Saturday May 11

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Kilkenny v Dublin, Nowlan Park, 7pm

At this exact stage 12 months ago Dublin came within a whisker of causing a shock.

Dublin, though, have the cut of a team developing nicely under Mattie Kenny, but a significant injury list is a worry.

Kilkenny are also suffering with various ailments with the absence of brilliant goalkeeper Eoin Murphy a huge setback.

While Kilkenny lost to Galway (twice) and Limerick in the Championship in 2018 there were signs of the striped defiance at various stages.

Several emerging players benefited from the exposure at the highest level ensuring Brian Cody will want them to deliver now.

The Leinster Championship is expected to be hard fought so putting two points into the account early matters deeply.

The fact that Dublin defeated Tipperary in the League Quarter-Final before examining Limerick at the penultimate stage bodes well.

Every match against the black and amber is seriously demanding, but a lively match beckons.

KILKENNY: Darren Brennan; Paul Murphy, Paddy Deegan, Tommy Walsh; Enda Morrissey, Huw Lawlor, Conor Fogarty; Padraig Walsh, Alan Murphy; Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh, TJ Reid; Billy Ryan, Colin Fennelly, Ger Aylward.

DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Daire Gray; Chris Crummey, Sean Moran, Shane Barrett; Sean Treacy, Darragh O’Connell; David Treacy, Danny Sutcliffe, Fergal Whitely; Oisin O’Rorke, Liam Rushe, Eamon Dillon.

Joe McDonagh Cup

Antrim v Kerry, Dunloy, 5pm

This promises to be a revealing opener in Dunloy between two teams eager to impress.

Kerry won from from five in the League, while Antrim claimed three victories.

Delivering in the Joe McDonagh Cup, though, is the target for Neal Peden and Fintan O'Connor's respective teams.

Disappointed to be beaten by Westmeath in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A decider Kerry feel there is room for improvement.

Antrim, though, were without a talented Ruairi Og, Cushendall contingent for some of the spring so the Saffrons are strengthening.

Valuable lessons were learned during the inagural staging of the Joe McDonagh Cup last year and this already can be classed as a critical encounter.

KERRY: Martin Stackpoole; John Buckley, James O'Connor, Evan Murphy; Sean Weir, Bryan Murphy, Tomas O'Connor; Colum Harty, Jack Goulding; Shane Conway, Michael O'Leary, Jordan Conway; Dan Goggin, Michael Boyle, Padraig Boyle.

Offaly v Laois, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 7pm

That this isn't the competition in which Offaly and Laois crave to operate simply adds to the importance in Tullamore.

Reclaiming Leinster Championship status is the mission both Offaly and Laois are anxious to accomplish.

Confidence needs to be acquired and victories earned so Kevin Martin and Eddie Brennan will have their panels primed for this encounter.

Offaly showed some encouraging flashes in 2018, but ultimately were still relegated which was a blow.

OFFALY: Eoghan Cahill; Tom Spain, Niall Houlihan, Paddy Delaney; Colm Gath, Pat Camon, Ben Conneely; David O'Toole Greene, Kevin Dunne; Oisin Kelly, Conor Mahon, Colin Egan; Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin, Cillian Kiely.

Sunday May 12

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Waterford v Clare, Walsh Park, 2pm

Walsh Park provides the backdrop for an eagerly anticipated Munster Championship opener.

Waterford didn't play at home last year and are intent on delivering on local turf against a Clare outfit, who reached the provincial decider and All Ireland semi-final.

The replay defeat to Galway was harrowing, but hopes are high in the Banner again.

How Shane Golden and Diarmuid Ryan fared in the Allianz Hurling League was a boost, while Shane O'Donnell is available once more after a stint in Boston.

Gerry O'Connor and Donal Moloney's panel is packed with accomplished performers, who want to earn senior silverware again.

That is precisely what Waterford want to do also with the Croke Park League Final loss to Limerick somewhat disappointing.

What Waterford did, though, en route to that match at GAA headquarters was impressive with victories over Galway sandwiched either side of a triumph over Sunday's opponents Clare.

Pauric Fanning used the competition wisely offering emerging players opportunities to shine as established figures also returned following injury.

WATERFORD: Stephen O'Keeffe; Shane McNulty, Conor Prunty, Noel Connors; Philip Mahony, Tadhg de Burca, Kevin Moran; Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson; Austin Gleeson, Mikey Kearney, Pauric Mahony; Shane Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Peter Hogan.

CLARE: Donal Tuohy; Pat O'Connor, David McInerney, Jack Browne; Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, David Fitzgerald; Shane Golden, Cathal Malone; Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Diarmuid Ryan; Shane O'Donnell, John Conlon, Podge Collins.

Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm

There is rarely any shortage of intrigue when the bluebloods of the southern game collide on the banks of the Lee.

Tipperary endured a troubling stint in 2018 so Liam Sheedy will know about the value of a positive start.

The Allianz Hurling League was mixed for Tipperary, who did produce some good moments.

Seamus Callanan's availability following an injury plagued campaign last year is most welcome for Tipperary, who face the back to back Munster champions.

Cork have delivered in the province, but the All Ireland semi-final losses to Waterford and Limerick brought significant pain.

John Meyler will want to ensure Cork return to the Croke Park stage later in the summer.

CORK: Anthony Nash; Sean O'Donoghue, Eoin Cadogan, Niall O'Leary; Christopher Joyce, Tim O'Mahony, Mark Coleman; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Bill Cooper; Daniel Kearney, Seamus Harnedy, Luke Meade; Conor Lehane, Patrick Horgan, Shane Kingston.

TIPPERARY: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, James Barry, Sean O'Brien; Brendan Maher, Ronan Maher, Padraic Maher; Noel McGrath, Michael Breen; Niall O'Meara, Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher; John O'Dwyer, Jason Forde, John McGrath.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Galway v Carlow, Pearse Stadium, 3pm

For the past two years Carlow have collected the Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh Cups to claim a place in the Leinster Championship.

A trip to Salthill to face Galway is a daunting start, but Colm Bonnar's gutsy team will relish the chance.

In the League Carlow divided the spoils with Galway, who were without several key performers.

Joe Canning's injury enforced absence restricts Galway, but the return to the country of Joseph Cooney and Johnny Glynn in recent weeks adds to the ball winning ability in the forward division.

Carlow's rise under the shrewd stewardship of Bonnar is worthy of the utmost respect.

Galway, though, have been really consistent in the Championship with Micheal Donoghue on the sideline since 2016.

GALWAY: Colm Callanan; Jack Grealish, Ronan Burke, Aidan Harte; Padraig Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Kevin Hussey; David Burke, Cathal Mannion; Niall Burke, Jason Flynn, Brian Concannon; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Davy Glennon.

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Kevin McDonald, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Eoin Nolan, David English, Richard Coady; Jack Kavanagh, Sean Whelan; John M Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, Edward Byrne; James Doyle, Seamus Murphy, Chris Nolan.