an average of 8 points less. The maths point towards a fairly convincing Dublin win.

Allianz Hurling League Division 2

Saturday, February 28

Derry v London, Find Insurance Celtic Park, Derry 1pm

Both teams have lost a lot of players since last year and have struggled in Division Two this year.

The form-line favours the home team as they have beaten a Mayo team that drew with London.

Mayo v Meath, Adrian Freeman Park, Tooreen, 2pm

Mayo have had a difficult campaign to date, with just one point from four matches, but it’s reasonable to expect an uptick in form there.

After an extended club campaign their sizeable Tooreen contingent of players is back in harness and they’re playing in the familiar surrounds of Adrian Freeman Park in Tooreen for this game so that should count for something.

Meath should still come out on top though. They’ve done well to beat London and Derry and got within three points of a very fancied Westmeath team. That form line suggests a third win from four here.

Sunday, March 1

Westmeath v Laois, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm

This showdown between the only two unbeaten teams in the Division will have a big bearing on the promotion battle.

There’s never much between these two teams but so far this year Laois have had a sharper cutting edge than Westmeath.

They’re averaging 29 points a game compared to Westmeath’s 24 and are also conceding an average of four points less.

They’ve also beaten a Kerry team that Westmeath could only draw with despite having a numerical advantage for half the game, so the form-line points to a Laois win.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3

Saturday, February 28

Roscommon v Tyrone, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2.30pm

Unbeaten Roscommon should make it four wins from four here. Their defending has been especially impressive whereas Tyrone have conceded some big scores.

Sunday, March 1

Louth v Donegal, Protection & Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver, 2pm

Top of the table Donegal have been seriously impressive so far this year, winning their three matches by an average of 17 points each.

Their prolific attack should be too hot to handle for the Louth defence.

Wicklow v Fermanagh, Echelon Park, 2pm

Wicklow will still be kicking themselves over losing a game to Roscommon they probably should have won, but they’ve bounced back well from that set-back with wins over Armagh and Tyrone.

They should be too strong for a Fermanagh team that has lost three from three by an average margin of 13 points.

Allianz Hurling League Division 4

Saturday, February 28

Lancashire v Longford, Abbotstown, 1pm

Longford have won three games from three whereas Lancashire have lost all three of their games. A fourth win from four looks likely for the Midlanders here.

Leitrim v Cavan, Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2pm

Sunday, March 1

Warwickshire v Monaghan, Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham 1pm

Bottom of the table Warwickshire have lost three games from three by an average of 20 points each.

Monaghan haven’t been that much better with one win from four, but should just about edge this.