Welcome along to today’s hurling coverage, we’re building up to the 3.45pm throw-in times for the following showdowns:
Allianz Hurling League
Quarter-finals
Wexford v Waterford, Wexford Park, 3.45pm
Clare v Tipperary, Cusack Park, Ennis, 3.45pm
Kilkenny v Offaly, Nowlan Park, 3.45pm
Relegation playoff
Galway v Cork, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm
Before all those games, we can take a look back at last night’s key hurling action.
- Limerick booked their place at the semi-final stage of Division 1 with victory over Dublin.
- And after the victory, Limerick manager TJ Ryan took aim at the critics of his side.
- A good win for the Kerry hurlers over Laois as they ensured they’ll be playing in Division 1B of the league next season.
Some team news then. Here’s the sides named to start in Ennis.
Tipperary
1. Darragh Mooney – Éire Óg Annacarty
2. Cathal Barrett – Holycross-Ballycahill
3. James Barry – Upperchurch-Drombane
4. Conor O’Brien – Éire Óg Annacarty
5. Barry Heffernan – Nenagh Éire Óg
6. Ronan Maher – Thurles Sarsfields
7. Padraic Maher – Thurles Sarsfields
8. Brendan Maher (Capt.) – Borris-Ileigh
9. Michael Breen – Ballina
10. Noel McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
11. Dan McCormack – Borris-Ileigh
12. Niall O’Meara – Kilruane MacDonaghs
13. John O’Dwyer – Killenaule
14. Seamus Callanan – Drom & Inch
15. John McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
Clare
1) Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona)
2) Ciaran O’Doherty (Crusheen)
3) Cian Dillon, Captain (Crusheen)
4) Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5) Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6) Conor Cleary (St Josephs Miltown/Kilmaley)
7) Pat O’Connor (Tubber)
8) David Reidy (Éire Óg)
9) Conor Ryan (Cratloe)
10) Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
11) Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
12) John Conlon (Clonlara)
13) Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
14) Darach Honan (Clonlara)
15) Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
The Kilkenny and Offaly sides that will do battle.
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Robert Lennon (Bennettsbridge)
4. Shane Prendergast (Clara)
5. Conor O’Shea (Clara)
6. Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
8. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
9. Lester Ryan (Clara)
10. Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon)
11. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. Kevin Kelly (St Patricks)
13. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)
14. Jonjo Farrell (Thomastown)
23. John Power (Carrickshock)
Offaly
1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)
2. Niall Wynne (St Rynaghs)
3. Dermot Shortt (St Rynaghs)
4. Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)
5. Pat Camon (St Rynaghs)
6. Conor Doughan (Shinrone)
7. Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran)
8. Sean Ryan (Birr)
9. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)
10. Padraig Guinan (Drumcullen)
11. Colin Egan (capt – Belmont)
12. Shane Kinsella (Kinnitty)
13. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
14. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)
15. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)
Anthony Nash is back for Cork as the Rebels make six changes for the trip to Salthill.
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
2. Damian Cahalane (St Finbarrs)
3. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers) Captain
4. Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfield)
5. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
6. Christoper Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
7. Lorcán Mcloughlin (Kanturk)
8. William Egan (Kilbrin)
9. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfield)
10. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
11. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
12. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
And here’s how they’ll line up at Innovate Wexford Park.
Wexford
1. Conor O’Leary (Oulart The Ballagh)
2. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon ( St James)
4. James Breen (Adamstown)
5. Eoin Moore (Oulart The Ballagh)
6. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg / Ballymurn)
7. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s)
8. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
9. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
10. Shane Tomkins (Askamore / Kilrush)
11. Podge Doran (Oylegate / Glenbrien)
12. Aidan Nolan (Halfway House / Bunclody)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
15. Liam Og McGovern (St Anne’s)
Waterford
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
14. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)
Hurling set to take centre stage now for the rest of the afternoon after the conclusion of the football ties.
Wexford 0-7 Waterford 0-1
17 mins – The home side have exploded out of the blocks, Ian Byrne with their latest point.
Clare 0-1 Tipperary 0-0
4 mins – Colm Galvin with the opening point of the day in Ennis.
Tyrone and Cavan promoted to Division 1
Wexford 0-8 Waterford 0-4
23 mins – Philip Mahony point for the Deise, cuts the gap to four.
Clare 0-2 Tipperary 0-2
14 mins – Fine John McGrath point and the teams are level again.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0403/779177-division-4-fl-round-up/
Kilkenny 1-5 Offaly 0-0
13 mins – All Kilkenny in the early stages with Kevin Kelly just after firing home a goal.
Goal for Clare from John Conlon!
Clare 1-3 Tipperary 0-2
20 mins – Clare in flying form now as Darach Honan bags a point.
Clare 1-6 Tipperary 0-3
24 mins – Six point lead for the Banner now thanks to a Honan point.
Second goal for Kilkenny from Colin Fennelly.
Kilkenny 2-9 Offaly 0-1
25 mins – Kilkenny in cruise control as Colin Fennelly finds the net.
Cork 0-13 Galway 0-10
26 mins – Three point lead in a high-scoring affair in Salthill.
Clare 1-6 Tipperary 0-7
28 mins – Ronan Maher hits Tipp’s fourth point on the bounce.
Half-Time: Clare 1-7 Tipperary 0-8
Half-Time: Wexford 0-9 Waterford 0-8
Half-Time: Cork 0-14 Galway 0-13
Half-Time: Kilkenny 2-11 Offaly 0-5
Wexford 0-11 Waterford 0-11
44 mins – All square thanks to a point from Wexford’s Harry Kehoe.
Waterford 0-14 Wexford 0-12
51 mins – Maurice Shanahan points to send Waterford two clear.
Goal for Kilkenny from Colin Fennelly!
Clare 1-7 Tipperary 0-9
45 mins – Michael Breen points to just leave one between them.
Goal for Kilkenny from John Power.
Kilkenny 4-12 Offaly 0-10
45 mins – Kilkenny are not relinquishing their firm grip on this match.
Clare 1-8 Tipperary 0-9
47 mins – Cathal O’Connell knocks over a free for the Banner.
Galway 0-18 Cork 0-17
45 mins – Galway ahead for the first time thanks to a point by Joe Canning from a free.
Clare 1-9 Tipperary 0-11
49 mins – Conor McGrath and Padraic Maher swap points in Ennis.
Clare 1-8 Tipperary 0-10
48 mins – Back to a one-point game as Noel McGrath points.
Galway 0-18 Cork 0-18
47 mins – Conor Lehane levels it in Salthill.
Goal for Wexford!
Waterford 0-17 Wexford 1-13
69 mins – Maurice Shanahan restores Waterford’s advantage.
Tipperary 0-14 Clare 1-11
56 mins – Conor McGrath splits the posts with a point for Clare.
Tipperary 0-14 Clare 1-10
55 mins – Point by the brilliant John McGrath sends Tipperary in front by two before Darach Honan hits back with a point for Clare.
Galway 0-22 Cork 0-19
56 mins – Canning creates a three-point advantage for Galway.
Tipperary 0-15 Clare 1-11
58 mins – John McGrath with his fifth point of the day for Tipperary, could well have been a goal though.
Full-Time:Waterford 0-17 Wexford 1-13
Tipperary 0-16 Clare 1-11
59 mins – Super run forward by Brendan Maher sets up John McGrath for yet another point.
It’ll be Waterford against Limerick in one of the Division 1 hurling league semi-finals.
Goal for Cork from Seamus Harnedy
Fifth goal for Kilkenny from Jonjo Farrell.
Tipperary 0-17 Clare 1-12
65 mins – Cathal O’Connell picks off a lovely point for Clare from a free.
Goal for Clare from Aaron Shanagher!
Cork 1-22 Galway 0-24
65 mins – Narrow lead for Cork as both sides battle furiously to avoid the drop.
Clare 2-12 Tipperary 0-17
66 mins – What an impact by the sub from Wolfe Tones! Shanagher fields a Honan delivery, charges through and keeps his composure to finish to the net.
Cork 2-22 Galway 0-24
68 mins – Cork may be on course to avoid relegation, huge score.
Goal for Cork!
Full-Time: Clare 2-13 Tipperary 0-18
Full-Time: Cork 2-22 Galway 0-25
So Kilkenny will face Clare in the league semi-final, Cork are safe in Division 1A for another year and Galway will play in Division 1B in 2017.
Full-Time: Kilkenny 6-20 Offaly 0-14.
Tell me where you get your 4/1 about Paisley Park?