Saturday July 1

All Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round 1

Offaly v Waterford, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 3pm

It wasn’t the route Waterford wanted to take, but Derek McGrath’s team are grateful to get a second Championship chance.

Waterford’s performance and loss against Cork at the Munster SHC Semi-Final stage was worrying, but now the Deise must show signs of recovery in the midlands.

Offaly beat Westmeath before being defeated by Galway so Kevin Ryan’s charges will be hoping to examine Waterford on Saturday.

In the Galway encounter Offaly adopted a defensive set-up, but Galway were still able to finish that game with a 0-33 total.

Galway’s shooting from distance was solid and Waterford’s panel features players such as Austin Gleeson and Pauric Mahony, who are adept at nailing points from out the field.

Ryan expects ‘a serious backlash’ from Waterford. “There is going to be a serious backlash from Waterford,” Ryan says.

“That certainly to me, didn’t look like Waterford. I would think there’s a serious backlash in them, but at the same time they are under a different type of pressure than we are, in the sense that they have to perform.”

Shane Dooley has been in prolific scoring form for Offaly throughout 2017 and the Faithful County will be looking to the accurate attacker for inspiration again.

OFFALY: James Dempsey; Ben Conneely, Dermot Shortt, Pat Camon; Sean Gardiner, Aiden Treacy, David King; Sean Ryan, Joe Bergin; Paddy Murphy, Shane Kinsella, Emmett Nolan; James Mulrooney, Shane Dooley, Oisin Kelly.

WATERFORD: Stephen O'Keefe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Tadhg de Burca, Austin Gleeson, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson; Kevin Moran, Pauric Mahony, Maurice Shanahan; Shane Bennett, Michael Walsh, Darragh Fives.

Tipperary v Westmeath, Semple Stadium, 5pm

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Two Michael Ryans in either camp. One managing the All Ireland champions, who were dethroned down south in Munster by a classy Cork display, the other in charge of an emerging Westmeath outfit.

Tipperary, though, are still intent on retaining the Liam MacCarthy Cup and they will view this as an ideal opportunity to advance.

Westmeath’s rise during the past three years under Ryan is worthy of the utmost respect, but by the standards they set in 2015 and 2016 the current campaign has been somewhat of a disappointment.

While the midlanders’ weren’t at full strength for most of the Allianz Hurling League, Westmeath were fortunate to advance from the Leinster SHC Round Robin group.

Relieved to have come through that, Westmeath did summon a much improved display at the Quarter-Final stage, but Offaly finished strongly.

Now a serious step-up awaits with Tipperary gunning to make amends following the defeat to a pumped up Cork outfit.

That was a worrying afternoon in Semple Stadium for the Premier County, who know that three July victories will be necessary to reach the All Ireland SHC Semi-Finals.

Finding a way back to the hallowed turf of Croke Park is Tipperary’s mission. Watching how that story unfolds and how Daragh Mooney, Tomas Hamill, and Joe O'Dwyer fare will be interesting.

TIPPERARY: Daragh Mooney; Donagh Maher, Tomas Hamill, James Barry; Joe O'Dwyer, Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Noel McGrath; Dan McCormack, Patrick Maher, Michael Breen; John O'Dwyer, Seamus Callanan, Niall O'Meara.

WESTMEATH: Paddy Carroll; Shane Power, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Aaron Craig, Paul Greville, Liam Varley; Aonghus Clarke; Robbie Greville; Joey Boyle, Killian Doyle, Derek McNicholas; Alan Devine, Niall Mitchell, Niall O'Brien.

Kilkenny v Limerick, Nowlan Park, 7pm

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The undoubted tie of the Round will attract a significant audience to the splendid Kilkenny city venue. Kilkenny, outfoxed by Wexford; Limerick soundly beaten by Clare. A serious team will exit the Championship on Saturday.

Ultimately, that is why the stakes are piled high because the first round of the Qualifiers is merely about survival. TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly kept Kilkenny afloat against Wexford, but they will need increased support in attack when Limerick visit Nowlan Park.

Limerick only showed flashes of their ability in the Munster SHC loss to Clare. John Kiely put his panel through an extensive auditioning process during the Allianz Hurling League. It was a mixed spring for Limerick, who did overcome Cork, but lost to Wexford and Galway twice.

Those matches threw up some issues that Limerick intend to rectify, but the draw hasn’t been kind. On the flip side, though, a win would generate confidence and inject belief into a youthful panel.

Throughout the decades the GAA history books certainly confirms that any Limerick outfit gathering momentum can be dynamic and dangerous.

‘Totally energised’ is Kiely’s verdict about the challenge Limerick face. Kilkenny are wounded, but Brian Cody will want them to utilise the battling qualities that have been repeatedly demonstrated in demanding circumstances previously.

Several high profile retirements have impacted the depth of the panel during the past three years, but Kilkenny’s squad is loaded with serial winners.

There won’t be much wrong with Kilkenny’s attitude. Can Limerick’s youngsters cause a surprise? Will Kilkenny advance to Round Two where another tough test beckons?

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Joey Holden; Conor Fogarty, Cillian Buckley, Joe Lyng; Michael Fennelly, Paddy Deegan; Chris Bolger, Walter Walsh, TJ Reid; Richie Hogan, Colin Fennelly, Ge Aylward.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Richie McCarthy, Mike Casey; Dan Morrissey, Declan Hannon, Seamus Hickey; Paul Browne, Darragh O'Donovan; David Dempsey, Cian Lynch, Gearoid Hegarty; Peter Casey, Shane Dowling, Kyle Hayes.

Dublin v Laois, Parnell Park, 7pm

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Injuries have disrupted Laois’ summer with Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher the latest casualty.

Maher suffered a cruciate knee ligament problem in last Sunday’s dramatic preliminary round win over Carlow, while Eamonn Kelly’s team are also set to be missing Cha Dwyer (hamstring), Willie Dunphy (hand) and Ross King (suspended).

Oisin Gough is an absentee for Dublin, who were defeated by Galway in the Leinster SHC Quarter-Final.

Crumbs of comfort were hard to locate for Dublin, with Chris Crummey’s two points from deep and the promise of Ben Quinn and Donal Burke offering a flicker of encouragement.

Dublin still leaked 2-28 and they will need to have the defensive doors bolted shut against Laois, who have already featured in five Championship matches in 2017.

"The dressing-room is more like a casualty ward than a senior hurling team,” Laois boss Eamonn Kelly said following the Carlow triumph.

“That's what it is, it's an opportunity for someone else now. Our panel is being tested and we're just delighted that the lads who came in put their shoulder to the wheel.”

Still Laois were able to secure victory in that game and must similar defiance at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Dublin hurling teams enjoy operating at the Donnycarney venue and Ger Cunningham’s charges require a positive result.

DUBLIN: Conor Dooley; Cian O'Callaghan, Eoghan O'Donnell, Fionn O Riain Broin; Sean Moran, Chris Crummey, Shane Barrett; Ben Quinn, Niall McMorrow; Donal Burke, Liam Rushe, Eamon Dillon; Cian O'Sullivan, Ryan O'Dwyer, David Treacy.

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Dwane Palmer, Leigh Bergin, Lee Cleere; Eric Killeen, Matthew Whelan, Ciaran Collier; Patrick Purcell, Jack Kelly; Ryan Mullaney, Cahir Healy, Sean Downey; Mark Kavanagh, Neil Foyle, Aaron Dunphy.