Ronan Maher of Tipperary and Shane O'Donnell of Clare shake hands after the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Clare and Tipperary at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Saturday, May 10
Munster SHC round 3
Clare v Tipperary, Cusack Park Ennis, 6pm - GAA+
This is a crucial match in the Munster SHC with the loser facing a very uphill battle to qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Reigning All-Ireland champions Clare have been given a double boost by the inclusion of both Shane O’Donnell and Tony Kelly in their match-day panel.
2024 ‘Hurler of the Year’, O’Donnell, has been named on the bench after making a much quicker than expected recovery from shoulder surgery at the end of January.
The initial prognosis was a six-month lay-off, but the Éire Óg Ennis man is set to return in little more than half that time.
Tony Kelly is named in the starting XV having missed the Banner County’s defeat to Waterford through illness.
David Fitzgerald drops to the bench while Aidan McCarthy is absent from the squad.
Meanwhile, Tipperary have made a switch in the goalkeeping position with Rhys Shelly coming in for Barry Hogan. Noel McGrath is also a notable inclusion in the starting XV having impressed off the bench in his last two outings against Limerick and Cork.
Conor Stakelum comes in at wing-forward as an indirect replacement for his brother Darragh with Sam O’Farrell moving from wing-forward to wing-back.
In a game of very fine margins the match-up between John Conlon and Jake Morris could well be pivotal. If either man comes out decisively on top, it could make a big difference.
CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan, Conor Leen; Cian Galvin, John Conlon, David McInerney; Sean Rynne, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Shane Meehan; Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan, David Reidy. Subs: Eamon Foudy, Daithi Lohan, Ross Hayes, Rory Hayes, Paddy Donnellan, Aaron Shanaher, David Fitzgerald, Jack O’Neill, Ian Galvin, Shane O’Donnell, Shane Woods.
TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Sam O’Farrell, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Alan Tynan, Craig Morgan; Conor Stakelum, Andrew Ormond, Noel McGrath; Jake Morris, John McGrath, Jason Forde. Subs: Barry Hogan, Joe Caesar, Willie Connors, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy, Peter McGarry, Brian McGrath, Oisin O’Donoghue, Johnny Ryan, Darragh Stakelum, Billy Seymour
TJ Reid returns to the Kilkenny team after recovering from injury.
Leinster SHC Round 3
Kilkenny V Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 6.00pm
Kilkenny are boosted by the return from injury of talismanic attacker, TJ Reid.
He comes into the team in place of the absent Eoin Cody, while Adrian Mullen is named in a match-day panel for the first time since picking up an injury against Galwya three weeks ago.
There’s a start at wing-forward for Harry Shine in place of Fionán Mackessy who drops to the bench while David Blanchfield comes into the half-back line in place of Richie Reid.
Meanwhile, Offaly make two changes to the team that was beaten by Galway last time out as James Mahon comes in at corner-back for Pádraig Cantwell and Colin Spain replaces David King at midfield.
The Faithful County were well beaten in that match against the Tribesmen two weeks ago and will need to produce a much better performance to be competitive against the Cats.
Kilkenny still haven’t hit top gear but have nevertheless looked like the best team in the province after the first two rounds and should make it three wins from three here.
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Harry Shine, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Stephen Donnelly, Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid. Subs: Aidan Tallis, Pádraic Moylan Killian Doyle, Peter McDonald, Adrian Mullen, Luke Hogan, Fionán Mackessy, Billy Drennan, Owen Wall, Gearoid Dunne, Luke Connellan.
OFFALY: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Killian Sampson, Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan. Subs: Liam Hoare, Eoin Burke, Sam Bourke, David Nally, Eoghan Cahill, David King, Brecon Kavanagh, Padraig Cantwell, Jack Clancy, Ben Miller, Luke Watkins.
Antrim V Dublin, Corrigan Park, 4.00pm - GAA+
Antrim have named the same team that started against Kilkenny last time out and will be hoping they can replicate their first half performance that day in both halves for this match.
They led at half-time against the Cats but fell away badly in the second-half as they were outscored by 2-13 to 0-1 from the 48th minute.
That sort of inconsistency within a match won’t be good enough against a Dublin team with their tails up after consecutive wins over Offaly and Wexford.
They’ve made just one change to the team that beat the Slaneysiders in a thriller last time out, as Conor McHugh comes in for Paddy Dunleavy.
Antrim won’t fear Dublin and have a good record of going toe to toe with them, but if the Metropolitans get a good supply of ball into John Hetherton, Ronan Hayes, and Sean Currie like they did against Wexford, you’d fancy them to make it three wins from as many games.
ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Burke; Joe Maskey, Conor Boyd, Conall Bohill; Eoghan Campbell, Gerard Walsh; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McCambridge, Scott Walsh; Conor Johnston, James McNaughton, Nigel Elliott. Subs: Cormac McFAdden, Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Declan McCloskey, Sean McKay, Joseph McLaughlin, Paul Boyle, Eoin O’Neill, Cormac McKeown, Aodhan McGarry.
DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Paddy Doyle, Chris Crummey, Andy Dunphy; Conor Burke, Conor Donohue; Brian Hayes, Cian O’Sullivan, Darragh Power; Sean Currie, John Hetherton, Ronan Hayes. Subs: Sean Brennan, Donal Burke, Colin Currie, Paddy Dunleavy, Andrew Jamieson-Murphy, David Lucey, James Madden, Riain McBride, Ian Ó hEithir, Conal O’Riain, Fergal Whitely.
Galway V Wexford, Pearse Stadium Galway, 3.15pm – RTE
Whoever loses this match is likely to be out of the running for a place in the Leinster Final so it’s a crucial fixture.
After a very poor outing in the first round against Kilkenny, Galway were much improved in their second match when they beat Offaly comfortably enough.
Cathal Mannion was sensational that day in a roving attacking role and the priority for Wexford will be to assign someone to curb his influence.
The Tribesmen are weakened though by the suspension of Daithi Burke which has required a defensive re-jig that sees Cianan Fahy move from midfield to the half back line.
Against a Wexford attack with the serious double threat of Rory O’Connor and Lee Chin playing down the middle, Burke’s strength and defensive nous will be badly missed.
It’s likely to be a very tight match but home advantage and greater momentum could swing it for Galway.
GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Padraic Mannion, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey; Cianan Fahy, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan; David Burke, Tom Monaghan; John Fleming, Cathal Mannion, Tiernan Killeen, Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Colm Molloy. Subs: Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Joshua Ryan, Shane Cooney, Sean Linnane, Ronan Glennon, Donal O’Shea, Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney, Jason Rabbitte, Anthony Burns.
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohoe; Conor Foley, Damien Reck, Eoin Ryan; Conor Hearne, Charlie McGuckin; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin, Kevin Foley; Cathal Dunbar, Rory O’Connor, Cian Byrne. Subs: Andrew Kennedy, Seamus Casey, Niall Murphy, Darragh Carley, Jack O’Connor, Cian Molloy, Jack Redmond, Corey Byrne Dunbar, Mikie Dwyer, Darren Codd, Conor McDonald.
Paddy Purcell has been in fine form for the Laois hurlers.
Joe McDonagh Cup
Westmeath v Down, TEG Cusack Park, 2.30pm
Both teams have lost their first two matches so this game could have a big bearing on the relegation picture.
Shoring up their defence will be top of Down’s agenda having conceded 12 goals in their first two matches.
The nature of those defeats to Carlow and Laois may have sapped their morale somewhat, and Westmeath should have enough about them to take advantage.
WESTMEATH: Ciarán O’Brien; Conor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Eoin Keyes, Robbie Greville, Aaron Craig; David Hickey, Éamon Cunneen; David O’Reilly, Darragh McCormack, Mark Cunningham; Peter Clarke, Niall O’Brien, David Williams. Subs: Jack Gillen, Joseph Boyle, Robbie Coyne, Seán Dowd, Killian Doyle, Adam Ennis, Davy Glennon, Rory Keyes, Owen McCabe, Niall Mitchell, Kevin Regan.
DOWN: Stephen Keith; Matt Conlan, John McManus, Tom Murray; Niall McFarland, Marc Fisher, Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Phelim Savage; Tim Prenter, Shea Pucci, Eoghan Sands; Finn Turpin, Daithi Sands, Pearse Óg McCrickard. Subs: Cahal Lavery, Paul Sheehan, Michael Dorrian, Ben Taggart, Johrdan Murphy, Ruairi McCrickard, Owen McGreevy, Owen McDermott, Tiernan Connolly, Ben Christie, Chris Egan.
Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Carlow have started their campaign very impressively, beating Down by 21 points and Kerry by 19 points.
Kildare suffered a disappointing defeat in Round 1 against Kerry when they faded badly in the closing minutes, but bounced back impressively when beating Kildare last time out.
Carlow forwards like Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, and Jon Nolan are in red-hot form and should shoot their team to a third victory in a row here.
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Ted Joyce, John Doyle; Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, Donagh Murphy. Subs: Andrew Townsend, Lorcan Doyle, Paidi O’Shea, Tony Lawlor, Conor Kehoe, Ciaran Whelan, Paddy Boland, Richard Coady, Jack Treacy, Eric English, John Michael Nolan.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Daniel O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Simon Leacy, Cian Boran; Daire Guerin, James Burke; David Qualter, Cathal McCabe, Gerry Keegan; Jack Sheridan, Cathal Dowling, Darragh Melvill. Subs: Mark Doyle, Jack Travers, Harry Carroll, Richy Hogan, James Dolan, Jack Higgins, Muiris Curtin, Killian Harrington, Conn Kehoe, Cormac Byrne, Oisin Lynam
Sunday, May 11
Joe McDonagh Cup
Laois v Kerry, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 4pm
Laois have made an early statement by winning their first two matches of the campaign against Down and Westmeath by a combined total of 58 points.
Kerry showed great guts to dig out a win over Kildare in Round 1 but were well beaten last time out by Carlow.
Players like Tomás Keyes, Patrick Purcell, Ben Conroy, and James Duggan give Laois a cutting edge that should see them come out on top.
LAOIS: Cathal Dunne; Padraic Dunne, Diarmuid Conway, Cody Comerford, Tom Cuddy, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney; Fiachra C Fennell, David Dooley; Aidan Corby, Tomás Keyes, Patrick Purcell; James Duggan, Jer Quinlan, Ben Conroy. Subs: Eoin Fleming, Donnacha Hartnett, David O’Brien, John Lennon, James Keyes, Eanna Lyons, Marti Phelan, Mark Dowling, William Dunphy, PJ Scully, Aaron Dunphy.
KERRY: Louis Dee; Kyle O’Connor, Flor McCarthy, Dara Kearney; Darragh Shanahan, Kevin Goulding, Ronan Walsh; Paudie O’Connor, Adam Segal; Tom Doyle, Daniel Casey, Luke Crowley; Rory Mahony, Oisín Maunsell, Shane Nolan. Subs: Diarmuid Quirke, Sean McGrath, Killian Hayes, Thomas Casey, Luke Rochford, Jeremy McKenna, Tomás Godley, Eric Leen, Seamie Foran, Niall Mulcahy, Sean Brosnan.
