Cats next challenge for senior hurlers

Dublin were the most impressive winners in the six Division 1 games on the opening weekend of the Allianz Hurling League, beating 2014 All-Ireland Championship and Allianz League runners-up, Tipperary by 12 points in Parnell Park.

It was a great start for new manager, Ger Cunningham, the former Cork star, who is in his first season with Dublin. Next up for Dublin are All-Ireland and reigning Allianz League champions, Kilkenny, who will have home advantage in Nowlan Park next Sunday.

DIVISION 1A: CAN MUNSTER TRIO GET BACK ON TRACK?

Saturday: Cork v Clare, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7.0; Sunday: Tipperary v Galway, Thurles, 2.0; Kilkenny v Dublin, Nowlan Park, 2.0.

Cork, Clare and Tipperary all lost in the opening round, making it a blank weekend for Munster counties against Kilkenny, Galway and Dublin respectively.

It’s straight into Round 2 next weekend, launched on Saturday evening when Cork host Clare in Pairc Ui Rinn. It will be the seventh Allianz League and Championship clash between the counties in two years with the results standing as follows from the previous six: Clare 3; Cork 2, Draws 1. Clare won the two Allianz League clashes in 2013 (group stages and relegation play-off) and the 2013 All-Ireland final replay. Cork won the 2013 and 2014 Munster semi-finals while the sides drew first time out in the 2013 All-Ireland final.

Dublin beat Kilkenny by 1-22 to 3-13 in last year’s Allianz League clash in Parnell Park but were later well beaten (0-24 to 1-9) by Brian Cody’s men in the Leinster final. Kilkenny got their Allianz League season off to a lively start when beating Cork last Saturday.

Tipperary, who eliminated Galway from last year’s championship, host Anthony Cunningham’s men in Thurles on Sunday in a game which is crucial to Eamon O’Shea’s squad after the defeat by Dublin last Sunday. Tipperary have an excellent Allianz League record against Galway, winning six, drawing one and losing one of their last eight games. The defeat came last year when Galway won by 3-16 to 1-19 in Pearse Stadium.

DIVISION 1B: FIRST DAY PRESSURE ON PROMOTION FAVOURITES

Saturday: Waterford v Laois, Fraher Field, 7.0; Sunday: Offaly v Wexford, Tullamore, 2.0; Antrim v Limerick, Ballycastle, 2.0.

Limerick and Wexford, who started the campaign as favourites to lead the promotion drive, both had very difficult opening encounters last weekend. Limerick drew with Waterford while Wexford edged out Antrim by a point. It underlines how tough this group really is.

Limerick make the long trip to Ballycastle on Sunday to take on Antrim while Wexford will be away to Offaly, who made a positive start with a win over Laois last Saturday.

Limerick were easy winners over Antrim (3-26 to 0-12) last year while Wexford beat Offaly by 2-29 to 2-13.

Waterford and Laois, who clash on Saturday evening, didn’t meet in last year’s Allianz League (Waterford were in 1A) but had a championship encounter in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Waterford won by 2-22 to 1-15.

DIVISION 2A: EARLY SHOW BY CARLOW AND WESTMEATH

Saturday: London v Carlow, Ruislip, 1.0; Sunday: Wicklow v Kerry, Aughrim, 1.0; Derry v Westmeath, Owenbeg, 2.0

Westmeath and Carlow were the two winners in this group in Round 1, while Derry and Kerry drew. Both Carlow (v London) and Westmeath (v Derry) will be away next weekend while Kerry travel to Aughrim to meet a Wicklow side that suffered a 3-17 to 1-16 against Carlow in Round 1.

DIVISION 2B: TABLE-TOPPERS CLASH IN NEWBRIDGE

Sunday (2.0.): Kildare v Down, Newbridge; Mayo v Meath, Elverys MacHale Park; Armagh v Donegal, Athletic Grounds.

Kildare’s ten point win over Meath was the highest in the group in Round 1, leaving them topping the table on scoring difference as they prepare to host, Down, who also got off to a good start with a seven point win over Armagh. Mayo also won last Sunday, beating Donegal, and will have home advantage against Meath next weekend. Armagh and Donegal will be hoping to pick up their first points.

DIVISION 3A: ROSCOMMON THE EARLY LEADERS

Sunday (2.0): Monaghan v Roscommon, Castleblayney; Fingal v Tyrone, Swords; Louth v Fermanagh, Darver.

Fingal and Roscommon both won last Sunday, with Roscommon taking top spot on the table, thanks to their 12-point win over Louth. Their next outing is away to Monaghan, while Fingal and Tyrone clash in Swords. Louth v Fermanagh is the bottom-on-the-table clash.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2015 RESULTS & FIXURES

DIVISION 1A

Round 1: Kilkenny 1-22 Cork 2-17; Dublin 2-20 Tipperary 0-14; Galway 2-15 Clare 1-17

Round 2: February 21: Cork v Clare; February 22: Kilkenny v Dublin; Tipperary v Galway.

Round 3: March 7: Dublin v Cork; March 8: Clare v Tipperary; Galway v Kilkenny.

Round 4: March 14: Clare v Dublin; Tipperary v Kilkenny; Galway v Cork.

Round 5: March 22: Cork v Tipperary; Dublin v Galway; Kilkenny v Clare

DIVISION 1B

Round 1: Limerick 2-16 Waterford 0-22; Wexford 1-24 Antrim 2-20; Offaly 1-24 Laois 0-23.

Round 2: February 22: Waterford v Laois; February 23: Antrim v Westmeath; Offaly v Wexford.

Round 3: March 8: Wexford v Limerick; Antrim v Laois; Offaly v Waterford.

Round 4: March 14: Limerick v Offaly; March 15: Waterford v Antrim; Laois v Wexford.

Round 5: March 22: Antrim v Offaly; Limerick v Laois; Wexford v Waterford.

PLAY-OFFS

March 29: Quarter-finals: 1^st 1A v 4^th 1B; 2^nd 1A v 3^rd 1B; 3^rd 1A v 2^nd 1B; 4^th 1A v 1^st 1B.

Relegation: 1A: 5^th v 6^th; 1B; 5^th v 6^th.

DIVISION 2A

Round 1: Kerry 0-14 Derry 0-14; Westmeath 2-20 London 1-8; Carlow 3-17 Wicklow 1-6.

Round 2: February 22: Derry v Westmeath; London v Carlow; Wicklow v Kerry.

Round 3: March 8: Derry v Carlow; Wicklow v London; Kerry v Westmeath.

Round 4: March 1: London v Derry; March 15: Westmeath v Wicklow; Kerry v Carlow.

Round 5: March 22: Kerry v London; Derry v Wicklow; Westmeath v Carlow.

Final: April 4: 1^st v 2nd

DIVISION 2B

Round 1: Kildare 0-24 Meath 0-14; Down 1-13 Armagh 0-9; Mayo 3-14 Donegal 1-12.

Round 2: February 22: Armagh v Donegal; Kildare v Down; Mayo v Meath

Round 3: March 7: Armagh v Kildare; March 8: Donegal v Meath; Mayo v Down.

Round 4: March 15: Kildare v Mayo; Down v Donegal; Meath v Armagh.

Round 5: March 22: Donegal v Kildare; Mayo v Armagh; Meath v Down.

Final: April 4: 1^st v 2^nd

DIVISION 3A

Round 1: Fingal 3-13 Fermanagh 1-16; Roscommon 1-21 Louth 1-9; Tyrone 1-13 Monaghan 2-10

Round 2: February 22: Fingal v Tyrone; Louth v Fermanagh; Monaghan v Roscommon.

Round 3: March 8: Fermanagh v Tyrone; Fingal v Roscommon; Louth v Monaghan.

Round 4: March 15: Tyrone v Louth; Monaghan v Fingal; Roscommon v Fermanagh.

Round 5: March 22: Fermanagh v Monaghan; Fingal v Louth; Tyrone v Roscommon.

Final: April 4: 1^st v 2^nd

DIVISION 3B

Round 1: March 8: Leitrim v Longford; Warwickshire v Sligo.

Round 2: March 1: Longford v Warwickshire; March 15: Sligo v Leitrim.

Round 3: March 22: Longford v Sligo; Warwickshire v Leitrim.

Final: April 4: 1^st v 2nd