Preview: Weekend's hurling action
Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald.
Saturday May 19
Joe McDonagh Cup
Antrim v Laois, Dunloy, 1.30pm
It has been a delightful start for Antrim, a demoralising one for Laois, who have slipped to a couple of defeats.
With the improving Saffrons sitting on four points this will be a demanding test for Laois, who need to secure a victory if earning a Croke Park final appearance is to be attained.
Laois' loss in Kerry was damaging, while Antrim have taken real confidence from the manner of their own triumphs against Meath and Carlow.
Another Antrim triumph would edge them closer to a much coveted appearance at GAA headquarters. The stakes are piled high too for Laois, who know significant improvement is necessary.
ANTRIM: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Arron Graffin; Paddy Burke, Conor McKinley, Ryan McCambridge; Eddie McCloskey, Simon McCrory; Nigel Elliott, Conor Johnston, James McNaughton; Donal McKinley, Conor Carson, Daniel McCloskey.
LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Joe Phelan, Matthew Whelan, Lee Cleere; Colm Stapleton, James Ryan, Ryan Mullaney; Patrick Purcell, Cian Taylor; Cha Dwyer, Ben Conroy, Ciaran Comerford; Ross King, Neil Foyle, Willie Dunphy.
Carlow v Meath, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm
A critical contest for Carlow, who want to respond following a narrow loss against Antrim.
That was a setback for Colm Bonnar's outfit, who had summoned a storming finish to beat Kerry on the opening weekend.
Meath have leaked big scores in their defeats against Antrim and Westmeath so they will want to be more solid against a Carlow side with plenty of attacking potential.
Managers Brian Cody, Kilkenny, and Kevin Martin, Offaly, face one another at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
Sunday May 20
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Kilkenny v Offaly, Nowlan Park, 3pm
Liam Blanchfield's late goal capped a typically daring Kilkenny revival at Parnell Park. How crucial that Kilkenny burst was will only become clear as the summer progress.
Leaving Parnell Park armed with two points ensured it was mission accomplished for Kilkenny regardless of all the problems Dublin created for the visitors.
The previous evening in Tullamore there was little wrong with Offaly's attitude or application, but Galway just had that extra bit of forward power.
Kevin Martin was satisfied with how Offaly competed and the Faithful will want to be similarly aggressive in Nowlan Park.
Valuable lessons are being learned by Offaly, who have shown signs of improvement, but any match with Kilkenny is always demanding.
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Joey Holden, Padraig Walsh, Paddy Deegan; Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Paul Murphy; Conor Fogarty, James Maher; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Richie Leahy; John Donnelly, Walter Walsh, Luke Scanlon.
OFFALY: Eoghan Cahill; Tom Spain, Sean Gardiner, Ben Conneely; Damien Egan, Pat Camon, Brendan Murphy; David King, Shane Kinsella; Joe Bergin, Conor Mahon, Oisin Kelly; Dan Currams, Colin Egan, Shane Dooley.
Wexford v Dublin, Innovate Wexford Park, 3pm
Wexford's first summer game against Dublin, a team they haven't defeated in the Championship since 2008.
In the last decade Dublin have won four and drawn one of their five matches against Wexford, who are eager to build on a satisfying 2017.
Pat Gilroy's Dublin came close to causing a surpise when Kilkenny visited Parnell Park, but the Cats used all of their survival instincts to eventually leave with the spoils.
Now Dublin know that another positive performance must be produced, but surely they will take heart and encouragement from how they competed with the Allianz League champions.
Davy Fitzgerald's sterling work with Wexford is well documented, but Wexford will know how vital this game is at the start of an action packed schedule.
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Damien Reck, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohue; Paudie Foley, Matthew O'Hanlon, Diarmuid O'Keeffe; Kevin Foley, Shaun Murphy; Lee Chin, Aidan Nolan, Jack O'Connor; Paul Morris, Rory O'Connor, Conor McDonald.
DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Cian O'Callaghan, Bill O'Carroll; Shane Barrett, Sean Moran, Chris Crummey; Rian McBride, Eoghan O'Donnell; Jake Malone, Fiontan MacGib, Danny Sutcliffe; Fergal Whitely, Liam Rushe, Paul Ryan.
Brendan Maher during the epic Allianz Hurling League semi-final between Tipperary and Limerick at Semple Stadium in March.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
When Limerick and Tipperary clash anything can happen. The form book can be ripped to shreds and Limerick will relish this as a Munster Championship opener.
The young home team will thunder into this contest, but Tipperary, who experimented throughout the League, will be eager to announce their summer arrival also.
While the Allianz Hurling League final loss to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park was a disappointment for Tipperary, the Premier County will be strengthened considerably the availability of Seamus Callanan.
The prolific and gifted Drom-Inch forward remains an influential figure for Tipperary, but is kept in reserve by Michael Ryan.
With two All Ireland Under 21 crowns pocketed in three years hopes are high in Limerick. That is one of the many reasons why this 70 minutes will be closely monitored.
LIMERICK: Nicky Quaid; Sean Finn, Seamus Hickey, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O'Donovan, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.
TIPPERARY: Brian Hogan; Alan Flynn, Seamus Kennedy, Donagh Maher; Barry Heffernan, Padraic Maher, Ronan Maher; Willie Connors, Billy McCarthy; Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath, Sean Curran; John O'Dwyer, Jason Forde, John McGrath.
Cork v Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm
A repeat of the 2017 Munster decider will attract a decent crowd Leeside.
Cork, who unearthed a raft of youngsters in the last couple of campaigns, face Clare, who are quietly optimistic about their chances with the new format.
In the past decade Clare have suffered harrowing losses down south, but the guarantee of four matches affords them ample opportunity to shine.
With demanding encounters for the next month Cork and Clare will want to start with a win so this promises to be a revealing Sunday afternoon in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
CORK: Anthony Nash; Sean O'Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Christopher Joyce, Mark Ellis, Mark Coleman; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Bill Cooper; Daniel Kearney, Conor Lehane, Robbie O'Flynn; Luke Meade, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan.
CLARE: Donal Tuohy; Pat O'Connor, Conor Cleary, Jack Browne; David Fitzgerald, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Colm Galvin, Tony Kelly; Cathal Malone, John Conlon, David Reidy; Conor McGrath, Peter Duggan, Shane O'Donnell.
Joe McDonagh Cup
Kerry v Westmeath, Tralee, 3pm
Fintan O'Connor's Kerry enjoyed a smashing win over Laois meaning added significance is attached Westmeath's visit.
The midlanders have already beaten Laois and Meath so they will hit Tralee armed with confidence.
Kerry, though, flashed a reminder of how dangerous they can be by beating Laois with lots to spare and another success would leave them in a healthy position.
On the flip side a third straight Westmeath win would edge Michael Ryan's diligent outfit a step closer to the final, a destination every team in the competition feels can be reached.
KERRY: Martin Stackpoole; Sean Weir, John Buckley, Bryan Murphy; Brandon Barrett, Daniel Collins, James O'Connor; Shane Nolan, Brendan O'Leary; Daithi Griffin, Mikey Boyle, Barry O'Mahony; Jack Goulding, Padraig Boyle, Shane Conway.
