Preview: Weekend’s Allianz Hurling League action:
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Saturday 16th March
Offaly v Clare in Grant Heating St. Brendan’s Park, Birr at 3pm
A draw would suffice for unbeaten Clare to clinch a place in the League semi-finals and on current form they’re likely to at get at least that against an Offaly team that is already resigned to relegation.
Waterford v Kilkenny in Walsh Park at 3pm
Waterford are already relegated but Kilkenny have a lot to play for. Victory here would guarantee the Cats a place in the semi-finals as long as Wexford don’t beat Cork by winning margin of two points or more greater than a hypothetical Kilkenny win over Waterford.
Wexford v Cork in Chadwicks Wexford Park at 3pm
This game will decide whether Wexford or Cork will play in Division 1A of next year’s newly structured Allianz Hurling League. A draw would suffice for Wexford, but Cork must win. A win could also secure a place in this year’s League semi-finals depending on the result in the Waterford-Kilkenny match.
Allianz HL Division 1 Group B round 5
Saturday 16th March
Antrim v Tipperary in Corrigan Park at 3pm (BBC iPlayer/GAAGO)
Tipperary need to win this match and hope Galway don’t beat Limerick to secure a place in the League semi-finals. Antrim are already relegated to Division 1B for 2025
Dublin v Westmeath in Parnell Park at 3pm
Whoever wins this match will finish fourth in the Division 1B table but that won’t be enough to secure Division 1A hurling next year barring a mathematical miracle.
Galway v Limerick in Pearse Stadium at 1.15pm (TG4)
Galway need to beat Limerick and hope Tipperary don’t beat Antrim by a cricket score to secure their place in the League semi-finals. A draw will suffice for Limerick, though there is a slight mathematical chance they miss out altogether on the League Finals if they lost this match and Tipperary have a huge winning margin over Antrim.
Allianz HL Division 2A round 5
Friday 15th March
Kildare v Carlow in Manguard Park at 8pm
Saturday 16th March
Laois v Kerry in Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 2pm
Down v Meath in Ballycran at 1pm
Carlow have already qualified for the Division 2A League Final and Laois are already guaranteed home advantage in the semi-final. The third placed team after Round 5 will play Laois in that semi-final, and that berth is currently occupied by Kildare who sit above Down because they have a slightly superior scoring difference by just a single point.
Kildare are at home to Carlow and Down at are home to Meath, so if both home teams are triumphant then the third placed finish will be decided by their respective winning margins in those games. Simply put, Down need to win by two points more than Kildare.
Kerry and Meath still have an outside chance of promotion too. Meath need to beat Down and hope that Kerry and Kildare lose. And Kerry need to beat Laois and hope that Down and Kildare lose.
Allianz HL Division 2B round 5
Sunday 17th March
Derry v Roscommon in Lavey at 1pm
Donegal v London in Letterkenny at 1pm
Tyrone v Wicklow in Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon at 1pm
The tie of the round in Division 2B is the clash between second-placed Donegal and third placed London. Derry can seal top spot if they draw with or defeat Roscommon. The meeting of Tyrone and Wicklow will be pivotal at the other end of the table.
Allianz HL Division 3A round 5
Saturday 16th March
Armagh v Louth in Box-It Athletic Grounds at 1pm
Cavan v Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni at 1pm
Sligo v Mayo in Kent Park at 1pm
Mayo and Sligo are already guaranteed to meet in the Division 3A Final so it’ll be interesting to see how they approach their Round 5 clash this weekend. Cavan have been the surprise packages of the Division this year and can seal a League semi-final place if they draw with or defeat Monaghan.
Allianz HL Division 3B round 5
Saturday 16th March
Fermanagh v Longford in Brewster Park at 2.30pm
Warwickshire v Lancashire in Pairc na hEireann at 2.30pm
Fermanagh and Longford have already qualified for the Division 3B Final so expect some shadow-boxing when they meet on Saturday. The meeting of Warwickshire and Lancashire will be a battle to avoid finishing bottom of the table.