Hurlers looking to take advantage of second chance

Tue, 2nd June 2015

The first finalists in this year’s hurling senior provincial championships will be decided this Sunday when Cork take on Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles (4.0).

Leinster has big action too, with three quarter-finals on the Saturday/Sunday programme to decide who joins Kilkenny in the semi-finals.

Dublin and Galway replay in O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday (4.45pm). Laois host Offaly in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday (3.30) and Westmeath take on Wexford in Cusack Park, Mullingar at the same time.

DUBLIN v GALWAY

Next Saturday’s replay will be their sixth meeting in championship history, with Dublin having won four and drawn one of the previous five games.

Previous Five Championship Clashes

2015: Dublin 0-20 Galway 1-17 (Leinster quarter-final)

2013: Dublin 2-25 Galway 2-13 (Leinster final)

2011: Dublin 0-19 Galway 2-7 (Leinster semi-final)

1941: Dublin 2-4 Galway 2-2 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1924: Dublin 5-3 Galway 2-6 (All-Ireland final)

*Dublin won two of their last three championship replays. In 2013, they beat Wexford (Leinster quarter-final) and Kilkenny (Leinster semi-final). In 2008, they lost a semi-final replay to Wexford in 2008.

*Galway lost two of their last three championship replays. They lost to Kilkenny in last year’s Leinster semi-final replay and in the 2012 All-Ireland final replay. They beat Offaly in the 2010 Leinster semi-final replay.

*This is Galway’s seventh season in the Leinster senior championship. Their record reads: Played 17; Won 9, Drew 3, Lost 5.

Here’s how they fared against individual counties.

Kilkenny: Played 5, Won 1, D1, Lost 3

Laois: Played 3, Won 3

Offaly: Played 3, Won 2, Drew 1

Dublin: Played 3, Lost 2, Drew 1

Westmeath: Played 2, Won 2

Wexford: Played 1, Won 1

*This will be Galway’s fifth game in Tullamore since joining the Leinster championship in 2009 and they have yet to win in O’Connor Park. They lost to Kilkenny in 2009 (2-20 to 3-13) to Dublin in 2011 (0-19 to 2-7) and to Kilkenny last year (3-19 to 1-17). They also drew with Kilkenny in Tullamore last year (5-16 to 3-22).

* Saturday’s winners will play Offaly or Laois in the Leinster semi-final on June 20.

CORK v WATERFORD

It has been a very busy rivalry over the past 16 years, in particular, with the sides having met on 15 occasions in the championship since 1999.

Cork have won seven times (1999-2003-2005 (twice)-2006-2012-2014); Waterford have won five (2002-2004-2007 (twice) and 2010 while they drew in 2007-2010-2014.

This game comes just five weeks after Waterford beat Cork by 1-24 to 0-17 in the Allianz League Division 1 final.

Last Five Championship Clashes

2014: Cork 0-28 Waterford 0-14 (Munster quarter-final( Replay

2014: Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-21 (Munster quarter-final)

2012: Cork 1-19 Waterford 0-19 (2012 All-Ireland quarter-final)

2010: Waterford 1-16 Cork 1-13 (Munster final) Replay - after extra-time

2010: Cork 2-15 Waterford 2-15 (Munster final) Draw

*Goals have been scarce in recent championship clashes between the counties, with only five scored in the last five games.

* The last time Cork went into the Munster championship as defending champions was in 2007. They beat Clare in the first round, before losing to Waterford (5-15 to 3-18) in the semi-final.

*The last time Waterford went into the Munster championship as Allianz League title holders was in 2007 when they beat Cork and Limerick to win the provincial crown.

*Waterford’s results in their recent march to Allianz League glory were: Played 8; Won 7 (Laois, Offaly, Antrim, Wexford, Galway, Tipperary, Cork), Drew 1 (Limerick).

*Cork’s results in the recent League were Played 8; Won 5 (Clare, Dublin, Galway, Wexford, Dublin); Lost 3 (Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford)

* Sunday’s winners will play Limerick or Tipperary in the Munster final on July 12.

LAOIS v OFFALY

Offaly are seeking their 15th successive championship win over Laois, who recorded their last victory over their neighbours in 1972.

Last Five Championship Clashes

2008: Offaly 4-22 Laois 2-12 (Leinster quarter-final)

2007: Offaly 1-26 Laois 0-10 (Leinster quarter-final)

2006: Offaly 2-12 Laois 0-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

2004: Offaly 2-23 Laois 1-15 (Leinster quarter-final)

1997: Offaly 1-11 Laois 2-7 (Leinster quarter-final)

*Laois have already had three outings in this year’s Leinster championship, beating Carlow (1-17 to 1-14) and Westmeath (1-20 to 1-17) and losing to Antrim by 5-17 to 3-22.

*This will be the first championship clash between the counties since 2008 when Offaly won a quarter-final tie on a 4-22 to 2-12 scoreline in Portlaoise.

*The counties met in this year’s Allianz League 1B campaign on February 14, when Offaly won by 1-24 to 0-23 in Portlaoise. Shane Dooley scored 1-14 (1-10 frees) for Offaly while Zane Keenan scored 0-10 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) for Laois.

* Sunday’s winners will meet Galway or Dublin in the Leinster semi-final on June 20.

WESTMEATH v WEXFORD

Next Sunday’s clash will be only the fifth between the counties in the championship over the last 60 years. They last met in the championship in 2012 when Wexford won an All-Ireland qualifier tie in Wexford Park by 3-22 Westmeath 2-9. Diarmuid Lyng scored 0-15 for Wexford.

The last Leinster championship clash between the counties was in 1995 when Wexford won a first round clash by 6-23 to 1-7 in Carlow.

Last Four Championship Clashes

2012: Wexford 3-22 Westmeath 2-9 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

1995: Wexford 6-23 Westmeath 1-7 (Leinster first round)

1983: Wexford 7-18 Westmeath 1-13 (Leinster first round)

1955: Wexford 5-9 Westmeath 3-4 (Leinster first round)

*Westmeath have already played three games in this year’s Leinster championship, beating Carlow by 2-19 to 2-17 and Antrim by 1-21 to 0-7. They lost to Laois by 1-20 to 1-17.

*Wexford are having their first outing in this year’s championship, having reached last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finals.

*The winners will play Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final on June 21.

2015 GAA HURLING ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

LEINSTER

Round Robin: Westmeath 2-19 Carlow 2-17; Antrim 5-17 Laois 3-22; Westmeath 1-21 Antrim 0-7; Laois 1-17 Carlow 1-14; Laois 1-20 Westmeath 1-17; Carlow 2-18 Antrim 1-11.

Quarter-finals: May 31: Dublin 0-20 Galway 1-17, Croke Park; June 6: Replay: Dublin v Galway, Tullamore; June 7: Laois v Offaly, Portlaoise; Westmeath v Wexford, Mullingar.

Semi-final: June 20: Galway/Dublin v Offaly/Laois; June 21: Kilkenny v Wexford/ Westmeath.

Final: July 5: Croke Park.

MUNSTER

First Round: Limerick 1-19 Clare 2-15, Thurles.

Semi-finals: June 7: Cork v Waterford, Thurles; June 21: Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds.

Final: July 12.

ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS

July 4: Round 1: Eight teams that don’t qualify for Leinster and Munster finals.

July 11: Round 2: Four Round 1 winners play off in two games

July 26: Quarter-finals: Round 2 winners v Leinster and Munster runners-ups

August 9: Semi-final: Leinster championships v quarter-final winner, Croke Park

August 16: Semi-final: Munster champions v quarter-final winner.