The Allianz Hurling League may only be heading for its second round but with just five series of games in the group stages of the top Divisions, this weekend’s programme could be crucially important in deciding some qualification/relegation issues. For the teams in the Shannonside Northern Sound region there is also huge importance attached to these matches. In Division 3A Monaghan will take on Donegal. Monaghan defeated Tyrone last weekend. In Division 2B Roscommon were defeated by Wicklow last weekend and will face a difficult match away to Down on Sunday. In Division 3B Leitrim and Longford will clash in a local derby in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Division 2B
Sunday Fixtures:
Down v Roscommon, Ballycran, 12.30
Meath v Derry, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm
Wicklow v Mayo, Arklow 2pm
Last year’s Christy Ring Cup champions, Meath, made a good start to this year’s League campaign, easily beating Down, and will face more Ulster opposition at home to Derry Sunday. Derry started well too, beating Mayo by a point.
Wicklow, the group’s third winners (v Roscommon) in the first round, host Mayo, who lost to Derry.
Roscommon, who were promoted from 3A this year, face the long trip to Ballycran to take on Down, who were beaten 2B finalists last year.
Division 3B
Saturday: Fermanagh v Warwickshire, Enniskillen, 2.30pm
Sunday: Leitrim v Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2pm
Longford and Warwickshire, both of whom won their opening games, face ‘away’ engagements next weekend. Leitrim play their first game in the five-team group.
In the top divisions Four points is often enough to earn quarter-finals places, which is encouraging for Tipperary, Waterford, Cork (1A) and Galway, Wexford, Kerry (1B), all of whom won last weekend.
Division 1A
Saturday (7pm): Cork v Dublin, Pairc Ui Rinn
Sunday (2pm): Waterford v Tipperary, Walsh Park; Clare v Kilkenny, Ennis.
Three intriguing contests are on next weekend’s agenda, with first round winners, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford attempting to edge closer to booking quarter-finals and Dublin, Kilkenny and Clare bidding to get back on track after losing their opening games. Waterford and Tipperary, who meet in Walsh Park on Sunday, both recorded impressive wins over Kilkenny and Dublin respectively last weekend.
Tipperary had an easy win over Waterford in last year’s Munster final, while the Déise enjoyed a one-point win over Tipp in last year’s Allianz Hurling League clash in Thurles. Clare were easy winners (4-22 to 2-19) over Kilkenny in last year’s Division 1 semi-final; Kilkenny beat the Banner by a point twice (1A group game and relegation play-off) in 2015.
Dublin beat Cork by 4-21 to 2-17 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League but the Leesiders gained revenge in the All-Ireland qualifiers, winning by 1-26 to 1-23.
Division 1B:
Saturday (7pm): Laois v Offaly, Portlaoise.
Sunday (2pm): Galway v Wexford, Pearse Stadium; Limerick v Kerry, Gaelic Grounds
Wexford got a huge boost under new manager, Davy Fitzgerald in the opening round last Sunday, beating Limerick by three points. Their next test is against Galway, who were even easier winners against Offaly, romping to victory by 26 points. It will be the first Allianz Hurling League clash between Galway and Wexford since 2011 when the Tribesmen won by 21 points.
Offaly beat Laois by five points in last year’s 1B campaign while Limerick beat Kerry by four points in 2016.
Division 2A
Sunday: Armagh v London, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Carlow v Antrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Kildare v Westmeath, Newbridge. 2pm
First round winners, Carlow and Antrim meet in Netwatch Cullen Park, while Kildare, who also won last Sunday, will have home advantage against Westmeath. Carlow beat Antrim by six points in last year’s League. Westmeath beat Kildare by 11 points in last year’s Allianz Hurling League. London, who lost to Antrim last weekend, finished third in 2A last year, while Armagh were promoted from 2B.
Division 3A
Sunday (2pm): Monaghan v Donegal, Castleblayney; Louth v Tyrone, Darver
Monaghan and Donegal, both of whom won last Sunday, clash in a contest that could have a major bearing on who reaches the final later on. Meanwhile, Louth and Tyrone will be bidding to get back on the winning trial after losing last Sunday.
Results and Fixtures
Division 1A
Round 1: Cork 0-21 Clare 1-11; Tipperary 1-24 Dublin 1-8; Waterford 1-15 Kilkenny 0-17.
Round 2: Next Saturday: Cork v Dublin; Next Sunday: Clare v Kilkenny; Waterford v Tipperary
Round 3: Mar 4: Dublin v Waterford; Mar 5: Kilkenny v Cork; Tipperary v Clare.
Round 4: Mar 11: Tipperary v Kilkenny; Mar 12: Clare v Dublin; Waterford v Cork.
Round 5: Mar 26: Cork v Tipperary; Clare v Waterford; Dublin v Kilkenny
Division 1B
Round 1: Kerry 3-14 Laois 0-19; Galway 6-23 Offaly 1-12; Wexford 1-14 Limerick 0-14.
Round 2: Next Saturday: Laois v Offaly; Next Sunday: Galway v Wexford; Limerick v Kerry.
Round 3: Mar 4: Limerick v Offaly; Mar 5: Galway v Laois; Wexford v Kerry
Round 4: Mar 11: Laois v Limerick; Mar 12: Offaly v Wexford; Kerry v Galway.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kerry v Offaly; Wexford v Laois; Limerick v Galway.
Quarter-Finals
Apr 1 /2: 1st 1A v 4th 1B; 2nd 1A v 3rd 1B; 3rd 1A v 2nd 1B; 4th 1A v 1st 1B
Semi-Finals
Apr 16
Final
Apr 23
DIVISION 2A
Round 1: Antrim 0-20 London 0-13; Kildare 1-18 Armagh 1-15; Carlow 1-13 Westmeath 1-11.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Antrim v London; Carlow v Antrim; Kildare v Westmeath.
Round 3: Mar 5: Carlow v London; Westmeath v Armagh; Antrim v Kildare.
Round 4: Mar 12: Westmeath v London; Armagh v Antrim; Kildare v Carlow.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kildare v London; Antrim v Westmeath; Carlow v Armagh.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
DIVISION 2B
Round 1: Derry 1-14 Mayo 1-13; Meath 4-21 Down 1-10; Wicklow 2-17 Roscommon 0-7.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Down v Roscommon; Meath v Derry; Wicklow v Mayo.
Round 3: Mar 5: Roscommon v Meath; Derry v Wicklow; Mayo v Down.
Round 4: Mar 12: Derry v Roscommon; Wicklow v Down; Mayo v Meath.
Round 5: Mar 26: Down v Derry; Roscommon v Mayo; Meath v Wicklow.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1s v 2nd
DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Donegal 2-23 Louth 1-14; Monaghan 3-15 Tyrone 1-11.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Monaghan v Donegal; Louth v Tyrone.
Round 3: Feb 26: Tyrone v Donegal; Louth v Monaghan.
Round 4: Mar 5: Monaghan v Louth; Donegal v Tyrone
Round 5: Mar 12: Donegal v Monaghan; Tyrone v Louth.
Round 6: Louth v Donegal; Monaghan v Tyrone.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
DIVISION 3B
Round 1: Warwickshire 3-9 Sligo 3-8; Longford 2-13 Fermanagh 0-7
Round 2: Next Sunday: Fermanagh v Warwickshire; Leitrim v Longford.
Round 3: Mar 5: Sligo v Fermanagh; Warwickshire v Leitrim
Round 4: Mar 12: Leitrim v Sligo; Longford v Warwickshire.
Round 5: Mar 26: Fermanagh v Leitrim; Sligo v Longford.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
