TODAY’S HURLING PREVIEWS
MUNSTER SHC ROUND 1 Waterford v Tipperary
Walsh Park, 2pm (RTÉ2)
Ref: J Murphy (Limerick) Tipperary come into this almost under the cover of darkness – remarkable really for a team crowned All-Ireland champions only as recently as 2019 and who had Limerick in a hole at half-time of the Munster final.
But, then, there has been a level of transition under new manager
Colm Bonnar, and the loss to injury of Seamus Callanan is a blow after the spate of pre-season retirements. The level of raw talent in the squad should make this really interesting, even if Waterford do look the form team in the country, judging by the National League final.
Verdict: Waterford
Cork v Limerick
Páirc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm (RTÉ2)
Ref: J Keenan (Wicklow)
It’s all about the defensive set-up and match-ups for Cork. Stay zonal or leave gaping holes like in the All-Ireland final or League final and its game over. Be brave and disciplined at the back and it’s not hard to see the likes of Tim O’Mahony and Mark Coleman producing big games and helping to drive on a team that are electric on the front foot. Limerick abandoned any league pretensions and training with all eyes on this one. While it’s hard to just turn up and turn it on, there is such big-game talent in the team in the likes of the three-man shortlist for Hurler of the Year – Sean Finn, Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch – that Limerick can meet Cork’s running game with the necessary fire. Verdict: Limerick
Sligo CHRISTY v Derry RING CUP ROUND 2
Markievicz Park, 2pm
Ref: C Flynn (Westmeath) NICKEY RACKARD CUP ROUND 2 Roscommon v Warwickshire
Dr Hyde Park, 1pm
Ref: A McAleer (Donegal) Donegal v Armagh
Letterkenny, 2pm Ref: J Judge (Sligo) Tyrone v Fermanagh
O’Neill’s Healy Park, 12 noon Ref: K Parke (Antrim) LORY MEAGHER CUP ROUND 2 Cavan v Leitrim
Kingspan Breffni, 2pm Ref: J Connors (Donegal) Louth v Monaghan Darver, 1pm
Ref: T Gleeson (Dublin)