After two seasons of disruption, the Allianz Hurling League returns to its normal timing and format, beginning this weekend with action across all divisions. The finals will be played on the first weekend in April.

There are several glamour fixtures on opening weekend, guaranteeing large crowds at a time when there’s a pent-up demand among the public for a return to the terraces.

This year marks the 30th season that Allianz has sponsored the Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport.

Galway and Kilkenny head into the new season as joint Division 1 title holders, having topped Groups A and B respectively last year. Due to time constraints brought about by Covid-19, it wasn’t possible to play the final and since Galway and Kilkenny didn’t meet in the Championship, they were declared joint winners.

CEO of Allianz Ireland, Seán McGrath said: *“Allianz has been a proud partner of the GAA for three decades now and over that time we have seen an incredible growth in the status of the Allianz Leagues.

The entire nation has shown great resolve over the past 24 months, and I know that the return to a full schedule of Allianz Leagues games in front of full stadia is an exciting milestone for GAA fans across the country. We all look forward now to another season of exhilarating inter county action and the twists and turns the competition will throw up this year.”

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy said: “It is a testament to Allianz’ commitment to Gaelic Games that we now enter the 30th year of the Allianz Leagues. The partnership between the GAA and Allianz is as strong as ever and it is a credit to everyone involved to see how these competitions have grown in terms of popularity and excitement.

Best wishes to all teams and we look forward with great anticipation to the opening of the 2022 season”

Galway begin their campaign at home to newly-promoted Offaly in a game which will pit former Kilkenny colleagues, Henry Shefflin and Michael Fennelly against each other as rival managers. It’s one-up to Shefflin already this year as Galway beat Offaly in the Walsh Cup.

Brian Cody takes Kilkenny into the League for the 24th successive year, a period in which they have won the title nine times outright as well as sharing it last season. They will be at home to Antrim, whom they beat by seven points in last year’s competition.

All-Ireland champions, Limerick, who won the League in 2019 and 2020, will be hoping for a better start than last year when they lost two and drew one of their opening three Allianz League games before winning the final two, leaving them fourth in the table. They will be away to Wexford in the first round on Sunday. Wexford haven’t won the Division 1 title since 1973.

Cork’s wait isn’t quite as long but it’s still a surprise that they haven’t won the title since 1998, by far their longest spell without success in the 96-year history of the competition. It’s a gap Kieran Kingston and his squad will be keen to close this year in a campaign where they will face Clare in the first round.

New Tipperary manager, Colm Bonnar, takes his side into action against Laois while the remaining Division 1 fixture features Dublin v Waterford in Parnell Park.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE KEY DATES

Feb 5/6: Round 1

Feb 12/13: Round 2

Feb 26/27: Round 3

Mar 5/6: Round 4

Mar 20: Round 5

Mar 26/27: Semi-finals (Div 1); Relegation play-offs.

Apr 2/3: Final (all divisions)

Allianz Hurling League first round fixtures are as follows

Saturday

Div 1 Group A: Cork v Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 5.0: Group B: Laois v Tipperary, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 6.0; Div 2B: Derry v Sligo, Celtic Park, 2.0; Div 3A: Armagh v Louth, Athletic Grounds 2.30; Div 3B: Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 2.30

Sunday

Div 1 Group A: Wexford v Limerick, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1.45; Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium, 2.0; Group B: Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.0; Dublin v Waterford, Parnell Park, 3.45; Div 2A: Westmeath v Kerry, TEG Cusack Park 12.30; Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1.0; Kildare v Meath, Newbridge, 2.0; Div 2B: Donegal v London, Letterkenny, 12.0; Mayo v Wicklow, Ballina, 2.0; Div 3A: Warwickshire v Monaghan, Pairc na hEireann 1.0; Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr. Hyde Park, 2.0; Div 3B: Lancashire v Leitrim, TBC

ALLIANZ GAA HURLING LEAGUE DIV 1 ROLL OF HONOUR

19 – Tipperary (1927-49-50-52-54-55-57-59-60-61-64-65-68-79-88-94-99-2001-2008)

19* – Kilkenny (1933-62-66-76-82-83-86-90-95-2002-2003-2005-2006-2009-2012-2013-2014-2018-2021*)

14 – Cork (1926-30-40-41-48-53-69-70-72-74-80-81-93-98)

13 – Limerick (1934-35-36-37-38-47-71-84-85-92-97-2019-2020)

11* - Galway (1932-51-75-87-89-96-2000-2004-2010-2017-2021*)

4 – Wexford (1956-58-67-73)

4 – Clare (1946-77-78-2016)

3 – Waterford (1963-2007-2015)

2 – Dublin (1929-39-2011)

1 – Offaly (1991)

*Galway and Kilkenny shared the 2021 title.