Galway and Kilkenny will do battle in the Leinster SHC on Sunday.
Saturday, April 27
Leinster SHC round 2
Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm
Carlow gave Dublin plenty of problems when the teams met in last year’s preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final at this venue.
The home team led at half-time in that match and were only burned off when Dublin hit two second-half goals.
After performing creditably last weekend against Galway they’ll fancy their chances of having another good cut off Micheál Donoghue’s team if they can get a decent supply of ball in to Martin Kavanagh and Chris Nolan.
Dublin will be feeling pretty good about themselves after snatching a draw against Wexford in the first round from the jaws of defeat courtesy of two late goals.
This game is likely to be tight for the first three quarters of the contest, but Dublin’s greater quality and athleticism should come to the fore thereafter.
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Ciaran Whelan, Richard Coady; Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh; Conor Kehoe, John Michael Nolan, Paddy Boland. Subs: Ciaran Abbey, Tony Lawlor, Jack McCullagh, Fiach O’Toole, Conor Lawlor, Sean Joyce, Scott Treacy, Jake Doyle, Evan Kealy, Lorcan Doyle, Donagh Murphy.
DUBLIN: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe, Eoghan O'Donnell; Mark Grogan, Conor Burke; Ronan Hayes, Donal Burke, Brian Hayes; Danny Sutcliffe, Cian O'Sullivan, Sean Currie. Subs: Eddie Gibbons, James Madden, Daire Gray, Seán Gallagher, Eddie Moran, Paul Crummey, Darragh Power, Dara Purcell, Fergal Whiteley, Jake Malone, Colin Currie
Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park, 3pm – GAAGO
Wexford are surely still kicking themselves after the concession of two late goals against Dublin last week saw them draw a game they looked sure to win.
They need to refocus for this challenge though because Antrim are always a tough nut to crack in Corrigan Park.
You can be sure too that Darren Gleeson will get a reaction from his players after accusing them of lacking desire and work-ethic in their heavy defeat to Kilkenny last time out.
It was a poor performance by the Saffrons and Gleeson has rung the changes with Phelim Duffin, Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd and Keelan Molloy coming into the starting XV against an unchanged Wexford team.
We can expect and improved showing from Antrim, but if Wexford play to their full potential they should win this.
ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Niall O'Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd, Conal Bohill; Seaan Elliott, Eoghan Campbell; Nigel Elliot, Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton; Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Conor McCann. Subs: Tiernan Smyth, Phelim Duffin, Rory McCloskey, Stephen Rooney, Enda Og McGarry, Fred McCurry, Michael Bradley, Cormac McKeown, Aodhan O'Brien, Rian McMullan, Joseph Mc Laughlin
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Conor Foley, Niall Murphy; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck, Matthew O'Hanlon; Conor Hearne, Kevin Foley; Liam Og McGovern, Lee Chin, Cathal Dunbar; Richie Lawlor, Seamus Casey, Rory O'Connor. Subs: Aaron Duggan, Eoin Ryan, Conor McDonald, Mikie Dwyer, Darragh Carley, Cian Byrne, Conor Devitt, Jack Doran, Tomás Kinsella, Jack O'Connor, Joe O'Connor.
Sunday, April 28
Leinster SHC round 2
Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium, 2pm - RTE
Injuries to key players have weakened Kilkenny ahead of this crunch Leinster SHC showdown with Galway in Pearse Stadium.
Eoin Murphy, Eoin Cody, and Adrian Mullen all went off injured in last week’s victory over Antrim and aren’t part of the match-day panel for this game. They’re three key players for the Cats and their loss will be felt.
Aidan Tallis replaces Murphy in goals, while Billy Ryan and Owen Wall come in for Cody and Mullen. Wall scored 2-2 off the bench in that win over Antrim and will relish this opportunity.
Galway have named a strong looking team with Conor Whelan and David Burke coming into the starting XV after featuring off the bench in the win over Carlow last time out.
The Tribesmen will surely be fired up to make amends for last year’s heart-breaking Leinster Final defeat to the Cats, and with an impactful bench that includes prodigal son Jonathan Glynn, Evan Niland, Jason Flynn, Joseph Cooney, and Donal O’Shea, you’d fancy them here.
GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke; Seán Linnane, Padraic Mannion, Cianan Fahy; Ronan Glennon, David Burke; Gavin Lee, Tom Monaghan, Brian Concannon; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion. Subs: Eanna Murphy, Darren Morrissey, Adrian Touhey, Gearóid McInerney, Tiernan Killeen, John Cooney, Donal O'Shea, Evan Niland, Joseph Cooney, Jason Flynn, Jonathan Glynn.
KILKENNY: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Shaen Murphy; Cian Kenny, Richie Reid; Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly, Tom Phelan; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Owen Wall. Subs: Dean Mason, Conor Delaney, Jordan Molloy, Darragh Corcoran, Killian Doyle, Conor Fogarty, Gearóid Dunne, Billy Drennan, Luke Hogan, Harry Shine, Liam Blanchfield.
The meeting of Clare and Cork in the Munster SHC on Sunday will have a big bearing on the round-robin table.
Munster SHC round 2
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm - RTE
In recent meetings between the two counties Tipperary have struggled to cope with Limerick’s athleticism in the middle third so it’s no surprise to see them pick a team with a lot of size, strength, and legs in that area of the field.
If the Premier County are to pull off a shock then their half-back line of Michael Breen, Bryan O’Mara, and Conor Bowe must somehow put the shackles on Gearoid Hegarty, David Reidy, and Tom Morrissey.
While, at the other end of the field, they’ll need Alan Tynan, Gearoid O’Connor, and Jason Forde to knock Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, and Kyle Hayes out of their stride.
In many recent meetings between these teams Tipperary have more than held their own in the first half, but then been blown away in the second-half, so they’ll be hoping to get a big impact from experienced subs like Dan McCormack, Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher, and Noel and John McGrath to ensure that doesn’t happen this time around.
Limerick make just one change to the team that started against Clare last weekend and it’s an enforced one, with Sean Finn coming in for the injured Mike Casey.
If Limerick are fatigued after last year’s win over Clare then Tipp might have a fighting chance, but you get the feeling it’s likelier that win over the Banner will have put a pep in the step of the Shannonsiders.
And if it's a tight match, you’d fancy Limerick subs like Peter Casey, Adam English, and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh to finish the job.
LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; Will O Donoghue, Cathal O Neill; Gearóid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Séamus Flanagan, Cian Lynch. Subs: David McCarthy, Conor Boylan, Peter Casey, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Graeme Mulcahy, Barry Murphy, Aidan O Connor, Fergal O Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Mark Quinlan.
TIPPERARY: Barry Hogan; Johnny Ryan, Ronan Maher, Craig Morgan; Michael Breen, Bryan O'Mara, Conor Bowe; Willie Connors, Eoghan Connolly; Alan Tynan, Gearoid O'Connor, Jason Forde; Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe, Sean Hayes. Subs: Rhys Shelly, Robert Byrne, Paddy Cadell, Sean Kinneally, Patrick Maher, Dan McCormack, John McGrath, Noel McGrath, Andrew Ormond, Sean Ryan, Darragh Stakelum.
Cork v Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2pm – GAAGO
Both teams suffered first-round defeats so this is a crucial game. Lose two on the trot and progression to the All-Ireland series is left hanging by a thread with two provincial games to play
Cork have reacted to their defeat to Waterford last weekend by making six changes to the team that started against the Déise with Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey, Declan Dalton, and Brian Hayes all coming into the XV.
That’s fairly radical surgery to perform on a team after one match of the campaign and it’ll be interesting to see if it has the desired impact.
One notable aspect of their defeat to Waterford was how they lost more high balls than they won. Team manager Pat Ryan will be demanding much more aggression in contests for possession this time around.
Clare have named the same team that started against Limerick last weekend and the biggest question mark hanging over them will be how they mentally process letting a nine-point lead slip in the final quarter of that game.
If they’re not suffering a psychological hangover you’d fancy them to win here because they have a more settled, proven team and a very impactful bench.
CORK: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey; Ethan Twomey, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan. Subs: Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Millerick, Tommy O'Connell, Mark Coleman, Luke Meade, Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn, Jack O’Connor, Conor Lehane, Sean Twomey.
CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Darragh Lohan; Cathal Malone, Mark Rodgers, Peter DugganL; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O'Donnell, David Reidy. Subs: Cian Broderick, Conor Leen; Paul Flanagan, Seadna Morey, Cian Galvin, Paddy Donnellan, Ian Galvin, Aron Shanagher, Shane Meehan, Robin Mounsey, Tony Kelly