The GAA have produced comprehensive preview material for each of the games taking place this weekend across the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Sunday April 21
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Clare v Limerick
Cusack Park, 2pm,
RTE 2
Sunday’s Munster SHC opener in Ennis promises to be lively.
Clare’s Allianz Hurling League Division One triumph was significant, but Brian Lohan’s outfit will be fully aware that a demanding assignment awaits on home turf.
Seeking a fifth All-Ireland on the trot and a sixth Munster title in a row, these truly are remarkable times for Limerick.
Clare defeated Limerick in the round robin series last year, but John Kiely’s charges responded to win the provincial decider.
That was the latest championship epic between the counties.
Shane O’Donnell made welcome return to action for Clare in the league final with Adam Hogan and Aidan McCarthy delivering hugely impressive displays for Brian Lohan’s side.
Limerick’s panel is liberally sprinkled with class. Nickie Quaid, Diarmaid Byrnes, and Cian Lynch enjoyed productive moments in the league, while Cathal O’Neill made valuable contributions also.
Waterford v Cork
Walsh Park, 4pm
GAAGO
It is only the first series of matches, but this fixture is crucial for Waterford and Cork.
In the round robin format Waterford have won only two out of 16 matches so they’ll be especially eager to perform on home turf.
The fact that Waterford and Cork didn’t advance from the Munster Championship last year adds another layer of importance to the game.
Reaching the All-Ireland series is the objective with Pat Ryan’s Cork team featuring a nice blend of emerging and established hurlers.
Generating momentum is what Cork will be striving to do. During the league Seán O’Donoghue, Alan Connolly, and Patrick Horgan impressed at various stages.
There is plenty of talent in the Waterford panel with Shane Bennett and Dessie Hutchinson potent attacking threats.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Galway v Carlow
Pearse Stadium 2pm
Without a Leinster SHC title since 2018 Galway will be anxious to make a significant impact in this year’s competition.
The return of the St Thomas’ players aided Galway during the Allianz Hurling League.
Eamon O’Shea’s addition to Henry Shefflin’s management team in 2024 is another talking point, but with two home games early on, Galway will want to make a positive start.
Chris Nolan and Marty Kavanagh remain key performers for Carlow, who triumphed in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year.
The Mannion brothers, Pádraic and Cathal, Joseph Cooney, and David Burke provide valuable leadership and craft in the Galway panel.
Wexford v Dublin
Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
This will be a vital encounter in the Leinster SHC.
Back in 2016 Dublin sauntered to an emphatic win over Wexford, but in the intervening years the four Championship games involving the counties have been tight.
Dublin have won the most recent two by narrow margins, they drew in 2019, while the previous year Wexford triumphed 0-22 to 2-14.
It is likely to be similarly close this weekend. Three of Wexford’s Allianz Hurling League games concluded in draws.
Keith Rossiter’s team will hope that Séamus Casey and Lee Chin can score heavily, while a youthful Dublin team, managed by Micheál Donoghue, includes the prolific Donal Burke.
Kilkenny v Antrim
UPMC Nowlan Park 2.30pm
Despite a typically gutsy revival late on, Kilkenny were disappointed to lose the Allianz Hurling League Final against Clare.
Undoubtedly, mitigating circumstances existed, but Derek Lyng’s charges still produced a gritty performance.
Cian Kenny impressed at centre field, while Martin Keoghan drilled four points from play following his introduction.
Antrim have only beaten Kilkenny once previously in the Championship, a long time ago, in 1943.
The Saffrons lost their five Allianz Hurling League games, but Darren Gleeson’s panel has been bolstered recently with the return of some players.
Conal Cunning is an accurate finisher and Antrim will want to get some early scores on the board against an accomplished Kilkenny team.
The second round of matches in the Hurling Championship will take place next weekend.
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