Watch out for: The winner of Sunday’s red-letter clash in the Leinster SHC between Kilkenny and Galway should, realistically, go on to win the provincial championship outright – indeed, both sides will be gunning for a run at the All-Ireland crown come July.
The opening act of the sides’ respective Championship campaigns passed without major incident. Galway were able to sidestep Wexford, 0-24 to 2-12, after an alarming start – the men from the southeast had the sliotar in the net twice within the first four minutes.
Kilkenny had less to worry about last weekend: they hammered Westmeath 0-29 to 0-7.
For your consideration: The Munster SHC continues this weekend, after serving up a feast of nippy, attractive hurling on Sunday last. Defending All-Ireland champions Limerick, after surviving a scare against Waterford, face Clare who – despite scoring 3-23 at Cusack Park at the weekend – lost out to Tipperary.
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Cork are also in action in the Munster SHC this weekend: they face Waterford, after the Déise gave Limerick a serious run for their money at Semple Stadium last Sunday. Waterford will look to build on that performance and come away with something to show for it.
Ulster report: We’re already at the semi-final stage of the Ulster SFC. After their late heroics to dump 2021 All-Ireland winners Tyrone in Omagh out of Ulster, Monaghan now face down the challenge of Derry. The disappointment of a league final defeat to Dublin long forgotten, Derry outclassed Fermanagh to move into the semi-finals. They’ll be emboldened by a positive fitness report for Conor Glass – a loss at this stage of the competition would feel like a missed opportunity.
On Sunday, in the other semi-final, Armagh and Down play in Clones.
Tailteann Cup watch: Last weekend Clare and Sligo both booked their places in the All-Ireland round-robin by reaching the Connacht and Munster finals, while Meath’s defeat to Offaly meant they were the most high profile county yet to drop into the Tailteann Cup.
Following the provincial championships, just 16 teams will qualify for the seeded four-team groups that will comprise the 2023 All-Ireland championship. They will be the eight provincial finalists (Galway, Sligo, Kerry, Clare so far), last year’s Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath, and the remaining spots will be decided by league positions. The four winners of the Leinster and Ulster semi-finals this weekend will all be securing their places in the round-robin series.
This weekend however, if Louth lose to Offaly and both Kildare and Down win their semi-finals, an unlikely scenario, the Wee County will drop into the secondary competition. Cork, who are already out of the Munster championship, and Kildare who are massive underdogs against Dublin on Sunday, are above Down and Offaly in the league rankings, so only a win this weekend for the latter two will see them into the All-Ireland series at Cork and Kildare’s expense.
The 15 (of 17) teams so far guaranteed to be playing in the Tailteann Cup are: Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Longford, Meath, Carlow, Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, New York (preliminary quarter-finals), London, Waterford, Antrim.
Fixtures and TV
SATURDAY, APRIL 22ND
Munster SHC round 2 Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7pm (Streaming on GAAGO)
Leinster SHC round 2 Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 6pm; Dublin v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 6pm
Ulster SFC semi-final Derry v Monaghan, O’Neills Healy Park, 5pm (Streaming on GAAGO)
Ulster MFC round 3 Tyrone v Antrim, O’Neills Healy Park, 1pm; Armagh v Cavan, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Ulster MFC round 4 Fermanagh v Down, Brewster Park, 1pm; Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey, 1pm
Christy Ring Cup round 3 Derry v Meath, Owenbeg, 2pm
Nicky Rackard Cup round 3 Armagh v Wicklow, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 3pm
Lory Meagher Cup round 3 Cavan v Lancashire, Kingspan Breffni, 1pm
Leinster Under-20 HC quarter-finals Offaly v Galway, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1pm; Westmeath v Wexford, TEG Cusack Park, 1pm;
SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH
Ulster SFC semi-final Down v Armagh, Clones, 4pm (Live on BBC NI)
Leinster SFC semi-finals Offaly v Louth, Croke Park, 1.45pm; Kildare v Dublin, Croke Park, 4pm (Both streaming on GAAGO)
Leinster SHC round 2 Kilkenny v Galway, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm (Live on RTÉ2)
Munster SHC round 2 Cork v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm (Live on RTÉ2)
Christy Ring Cup round 3 Mayo v London, Hastings MacHale Park, 12.30pm; Tyrone v Sligo, Carrickmore, 2pm
Nicky Rackard Cup round 3 Roscommon v Donegal, Athleague, 2pm; Louth v Fermanagh, Darver, 2pm
Lory Meagher Cup round 3 Monaghan v Warwickshire, Cloghan, 1pm; Leitrim v Longford, Drumshanbo, 2pm
Team news
Dublin have named an unchanged team from their Leinster quarter-final win over Laois, while Conor Glass is named in the Derry team despite injury concerns.
In hurling, Limerick have left Gearoid Hegarty on the bench for their Munster clash against Clare on Saturday evening. Surprisingly, Declan Hannon is named at cetnre-back having picked up a groin injury against Waterford that was expected to see him miss out for a few weeks. Clare goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy has paid for his high-profile mistakes against Tipperary, and is replaced between the sticks by Eibhear Quilligan.
Dublin (SFC v Kildare): David O’Hanlon, Daire Newcombe, David Byrne, Seán MacMahon, Lee Gannon, Cian Murphy, Jack McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Ross McGarry, Seán Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Stephen Cluxton, Cormac Costello, Craig Dias, Brian Howard, Tom Lahiff, Lorcan O’Dell, Killian O’Gara, Dean Rock, Niall Scully, John Small, Paddy Small.
Kildare (SFC v Dublin): Mark Donnellan, Eoin Doyle, Shea Ryan, Darragh Malone, David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Kevin O’Callaghan, Aaron Masterson, Barry Coffey, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Jack Robinson, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Aaron O’Neill, Ryan Houlihan, Mick O’Grady, Kevin Feely, Brendan Gibbons, Daniel Flynn, Jimmy Hyland, Neil Flynn, Paddy McDermott, Paul Cribbin, Tony Archbold.
Louth (SFC v Offaly): James Califf, Dan Corcoran, Ciaran Murphy, Donal Mckenny, Leonard Grey, Niall Sharkey, Conall Mckeever, Tommy Durnin, Conor Early, Liam Jackson, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes, Daire McConnon, Ciaran Downey, Ryan Burns. Subs: Peter Mcstravick, Alan Connor, Jay Hughes, Ciaran Keenan, Craig Lennon, Conall Mccaul, Oisin Mcguinness, Dermot Campbell, Dylan Mckeown, Paul Mathews, Anthony Williams.
Offaly (SFC v Louth): Ian Duffy, Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey, Cian Donohoe, Peter Cunningham, Ciaran Donnelly, Jack McEvoy, Conor McNamee, Cian Farrell, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan, Dylan Hyland, Nigel Dunne, Jamie Evans. Subs: Corey White, Bill Carroll, Joe Maher, Jack Bryant, Jack O’Brien, Aaron Brazil, Aaron Leavy, Shane Tierney, Shane O’Toole Greeene, Luke Egan, Nigel Bracken.
Derry (SFC v Monaghan): Odhran Lynch, Christopher McKaigue, Eoghan McEvoy, Conor McCluskey, Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Padraig Cassidy, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty, Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin. Subs: Ryan Scullion, Declan Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul, Shea Downey, Lachlan Murray, Ben McCarron, Paul McNeil, Benny Heron, Conleth McGuckian, Diarmuid Baker, Oisin McWilliams.
Monaghan (SFC v Derry): Rory Beggan, Thomas McPhillips, Kieran Duffy, Ryan Wylie, Conor Boyle, Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Darren Hughes, Killian Lavelle, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Karl Gallagher, Conor McManus. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Sean Jones, Gary Mohan, Shane Carey, Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly, Conor Leonard, Kieran Hughes, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon.
Down (SFC v Armagh): Niall Kane, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty, Miceal Rooney, Danny Magill, Niall McParland, Daniel Guinness, Conor Poland, Ryan McEvoy, Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Johnston, Liam Kerr, Donach McAleenan, Pat Havern, Eugene Branagan. Subs: Charlie Smyth, Shane Annett, Ross Carr, Patrick Branagan, Conor Fitzpatrick, Andrew Gilmore, Anthony Morgan, Rory Mason, Shealan Johnston, Gerard Collins, Conor McCrickard.
Armagh (SFC v Down): Ethan Rafferty, Conor O’Neill, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Ciaran Mackin, Greg McCabe, Jarly Óg Burns, Ben Crealey, Shane McPartlan, Jason Duffy, Jemar Hall, Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt. Subs: Shea Magill, James Morgan, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Callum Cumiskey, Ciaran Higgins, Connaire Mackin, Stephen Sheridan, Rian O’Neill, Aidan Nugent, Oisin Conaty.
Limerick (SHC v Clare): Nickie Quaid, Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue, Cathal O’Neill, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey. Subs: Jamie Power, Conor Boylan, Michael Casey, Ronan Connolly, Colin Coughlan, Richie English, Gearoid Hegarty, Graeme Mulcahy, Barry Murphy, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh, David Reidy.
Clare (SHC v Limerick): Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan, Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney, David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Aidan McCarthy, Ian Galvin, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers. Subs: Eamonn Foudy, Cian Nolan, Ryan Taylor, Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher, Aaron Fitzgerald, Robin Mounsey, Rory Hayes, Cian Galvin, Jack Kirwan, Seadna Morey.
Cork (SHC v Waterford): Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Robert Downey, Damien Cahalane, Tommy O’Connell, Ciaran Joyce, Ger Mellerick, Brian Roche, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Seamus Harnedy, Conor Lehane, Declan Dalton, Luke Meade, Patrick Horgan, Shane Barrett. Subs: Ger Collins, Cormac O’Brien, Tim O’Mahony, Brian O’Sullivan, Ethan Twomey, Conor Cahalane, Brian Hayes, Sean Twomey, Robbie O’Flynn, Padraig Power, Shane Kingston.
Waterford (SHC v Cork): Billy Nolan, Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Mark Fitzgerald, Tom Barron, Calum Lyons, Jack Fagan, Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron, Neil Montgomery, Dessie Hutchinson, Michael Kiely, Colin Dunford, Stephen Bennett, Jack Prendergast. Subs: Shaun O’Brien, Conor Ryan, Padraig Fitzgerald, Carthach Daly, Peter Hogan, Kevin Mahony, Austin Gleeson, DJ Foran, Patrick Fitzgerald, Patrick Curran, Paddy Leavey.
Wexford (SHC v Antrim): James Lawlor, Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt, Matthew O’Hanlon, Conor Foley, Simon Donohoe, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Conor Hearne, Oisin Foley, Jack O’Connor, Liam Óg McGovern, Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald, Cathal Dunbar. Subs: Cian Byrne, Ross Banville, Lee Chin, David Clarke, Mikie Dwyer, Kevin Foley, Richie Lawlor, Charlie McGuckin, Niall Murphy, Joe O’Connor, Damien Reck.
Antrim (SHC v Wexford): Ryan Elliott, Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill, Michael Bradley, Sean Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Joe Maskey, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning, Neil McManus, Conor Johnston. Subs: Tiernan Smyth, Stephen Rooney, Conor Boyd, Caolan McKernan, Scott Walsh, Enda Og McGarry, Eoin O’Neill, Paul Boyle, Seamie McAuley, Rian McMullan, Domhnall Nugent.
Dublin (SHC v Westmeath): Seán Brennan, Paddy Doyle, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Conor Donohoe, Conor Burke, Daire Gray, Mark Grogan, Chris O’Leary, Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Cian Boland, Ronan Hayes, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey. Subs: Eddie Gibbons, John Bellew, James Madden, Ronan Smith, Darragh Power, Cillian Costello, Alex Considine, Fergal Whitely, Dara Purcell, Joe Flanagan, Sean Currie.
Westmeath (SHC v Dublin): Noel Conaty, Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Robbie Greville, Charlie McCormack, Jack Galvin, Gary Greville, Shane McGovern, Joseph Boyle, Kevin Regan, Eoin Keyes, Ciaran Doyle, Davy Glennon. Subs: Conor Bracken, Aaron Craig, Niall Mitchell, Niall O’Brien, Derek McNicholas, Jack Gillen, Adam Ennis, Shane Clavin, Cormac Boyle, Jack Gallagher, Darragh Clinton.
Kilkenny (SHC v Galway): Eoin Murphy, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Pádraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran, Paddy Mullen, Timmy Clifford, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody. Subs: Darren Brennan, Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Conor Heary, Conor Fogarty, Alan Murphy, Cian Kenny, Martin Keoghan, Niall Brennan, Tom Phelan, Shane Walsh.
Galway (SHC v Kilkenny): Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Gearóid McInerney, TJ Brennan, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney, Cianan Fahy, Ronan Glennon, Cathal Mannion, Conor Cooney, Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Evan Niland. Subs: Darach Fahy, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey, Eoin Lawless, Seán Linnane, Declan McLoughlin, Jason Flynn, Liam Collins, John Cooney, Donal O’Shea, Martin McManus.
