Senior hurlers hoping to reverse recent trend of meetings with Kilkenny

It's provincial semi-final weekend in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland championships with three games on Sunday and one on Sunday as follows:

SATURDAY

Leinster: Dublin v Kilkenny, Croke Park, 3.45; Galway v Wexford, Croke Park, 6.15.

Munster: Cork v Waterford, Semple Stadium, 3.30

SUNDAY

Munster: Limerick v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Chaoimh,4.0

KILKENNY v DUBLIN

Dublin made the best possible start to the Leinster campaign when beating Laois by 14 points in Croke Park last Saturday, setting them up nicely for the big test against Kilkenny next Saturday.

Dublin wins over the Cats in the championship have been rare – only one in the last 78 years. Their sole 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

2019: Kilkenny 2-23 Dublin 1-21 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

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)

*Donal Burke scored 1-16 (0-10 frees, 0-2 65s) of Dublin’s 2-31 in the win over Laois on Saturday.

*Brian Cody is in his 22nd championship as Kilkenny manager; Mattie Kenny in his second season with Dublin.

*Cody has come up against Dublin 13 times in the championship since taking over as Kilkenny manager at the start of the 1999 season. They have won eleven, 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. Here’s Cody’s full record against Dublin.

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)

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

2019: Kilkenny 2-23 Dublin 1-21 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

*Kilkenny won three, drew one and lost one of their five Allianz Leagues games last spring; Dublin won two and lost three, including their clash with Kilkenny where they went down on a 3-21 to 0-18 scoreline in Nowlan Park.

GALWAY v WEXFORD

They meet in the Leinster championship for a fourth successive year, with Galway having won in 2017 (nine points) and 2018 (six points) while the sides drew last year.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

2019: Galway 0-16 Wexford 0-16 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

2018: Galway 1-23 Wexford 0-17 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

2017: Galway 0-29 Wexford 1-17 (Leinster final)

2010: Galway 2-22 Wexford 1-14 (Leinster quarter-final)

1996: Wexford 2-13 Galway 3-7 (All-Ireland semi-final)

*Galway finished third in 1A in the Allianz League last spring (three wins, two defeats); Wexford finished second in 1B (four wins, one defeat).

*Davy Fitzgerald leads Wexford into the championship for a fourth season while Shane O’Neill is in his first season as Galway boss. Wexford’s championship record under Fitzgerald is: Played 16, Won 7, Drew3, Lost 6.

*Goals have been scarce in recent Galway-Wexford championship games. The last three games in 2017-18-19 produced only two goals – one each.

*This will be the 13th championship clash between the counties with Wexford having six wins to Galway’s four while there were two draws from the previous twelve.

CORK v WATERFORD

The last two seasons have been very disappointing for Waterford who failed to win any of their eight Mun-ster ‘round robin’ games. They also lost the 2017 All-Ireland final, leaving them seeking their first win in the championship since beating Cork in that year’s semi-final.

Liam Cahill leads Waterford into the championship for the first time while Kieran Kingston is at the start of his second stint as Cork boss, having previously managed them in 2016-17.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2019: Cork 2-30 Waterford 2-17 (Munster ‘round robin’)

2018: Cork 1-23 Waterford 1-20 (Munster ‘round robin’)

2017: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20 (All-Ireland semi-final)

2017: Cork 0-23 Waterford 1-15 (Munster semi-final)

2015: Waterford 3-19 Cork 1-21 (Munster semi-final)

*Cork v Waterford has been a very busy rivalry over the past 21 years, in particular, with the sides having met on 20 occasions in the championship in that period. Cork have won ten times (1999-2003-2005 (twice)-2006-2012-2014-2017-2018 2019; Waterford have won seven (2002-2004-2007 (twice), 2010, 2015, 2017 while they drew in 2007-2010-2014).

*This will be the 68th championship clash between the counties. It’s 47-14 in Cork’s favour with six draws. Cork also had a walkover when Waterford failed to field in 1890.

*Cork finished fourth in 1A of the Allianz League last spring (two wins, three defeats) while Waterford came second on the table (three wins, two defeats). Waterford beat Cork by a point in the opening round in Walsh Park.

LIMERICK v TIPPERARY

The second Munster semi-finals pits the 2019 All-Ireland champions against the 2018 winners in what promises to be a great contest. Limerick were at their impressive best when beating Clare in the quarter-final last Sunday, running out 0-36 to 1-23 winners.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

2019: Limerick 2-26 Tipperary 2-14 (Munster final)

2019: Tipperary 1-22 Limerick 0-21 (Munster ‘round robin’)

2018: Limerick 1-23 Tipperary 2-14 (Munster ‘round robin)

2016: Tipperary 3-12 Limerick 1-16 (Munster semi-final)

2015: Tipperary 4-23 Limerick 1-16 (Munster semi-final)

*They met twice in last year’s championship, with each winning once.

*Limerick beat Tipperary by 2-14 to 0-18 in the opening round of this year’s Allianz League in late January.

*The counties have met 71 times in the championship (69 in Munster, one in the All-Ireland semi-final (2009) and one in the All-Ireland qualifiers (2004) with the results standing as follows: Tipperary 36 wins; Limerick 25 wins; Draws 10.

Joe McDonagh Cup

The Joe McDonagh Cup got off to a flying start last weekend with Ciarán Clarke’s 2-8 helping Antrim to a hugely impressive 4-25 to 1-15 win over Westmeath at Corrigan Park in Belfast and keep the new league champions on a high. Kerry shrugged off the disappointment of the league defeat by dominating Meath by 1-20 to 0-13 with Shane Conway scoring nine frees and Shane Nolan grabbing 1-2 and Mikey Boyle 0-4.

Westmeath must regroup for the visit of Kerry on Saturday, while Carlow are at home to in-form Antrim.

Sat: Westmeath v Antrim, TEG Cusack Pk (1.30) ref: S Cleere

Sat: Carlow v Antrim, Netwatch Cullen Pk (3.00) ref: C McAllister

Christy Ring Cup

On the weekend that marks the centenary of the Cork legend’s birth, the Christy Ring Cup advances after the drama of last week when Wicklow, at one stage 15 points clear, survived a major Roscommon come-back to hold out for a 2-19 to 3-14 victory in Dr Hyde Park. Christy Moorehouse scored 2-9 for Wicklow, with Cathal Dolan grabbing 2-6 for the Rossies.

Down and Derry meet for the second time in three weeks and with Derry looking to avenge their defeat to Down in the Allianz Div 2B final earlier this month. Down were last year’s finalists, losing to Meath. Kil-dare and Wicklow meet on Sunday with Kildare eager to make up for the disappointment on just missing out on promotion to Div 1B and eager for action having had a walk over off Offaly last weekend.

Sat: Down v Derry, Ballycran (1.30). Ref: C Mooney. ET if necessary

Sun: Kildare v Wicklow, Newbridge (12.30) Ref: P Murphy ET if necessary

Nickey Rackard Cup

Last weekend saw Allianz Division 3A champions Donegal struggle to see off Longford 2-13 to 1-14 with Ciaran Matthewson landing a late free after goals from Richie Ryan and Ronan McDermott. Nathan Curry and Marty Moan were prolific as Armagh dominated Leitrim 1-21 to 0-12. Mayo were impressive 3-32 to 2-10 winners away to Monaghan, Shane Boland scoring 0-12 and Cathal Freeman 2-1.

Donegal meet Armagh in a repeat of the league final won by the Tir Chonail men. Armagh have been des-perate to shake off the bridesmaids tag, losing four finals in the last five years and this will be a close fought affair.

Tyrone had a bye last week and need to hit the ground running against a free scoring Mayo with the Red Hand reliant on their marksman Damian Casey.

Sat: Donegal v Armagh, Letterkenny, (1.30). Ref: J Clarke. ET if necessary

Sat: Tyrone v Mayo, Healy Pk (2.0) Ref: C Cumming ET if necessary

Lory Meagher Cup

Injury time goals from John Duffy and Sean Corrigan helped Fermanagh stun Louth 3-10 to 1-15 last week-end and stop a losing streak for the Erne men. They now meet a Cavan team who defeated Fermanagh when they met in the 2020 Allianz League.

Sun: Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Pk (2.0). Ref: T Conway