Preview: Weekend’s Allianz Hurling League action:
Saturday 21st March
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Limerick v Galway in TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7pm – TG4
A draw or win for Limerick will secure their place in the League Final.
If Galway win by any margin against Limerick and Kilkenny beat Tipperary, then Galway will finish above Limerick on the head to head rule and qualify for the final.
If Galway beat Limerick and Tipperary beat Kilkenny, then Limerick, Galway, and Tipperary will all finish on eight points each and scoring difference will decide which team progresses to the final.
Tipperary’s scoring difference is currently 30 points less than Limerick’s and 26 points less than Galway’s, and it seems unlikely they would beat Kilkenny by a sufficient enough margin to make up the short-fall.
So, the maths for Galway are simple enough. In a scenario where Tipperary beat Kilkenny they would need to beat Limerick by three points or more to be sure of qualifying for the final.
The Tribesmen have had a great League campaign with young players like Aaron Niland, Jason Rabbitte, Rory Burke, Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, and Cian Daniels looking to the manor born.
A seasoned Limerick team that really have the bit between their teeth represent the ultimate test though, and a young Galway side might find they have a road to travel yet.
Tipperary v Kilkenny in FBD Semple Stadium at 7pm – TG4 Youtube
Tipperary still have a mathematical chance of reaching the League Final but they would need a very big win here and other results to go their way.
Kilkenny will be out to prove a point after they suffered a chastening 18-point defeat two weeks ago against Galway.
Team manager Derek Lyng and the county’s supporters will want pride restored, and no better side to do that against than their greatest rivals.
So we can expect Kilkenny to make it a real battle, but their achilles heel of a lack of scoring power is likely to come back to bite them again.
They’ve averaged just 20 points per game compared to Tipperary’s 27, and the Premier County’s greater cutting edge should see them come out on top here.
Cork v Offaly in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm – TG4 Youtube
Cork can clinch their place in the Division 1A League Final with a win over Offaly, and it would be a major shock if they didn’t get it.
The Rebels have maintained a very high standard throughout the campaign despite experimenting with their selections.
Just one player has started all of their five games to date and 33 players have gotten game time, 31 as starters, so Ben O’Connor has really given his panel a good run out.
It’s been a tough campaign for an injury-hit Offaly who have lost all five of their matches by an average of nine points each. Another defeat looks likely here.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Carlow v Dublin in Netwatch Cullen Park at 5pm
Dublin can qualify for the Division 1B Final and relegate Carlow into the bargain here.
Carlow are never an easy proposition on their home turf, but the Barrowsiders haven’t been at their best so far this year.
A Dublin team scoring an average of 13 points more per game should be too strong for them.
Down v Antrim in Páirc Esler, Newry at 5pm
Down are as good as relegated even if it’s still not a mathematical certainty just yet.
A scenario where they beat Antrim and Dublin beat Carlow would leave Down, Antrim, and Carlow all on two points with the two teams with the worst scoring difference relegated.
Currently Down’s scoring difference is -80, Carlow’s is -35, and Antrim’s is -27, so Down seem certain to lose out there.
If Antrim beat Down then they’ll retain their Division 1B status and Carlow will be relegated even if they beat Dublin and also finish on four points. This is because Antrim beat Carlow when they played in Round 4 and so would finish above them on the head-to-head rule.
Expect Down to hurl with a lot of heart in front of their home support, but Antrim to come out on top in the end.
Wexford v Kildare in Chadwicks Wexford Park at 5pm
After a slow start to the campaign Wexford have improved as some of their more established players have returned to the team.
They can still win promotion if they win here and Carlow beat Dublin, but the latter part of that equation looks very unlikely.
It’s been a very encouraging campaign for a Kildare team that has won three of their five matches to date.
They’ll want to produce another big performance so they can bring some momentum into the Leinster Championship, but Wexford should have an edge in most areas of the field.
Allianz Hurling League Division 2
London v Laois in McGovern Park at 1pm
Laois are already qualified for the final so will have the luxury of experimenting with their selection here.
Regardless, they should be too strong for a London team that has struggled for form this year.
Mayo v Westmeath in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park at 1pm
Westmeath need to win this and hope that Meath do them a favour against Kerry if they’re to win promotion.
They should look after the first part of that equation comfortably enough against a Mayo team that has just one point from five matches and has conceded an average of 31 points per match.
Meath v Kerry in St Loman’s Park at 1pm
Kerry have really raised their standard this year and can claim promotion and a place in the final with a win here.
They’ve scored an average of 31 points per match so far and that sort of firepower should be too much for Meath.
Allianz Hurling League Division 3
Armagh v Fermanagh in BOX-IT Athletic Grounds at 2pm
Roscommon v Donegal in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park at 2pm
Wicklow v Louth in Echelon Park at 2pm
The meeting of Roscommon and Donegal is the decisive match of the round in Division 3 with the winner sure of playing in the final. A draw would also suffice for table-toppers Roscommon but you’d fancy Donegal’s greater firepower (they’ve scored an average of 27 points per game) to give them an edge.
Wicklow had a great win over Donegal last time out and can clinch their place in the final with a victory over Louth.
Allianz Hurling League Division 4
Cavan v Monaghan in Kingspan Breffni at 2pm
Lancashire v Warwickshire in Páirc na hÉireann at 2pm
Longford v Sligo in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park at 2pm
Division 4 is already done and dusted, with Sligo and Longford set to contest the final. Both teams also meet this weekend, with neither team likely to want to give too much away before the final.