Senior hurlers face Tipp in NHL opener

It’s take-off time for the 2016 Allianz Hurling League, starting this Saturday night when Semple Stadium Thurles and the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick host two big games in Division 1A and 1B.

The rest of the counties (with the exception of Division 3B, which starts in March) go into action on Sunday.

Tipperary v Dublin is the big 1A attraction in Thurles on Saturday night while Limerick host Wexford in the 1B opener. Dublin beat Tipperary by 12 points in Parnell Park in last year’s Allianz Hurling League while Limerick beat Wexford by a point.

Waterford’s achievement of winning the Division 1 title outright from 1B last year has greatly added to the interest in the competition in a season where Allianz’ commitment to the Allianz Leagues has been underlined by a five year extension to the sponsorship of both codes.

Waterford begin the defence of their title on Sunday with a home tie against Kilkenny, who won the Allianz League ‘three-in-a-row’ in 2012-13-14.

It’s a mouth-watering prospect as the reigning All-Ireland champions and the Allianz League champions clash so early in the season. They met in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final when Kilkenny won by 1-21 to 0-18.

Cork, who lost to Waterford in last year’s Division 1 final, head for Pearse Stadium to take on Galway, who beat them comfortably (2-28 to 0-22) in the 2015 All-Ireland quarter-final. Cork beat Galway by three points in the 1A clash some months earlier.

In 1B, Saturday’s Limerick-Wexford clash will be followed on Sunday by Clare v Offaly and Laois v Kerry. Clare (1A) and Offaly (1B) did not meet in last year’s League but had a summer engagement which the Bannermen won comfortably (3-26 to 0-15) in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

The four top sides in 1A and 1B will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Next weekend’s full programme is as follows:

Saturday (7PM):

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A: Tipperary v Dublin, Semple Stadium;

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Limerick v Wexford, Gaelic Grounds

Sunday (2PM):

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A: Galway v Cork, Pearse Stadium; Waterford v Kilkenny, Walsh Park

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Clare v Offaly, Ennis; Laois v Kerry, Portlaoise

Allianz Hurling League Division 2A: Derry v Antrim, Owenbeg; Kildare v Carlow, Newbridge; London v Westmeath, Irish TV Grounds, Ruislip;

Allianz Hurling League Division 2B: Armagh v Down, Athletic Grounds; Mayo v Donegal, Elverys MacHale Park; Wicklow v Meath, Arklow;

Allianz Hurling League Division 3A: Fingal v Warwickshire, Swords; Louth v Roscommon, Darver; Monaghan v Tyrone, Castleblayney.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2015: KEY DATES

February 13/14: Round 1

February 20/21: Round 2

March 5/6: Round 3

March 12/13: Round 4

March 20: Round 5

March 26: Div 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B finals

April 2/3: Division 1 quarter-finals

April 17: Division 1 semi-finals

May 1: Division1 final

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE ROLL OF HONOUR (DIVISION 1)

19 – Tipperary (1928-49-50-52-54-55-57-59-60-61-64-65-68-79-88-94-99-2001-2008)

17 – Kilkenny (1933-62-66-76-82-83-86-90-95-2002-2003-2005-2006-2009-2012-2013-2014)

14 – Cork (1926-30-40-41-48-53-69-70-72-74-80-81-93-98)

11 – Limerick (1934-35-36-37-38-47-71-84-85-92-97)

9 – Galway (1932-51-75-87-89-96-2000-2004-2010)

4 – Wexford (1956-58-67-73)

3 – Clare (1946-77-78)

3 – Waterford (1963-2007-2015)

2 – Dublin (1929-39-2011)

1 – Offaly (1991)