John Kiely's Limerick and Liam Sheedy's Tipperary clash in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday evening.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A
Saturday January 25
Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 5.15pm
Sunday January 26
Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 12.30pm
Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park, 2pm
By Cian O'Connell
The 2019 and 2018 All Ireland champions clash in Thurles on Saturday evening.
Tipperary enjoyed a splendid summer with the only setback arriving in the Munster Final.
At the LIT Gaelic Grounds Limerick cruised to a surprisingly emphatic success, but Tipperary subsequently flourished at Croke Park.
Limerick left GAA headquarters reflecting on what might have been following a harrowing defeat to Kilkenny.
In the intervening months Limerick have waited and wondered, but the recent Munster Co-op Superstores Hurling League evidence suggests John Kiely has the green and white panel ready for another adventure.
Taking Tipperary's scalp at Semple Stadium would represent a satisfactory start, but Liam Sheedy's options appear to be extending also.
Having gleaned All Ireland titles at Under 21 and Under 20 level in the past two years a string of those players are likely to be afforded further spins with the seniors imminently.
On Sunday in Salthill Galway, now with Shane O'Neill in charge, host Westmeath.
It was a successful 2019 spring for the midlanders, who attained the top flight status they craved for so long.
Prolific Cork forward Patrick Horgan.
Now the challenge for Westmeath is to remain at that level, but this will be a difficult assignment against Galway.
In the Walsh Cup O'Neill afforded several promising players an opportunity to shine. That policy looks set to continue in the Allianz Hurling League with a string of debutantes set to start this weekend.
Tipperary's aforementioned underage triumphs were driven by Liam Cahill's desire and he brings a seriously impressive record to the senior inter-county arena.
While Waterford have been dealt a blow with Philip Mahony's retirement there is still a belief that the Deise can make progress.
Disappointing Championship campaigns have been endured in the past two years so Waterford won't lack motivation in 2020.
Cork, though, will be similarly eager to unearth a few players ahead of the Munster examinations in May and June.
Kieran Kingston's return to the managerial role is encouraging for a talented collection of players, who remain eager for Cork to produce on the national stage.
Two provincial titles were collected in 2017 and 2018, while last year's All Ireland quarter-final loss to Kilkenny hurt.
Despite Patrick Horgan's sheer brilliance Cork lost to Kilkenny at GAA headquarters. So being ready for that type of encounter is what Kingston will be seeking to address.
TIPPERARY (v Limerick): Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher, Sean O'Brien; Alan Flynn, Seamus Kennedy, Padraic Maher; Michael Breen, Paddy Cadell; Willie Connors, John McGrath, Brian O'Meara; Mark Kehoe, Jason Forde, Jake Morris.
LIMERICK (v Tipperary): Barry Hennessy; Tom Condon, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Robbie Hanley, Cian Lynch; Darragh O’Donovan, Tom Morrissey, David Reidy; Aaron Gillane, Graeme Mulcahy, David Dempsey.
GALWAY (v Westmeath): Eanna Murphy; Darren Morrissey, Gearoid McInerney, TJ Brennan; Johnny Coen, Padraic Mannion, Adrian Tuohey; Sean Linnane, Tadhg Haran; Diarmuid Kilcommins, Joe Canning, Cathal Mannion; Jason Flynn, Conor Whelan, Ja Mannion.
WESTMEATH (v Galway): Aaron McHugh; Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Adam Ennis; Aaron Craig, Aonghus Clarke, Shane Clavin; Cormac Boyle, Liam Varley; Joey Boyle, Niall Mitchell, Robbie Greville; Eoin Price, Darragh Clinton, Darragh O'Reilly.
WATERFORD (v Cork): Stephen O'Keeffe; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Shane McNulty; Calum Lyons, Darragh Fives, Iarlaith Daly; Austin Gleeson, Jake Dillon; Neil Montgomery, Jack Fagan, Kieran Bennett; Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran.
CORK (v Waterford): Anthony Nash; Niall O’Leary, Robert Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Chris O’Leary, Tim O’Mahony, Damien Cahalane; Bill Cooper, Mark Coleman; Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Aidan Walsh; Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Patrick Horgan.
