Offaly up next for senior hurlers

Mon, 28th January 2019

Kilkenny, who lost the opening two games in last year’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A series before recovering to win the Allianz Hurling League title outright, have made a better start this season.

They had seven points to spare over Cork last Sunday, having lost to the Leesiders in their first game last year.

The action continues next weekend with 17 games on the agenda across the various divisions.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A: LIMERICK AND TIPPERARY IN BIG SATURDAY NIGHT ATTRACTION
Saturday: Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds, 7.0

Sunday: Clare v Kilkenny, Ennis, 2.0; Cork v Wexford, Pairc Uí Chaoimh, 3.0

All-Ireland champions, Limerick and Tipperary both made the best possible starts to the new hurling campaign with impressive wins over Wexford and Clare respectively last weekend, adding to the intrigue of their Saturday night meeting in the Gaelic Grounds.

The sides met twice last year, with Tipperary winning the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-final in extra-time (Tipperary 2-31 Limerick 1-31) while Limerick won the Munster ‘round robin’ clash by 1-23 to 2-14. Kilkenny travel to Ennis to take on Clare, who finished eight points behind Tipperary last Saturday. Clare beat Kilkenny by three points in last year’s Allianz Hurling League in Nowlan Park.

Having lost their opening games last weekend, Cork and Wexford will be very anxious to get back on the winning track when they meet in Pairc Uí Chaoimh. Wexford beat Cork by four points last year. Cork’s defeat by Kilkenny last Sunday was their fifth setback from seven Allianz Hurling League games since the start of last season.

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B: FAVOURITES MAKE EARLY STATEMENTS OF INTENT
Sunday: Laois v Waterford, Portlaoise, 2.0; Carlow v Galway, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.0; Offaly v Dublin, Tullamore, 2,0.

The formbook ran true in the first round, with Dublin, Waterford and Galway all winning. The trio will be expected to pick up more points next weekend away to Offaly, Laois and Carlow respectively. Offaly beat Dublin by 13 points in last year’s League but lost heavily to the Blues (2-24 to 0-13) in the Leinster ‘round robin.’ Offaly took a big beating from Waterford last Sunday, going down to Waterford by 27 points.

Carlow welcome All-Ireland runners-up, Galway, to Netwatch Cullen Park in what will be a huge test for Colm Bonnar’s men, who lost to Dublin six points last weekend. Galway easily beat Laois, who will host Waterford on Sunday.

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A: KERRY AND WESTMEATH BID TO TAKE EARLY LEAD
Sunday: London v Mayo, Ruislip, 12.30; Kerry v Westmeath, Tralee, 2.0; Meath v Antrim, Pairc Tailteann, 2.0

Having won their opening games last weekend, Kerry and Westmeath clash in Austin Stack Park, with the winners set to move to the top of the table. Westmeath won both of last year’s clashes with Kerry, winning by 1-20 to 0-16 in Division 2A and by 2-12 to 0-15 in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Mayo marked promotion to 2A with a good start at the higher level when drawing with Meath on Sunday and will be hoping to make more progress against London in Ruislip. Antrim beat Meath by 5-25 to 2-18 in last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup.

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B: FIRST ROUND WINNERS v FIRST ROUND LOSERS
Saturday: Kildare v Warwickshire, Newbridge, 1.30; Next Sunday: Wicklow v Down, Aughrim, 12.30; Derry v Donegal, Owenbeg, 2.30

The three first round winners face three first round losers in Round 2. Wicklow, the most impressive winners in the group last weekend, host Down, who beat them in last year’s League.

Donegal beat Derry in last year’s Allianz Hurling League while Kildare who dropped down from 2A, take on Warwickshire, who were promoted from 3A.

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A: OPENING ROUND PRODUCES THREE EASY WINS
Sunday: Tyrone v Louth, Omagh, 12.30; Roscommon v Monaghan, Dr. Hyde Park, 12.30; Armagh v Lancashire, Crossmaglen, 2.0

Roscommon, Armagh and Tyrone were all easy winners in Round 1 and since they are all playing opposition who were well beaten, they will be hoping to quicken the early promotion pace.

Louth beat Tyrone in last year’s League; Monaghan and Roscommon drew while Armagh (2B) and Lancashire (3B) were in different divisions.

HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B: LONGFORD BEGIN CAMPAIGN AGAINST FERMANAGH
Sunday: Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2.0; Fermanagh v Longford, Brewster Park, 2.0

Cavan, one point winners over Leitrim, and Sligo, one point winners over Fermanagh, made good starts last Sunday and now it’s Longford’s turn to begin their campaign in the five-team group. They face Fermanagh while Leitrim and Sligo renew their local rivalry. Leitrim beat Sligo by four points in last year’s League.

2019 ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE: RESULTS & FIXTURES

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A
Round 1: Tipperary 2-16 Clare 1-11; Limerick 1-17 Limerick 2-11; Kilkenny 2-18 Cork 0-17.
Round 2: Next Saturday: Limerick v Tipperary; Next Sunday: Clare v Kilkenny, Cork v Wexford;
Round 3: Feb 16: Cork v Clare; Feb 17: Kilkenny v Limerick; Wexford v Tipperary.
Round 4: Feb 24: Clare v Wexford; Tipperary v Kilkenny; Limerick v Cork.
Round 5: Mar 3: Clare v Limerick; Cork v Tipperary; Wexford v Kilkenny.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Round 1: Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-18; Galway 1-27 Laois 2-15; Waterford 2-28 Offaly 0-7.

Round 2: Next Sunday: Carlow v Galway; Laois v Waterford; Offaly v Dublin;

Round 3: Feb 16: Laois v Offaly; Waterford v Carlow; Feb 17: Galway v Dublin.
Round 4: Feb 24: Offaly v Galway; Carlow v Laois; Dublin v Waterford.
Quarter-finals: Mar 10: Top 1A v 4th 1B; 2nd 1A v 3rd 1B; 3rd 1A v 2nd 1B; 4th 1A v Top 1B.
Semi-finals: Mar 16.
Final: Mar 24

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

Round 1: Mayo 0-17 Meath 0-7; Westmeath 2-17 London 0-15; Kerry 1-21 Antrim 2-16.
Round 2: Next Sunday: London v Mayo; Kerry v Westmeath; Meath v Antrim.
Round 3: Feb 17: Meath v London; Antrim v Westmeath; Kerry v Mayo.
Round 4: Feb 23: London v Kerry; Feb 24: Westmeath v Meath; Mayo v Antrim.
Round 5: Mar 3: Carlow v Offaly; Dublin v Laois; Waterford v Galway.
Round 5: Mar 4: Antrim v London; Kerry v Meath; Westmeath v Mayo.
Final: Mar 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B

Round 1: Kildare 2-16 Donegal 1-13; Derry 1-16 Down 0-14; Wicklow 2-20 Warwickshire 0-11.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Wicklow v Down; Kildare v Warwickshire; Derry v Donegal.
Round 3: Feb 17: Donegal v Wicklow; Kildare v Derry; Warwickshire v Down.
Round 4: Feb 24: Down v Donegal; Warwickshire v Derry; Wicklow v Kildare.
Round 5: Mar 3: Derry v Wicklow; Donegal v Warwickshire; Kildare v Down.
Final: Mar 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A

Round 1: Roscommon 3-18 Louth 1-11; Armagh 4-11 Monaghan 0-5; Tyrone 2-17 Lancashire 0-10.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Armagh v Lancashire; Roscommon v Monaghan; Tyrone v Louth.
Round 3: Feb 16: Lancashire v Louth; Feb 17: Armagh v Roscommon; Tyrone v Monaghan.
Round 4: Feb 24: Louth v Armagh; Monaghan v Lancashire; Roscommon v Tyrone.
Round 5: Mar 3: Lancashire v Roscommon; Louth v Monaghan; Tyrone v Armagh.
Final: Mar 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B

Round 1: Cavan 2-9 Leitrim 1-11; Sligo 2-14 Fermanagh 1-16.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Fermanagh v Longford; Leitrim v Sligo.
Round 3:Feb 16: Longford v Leitrim; Sligo v Cavan.
Round 4: Feb 24: Cavan v Longford; Leitrim v Fermanagh
Round 5: Mar 3: Fermanagh v Cavan; Longford v Sligo.
Final: Mar 10