WEEKEND PREVIEWS
Pairc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm (RTÉ2) Due to the overlap with colleges competitions, Cork manager Pat Ryan reshuffles his deck after the opening round defeat to Clare. Ciaran Joyce is a notably absentee, especially given how he continues to lead from centre-back. The return of Huw Lawlor and Mikey Butler to the Kilkenny defence, plus Mikey Carey’s inclusion at midfield, all suggests the visitors can get something out of this.
VERDICT: Kilkenny
WEXFORD V OFFALY
Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5pm (TG4) Shipping three goals in the first half put an ugly look on the scoreboard at Tullamore in round one that Offaly didn’t deserve so it will be a surprise if they don’t give Wexford a right rattle. Keith Rossiter’s side showed great spirit to grab a late goal and a share of the spoils away to Kilkenny and if they can reduce the foul count, they can grab a first win.
VERDICT: Wexford
DIVISION 2A DOWN V KERRY
Ballycran, 1pm. LIVE on BBCiPlayer Shane Conway’s absence offered only part explanation for the way Kerry were outclassed by Carlow at home last weekend. Add in how Down pushed Laois to the brink and it all points to a home win.
VERDICT: Down
DIVISION 2B
DONEGAL V DERRY Letterkenny, 2.30pm
DIVISION 3A
CAVAN V LOUTH Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
DIVISION 3B
LEITRIM V FERMANAGH Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm
LONGFORD V WARWICKSHIRE Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm
TODAY ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE - ROUND 2 DIVISION 1 GROUP A CORK V KILKENNY
TOMORROW ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE - ROUND 2 DIVISION 1 GROUP A WATERFORD V CLARE
Walsh Park, 1.45pm (TG4) The reopening of Walsh Park for league action should give the home side a spring in their step – but they’ll need it with a list of injuries to key players that would fill an emergency ward. Hard not to favour a Clare team then that looks interested perhaps in a decent league run if the effort and quality against Cork is anything to go by, while the form of Mark Rodgers is a big plus.
VERDICT: Clare
DIVISION 1 GROUP B TIPPERARY V GALWAY
FBD Semple Stadium, 3.45pm (TG4) Galway had a 31-point winning margin against Westmeath yet manager Henry Shefflin (above) insisted a big improvement would
Offaly test: Keith Rossiter be needed to beat Tipperary – which shows how teams are already thinking in terms of scoring average and qualifying for hurling’s top flight next year. Shefflin was speaking in light of how Tipperary comfortably won away at Parnell Park where Gearóid O’Connor’s ball-striking was a big feature and Eoghan Connolly impressed in a new-look midfield.
VERDICT: Tipperary
WESTMEATH V LIMERICK
TEG Cusack Park, 2pm Basically a second-string Limerick cruised home against Antrim while Westmeath shipped an almighty hammering against Galway – two teams going in different directions.
VERDICT: Limerick
ANTRIM V DUBLIN
Corrigan Park, 1.45pm (TG4 deferred) Without the likes of Donal Burke and Danny Sutcliffe, Dublin lacked the necessary cutting edge against Tipperary and paid the price. Diarmaid Ó Dulaing though is one for the future and they should be too strong for an Antrim squad missing too many regulars.
Verdict: DUBLIN
ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 2A ROUND 2 CARLOW V MEATH
Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm Two teams who really could be happy with their opening day’s work. Chris Nolan continues to show why he is such a blue chip forward for Carlow and while Nicky Potterton’s goals were crucial in Meath’s win over Kildare, the Joe McDonagh champions look ready to kick on.
VERDICT: Carlow
KILDARE V LAOIS Hawkfield, 2pm
After coming so close to promotion last year, Kildare are already behind the eight ball with that defeat by Meath. Apart from the usual Laois suspects leading the way against Down, Jer Quinlan was one to impress and they can make it two from two.
VERDICT: Laois
DIVISION 2B TYRONE V ROSCOMMON
O’Neills Healy Park, 2pm LONDON V WICKLOW Ruislip, 1pm
DIVISION 3A
ARMAGH V SLIGO Crossmaglen, 2pm MONAGHAN V MAYO Castleblayney, 1pm