Senior hurlers hope to defy the history books

Let the drama begin! After the great excitement of the 2018 GAA hurling All-Ireland championships, there's more anticipation than usual ahead of this year's campaign, which starts next weekend with two games each in the Leinster and Munster champion ships as well as Joe McDonagh Cup action. The line-up is as follows:

LEINSTER Round 1

Saturday: Kilkenny v Dublin, Nowlan Park, 7.0 Sunday: Galway v Carlow, Pearse Stadium, 3.0

MUNSTER Round 1

Sunday: Waterford v Clare, Walsh Park, 2.0; Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4.0.

JOE MCDONAGH CUP

Saturday: Antrim v Kerry, Dunloy, 5.0; Offaly v Laois, Bord na Mona O'Connor Park, 7.0

KILKENNY V DUBLIN

Dublin wins over Kilkenny in the championship have been very rare - only one in the last 76 years - which underlines the extent of the challenge awaiting them in the first series of Leinster 'round robin' games in Nowlan Park on Saturday. Dublin's only success in that period came in 2013 when they won a Leinster semi-final replay by three points. They later went on to win the Leinster title for the first time since 1961.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2018: Kilkenny 1-24 Dublin 3-16 (Leinster round robin)

2016: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-16 (Leinster semi-final)

2014: Kilkenny 0-24 Dublin 1-9 (Leinster final)

2013: Dublin 1-16 Kilkenny 0-16 (Leinster semi-final replay)

2013: Kilkenny 1-14 Dublin 0-17 (Leinster semi-final)

*Kilkenny won two and lost four games in this year's Div 1A Allianz League campaign. Dublin won four and lost one of five games in 1B before beating Tipperary in the quar ter-finals and losing to Limerick in the semi-final.

*Brian Cody is in his 21th season with Kilkenny; Mattie Kenny in his first season with Dublin.

Brian Cody has come up against Dublin twelve times in the championship since taking over as Kilkenny manager at the start of the 1999 season. They have won ten, drawn one and lost one. Kilkenny's only defeat was in the 2013 Leinster semi-final replay, their first setback against Dublin in the championship since 1942.

2000: Kilkenny 3-16 Dublin 0-10 (Leinster semi-final)

2003: Kilkenny 3-16 Dublin 0-10 (Leinster semi-final)

2004: Kilkenny 4-22 Dublin 0-8 (All-Ireland qualifier)

2009: Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 0-18 (Leinster final)

2010: Kilkenny 4-19 Dublin 0-12 (Leinster semi-final)

2011: Kilkenny 4-17 Dublin 1-15 (Leinster final)

2012: Kilkenny 2-21 Dublin 0-9 (Leinster semi-final)

2013: Kilkenny 1-14 Dublin 0-17 (Leinster semi-final)

2013: Dublin 1-16 Kilkenny 0-16 (Leinster semi-final replay)

2014: Kilkenny 0-24 Dublin 1-9 (Leinster final)

2016: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-16 (Leinster semi-final)

*Oisin O'Rorke was Dublin's top scorer in the Allianz League on 2-22 (0-14 frees)

*Kevin Kelly was Kilkenny's top scorer in the Allianz League on 1-21 (1-20 frees, 0-1'65')

Parnell Pass Information - Dublin v Kilkenny, Saturday 11th May: Parnell Pass holders can purchase their tickets for this fixture from the GAA Ticket Office on Dorset Street from 10am on Tuesday 7th May. Ticket Office opening hours 10am – 5pm, Tuesday to Friday only. Late opening until 7pm on Tuesday 7th May.

Parnell Pass holders who have purchased, but not yet received their 2019 pass should bring their confirmation email to the Ticket Office.

GALWAY v CARLOW

Having been promoted to Liam MacCarthy Tier after winning last year's Joe McDonagh  Cup, Carlow begin their campaign away to a Galway side who are targeting the Lein ster three-in-a-row this year.  They beat Wexford in the 2017 final and Kilkenny in a replay last year.

Galway and Carlow meet in the championship for the first time since Galway won an All -Ireland quarter-final clash by 4-19 to 3-9 in Dr. Cullen Park.

*This is Galway's 11th season in the Leinster championship. They won the title in 2012-17 18 and reached the final in 2010-13-15-16.

* Carlow and Galway drew (0-20 each) in Round 2 of this year's 1B Allianz hurling League campaign in Netwatch Cullen Park. A late pointed free by Marty Kavanagh earned Carlow a draw after they trailed by four points at half-time. Carlow drew two and lost three of their five regulation games in 1B before surviving in the group with a play-off win over Offaly. Galway won three, drew one and lost one of their five games in the same group. They beat Wexford in the quarter-final before losing to Waterford in the semi-final.

* Micheal Donoghue is in his fourth season as Galway manager; Colm Bonnar is in his third season as Carlow boss.

*Joe Canning, who is out injured, was Galway's top scorer in the Allianz League, landing 0-55 (0-48 from frees and 0-2 65s'. Cathal Mannion was top scorer from play on 1-15.

*Marty Kavanagh was Carlow's top scorer in the League on 0-49 (0-37 frees, 0-1 pen, o -1 '65')

CLARE V WATERFORD

This will be the first Munster hurling championship game played in Walsh Park since 1996 when Tipperary beat Waterford (1-14 to 1-11) in front of a crowd of 15,565.

The game marked the senior championship debut of Ken McGrath, who went on to be come one of Waterford's all-time greats.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2018: Clare 2-27 Waterford 2-18 (Munster 'round robin)

2016: Waterford 1-21 Clare 0-17 (Munster semi-final)

2013: Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15 (Munster quarter-final)

2012: Waterford 2-17 Clare 1-18 (Munster semi-final)

2010: Waterford 0-22 Clare 1-15 (2010 Munster semi-final)

*This will be the 32nd championship meeting between the counties, with Clare leading 16-11 while there have been four draws from the previous 31.

*Clare and Waterford met in the quarter-final of this year's Allianz League, with the Deise winning easily (0-31 to 1-14) in Walsh Park. Waterford trailed by two points at half-time after playing against the wind, but outscored the visitors by 0-20 to 0-4 in the second half. *Waterford, who reached this year's Allianz League final where they lost to Limerick, won six and lost two of their eight games. Clare won two, drew one and lost three of their six games

*Paraic Fanning is his first season as Waterford manager while the Gerry O'Connor/ Donal Moloney partnership is in its third term at the Banner helm.

*Stephen Bennett was Waterford's top scorer in the Allianz League on 4-85 (2-68 frees, 0-1 '65).

*Peter Duggan was Clare's top scorer in the League on 3-33 (0-28 frees, 2-0 pens, 0-3 '65's, 0-1 sideline)

CORK V TIPPERARY

They meet in the championship for the 87th time, with Tipperary leading 39-38 in wins. There have also been eight draws and one abandoned game.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

2018: Tipperary 2-20 Cork 1-23 (Munster 'round robin)

2017: Cork 2-27 Tipperary 1-26 (Munster quarter-final)

2014: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)

2012: Tipperary 1-22 Cork 0-24 (Munster semi-final)

2011: Tipperary 3-22 Cork 0-23 (Munster quarter-final)

*Liam Sheedy is in his first season as Tipperary manager, having been previously there in 2008-2010. John Meyler is in his second season year with Cork.

*Tipperary beat Cork by 1-29 to 1-16 in this year's Allianz League in Pairc Ui Rinn. Tip perary reached the quarter-final where they lost to Dublin, leaving them with an over all return of two wins and four defeats. Cork won three and lost three of their six games.

 *Patrick Horgan was Cork's top scorer in the Allianz League on 1-46 (0-38 frees, 0-1 '65').

*Seamus Callanan was Tipperary's top scorer in the Allianz League on 3-29 (0-23 frees, 1-0 pen)

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With promotion to the Liam MacCarthy Cup tier next year and qualification for this year's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals as prizes to be the fought for, it's certain to be a very exciting campaign.

Offaly, who dropped out of the Leinster championship after finishing bottom of the table last year, begin the attempt for a quick return with a tie against neighbours, Laois.

Laois beat Offaly by 3-17 to 2-16 after leading by 13 points at half-time in this season's League meeting. Offaly were later relegated from 1B while Laois finished fourth before losing to Limerick in the quarter-final.

Antrim beat Kerry by 1-21 to 2-16 in Corrigan Park on the opening day of the 2A League season in January. Kerry recovered and reached the final, which they lost to Westmeath by two points.

Westmeath, who lost last year's Joe McDonagh Cup final to Carlow, begin their cam paign on the weekend after next at home to Offaly.

ALL-IRELAND & PROVINCIAL HURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

LEINSTER

Round 1

May 11: Kilkenny v Dublin, Nowlan Park. May 12: Galway v Carlow, Pearse Stadium

Round 2 May 18: Carlow v Kilkenny, Netwatch Cullen Park; Dublin v Wexford, Parnell Park,

Round 3 May 26: Galway v Wexford, Pearse Stadium. June 1: Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park.

Round 4

June 8: Wexford y Carlow, Innovate Wexford Park, June 9: Kilkenny v Galway, Nowlan Park

Round 5

June 15: Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park; Wexford v Kilkenny, Innovate Wexford Park. June 30: Final

MUNSTER Round 1 May 12: Clare v Waterford, Walsh Park; Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

Round 2 May 19: Limerick v Cork, LIT Gaelic Grounds; Tipperary v Waterford, Semple Stadium.

Round 3

June 2: Waterford v Limerick, Walsh Park; Clare v Tipperary, Ennis.

Round 4

June 8: Cork v Waterford, Pairc Ui Chaoimh. June 9: Limerick v Clare, LIT Gaelic Grounds

Round 5

June 16: Clare v Cork, Ennis; Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium June 30: Final

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6/7: Preliminary quarter-finals

July 13/14: All-Ireland quarter-finals

July 27/28: All-Ireland semi-finals, Croke Park

August 18: Final, Croke Park

JOE MCDONAGH CUP

Round 1

May 11: Offaly v Laois; Antrim v Kerry

Round 2

May 18: Laois v Antrim; Westmeath v Offaly

Round 3

May 25: Westmeath v Kerry

June 1: Offaly v Antrim

Round 4

June 8: Antrim v Westmeath; Kerry v Laois

Round 5

June 15: Laois v Westmeath; Kerry v Offaly

Final: June 30, Croke Park