IT’S A BIG day of Allianz hurling league action with the relegation decider and three quarter-finals taking place.
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Result
Division 1 relegation playoff
Kilkenny 1-18 Clare 1-17
Division 1 league quarter-finals
Tipperary 1-16 Offaly 0-13
Waterford 0-20 Galway 0-12
Cork 0-18 Wexford 0-14
Afternoon. It’s a big Sunday in the Allianz hurling league.
By the end of today either 2014 All-Ireland champions Kilkenny or 2013 All-Ireland champions Clare will be relegated.
We’ll also know all the semi-finalists in Division 1 with Dublin already having booked their place last night and three other teams set to join them today. Here’s the fixtures:
Division 1 relegation playoff
Kilkenny v Clare, Nowlan Park, 2pm
Division 1 league quarter-finals
Offaly v Tipperary, Tullamore, 3pm
Waterford v Galway, Walsh Park, 4pm
Cork v Wexford, Páirc Uí Rinn, 4pm
So our early focus this afternoon is the clash in Nowlan Park. Kilkenny and Clare just about to get under way.
Kilkenny 0-2 Clare 0-0
Great start by Kilkenny. Richie Hogan and Colin Fennelly fire over points. They look like they mean business.
Clare 1-2 Kilkenny 0-3
Well, that’s quite a fight back from Clare. Tony Kelly popped a point off his right before Shane O’Donnell escaped the Kilkenny defence and scooped the ball past Eoin Murphy before whipping home. O’Donnell then pointed, Colin Fennelly has just cancelled it out and this game has started at a cracking pace.
Clare 1-3 Kilkenny 0-3
Simply outstanding from Tony Kelly as Clare go three in front.
Clare 1-3 Kilkenny 0-4
Richie Hogan knocks over a free for Kilkenny to cut the gap to two.
Clare 1-3 Kilkenny 0-5
Half a goal chance for Kilkenny when TJ Reid sends in a snapshot but goalkeeper Patrick Kelly blocks it smartly. From the rebound, Walter Walsh gathers the ball and is content to point.
Kilkenny 1-6 Clare 1-4
TJ Reid shows there’s life after Henry and Ballyhale players are still going to be to the fore. He picks his spot and gives Patrick Kelly no chance to bag a goal. Then Walter Walsh and David Reidy trade points.
Kilkenny 1-6 Clare 1-5
That’s just a marvellous point for Clare from Shane O’Donnell after being fed by Conor Ryan. He’s hit 1-2 so far.
Penalty for Clare after David Reidy is fouled but Tony Kelly blazes his shot wide.
Clare 1-6 Kilkenny 1-6
Clare have fought back well from the concession of that goal and David Reidy has just tied the teams with a good point off his left.
Kilkenny 1-7 Clare 1-7
TJ Reid pushes Kilkenny back into the lead with a point but John Conlon cancels that out with his first point of the day.
Kilkenny 1-9 Clare 1-8
Richie Hogan points as Kilkenny have started the second-half brightly and they go in front.
Kilkenny 1-10 Clare 1-9
Tony Kelly converts a free to bring Clare level but Kilkenny respond through TJ Reid.
Clare 1-11 Kilkenny 1-10
Tony Kelly really making his mark now. He bangs over a pair of points and Clare hit the front.
Clare 1-13 Kilkenny 1-12
This game continues to ebb and flow. Richie Hogan hits a pair of points for Kilkenny, Tony Kelly and Reidy on target for Clare.
Clare 1-14 Kilkenny 1-12
No doubt who Clare’s attacking stars are today. Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell have been outstanding with O’Donnell just after setting up Kelly for a neat point.
Clare 1-15 Kilkenny 1-13
Cillian Buckley points for Kilkenny but Clare hit back through the brilliant Kelly and they’ve two points to spare again.
Clare 1-15 Kilkenny 1-14
Colin Fennelly flashes over a point for Kilkenny. This is going right down to the wire.
Tipperary 1-6 Offaly 0-1
Brilliant goal for Tipperary from Seamus Callanan and they’re gone nine ahead in Tullamore.
Clare bring in Seadna Morey and Aaron Cunningham for Cathal O’Connell and Colm Galvin.
Clare 1-16 Kilkenny 1-15
Great point by Morey, seconds after being introduced for Clare.
Kilkenny 1-17 Clare 1-16
Excitement building now as Walter Walsh edges Kilkenny in front.
Clare 1-17 Kilkenny 1-17
But Clare aren’t lying down as Shane O’Donnell draws them level.
Bad mistake by goalkeeper Patrick Kelly as TJ Reid intercepted his handpass and Buckley pointed.
And that’s it, Kilkenny triumph and Clare are relegated to Division 1B for next year. Cracking encounter but Clare will rue that misplaced pass late on. Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell starred for them while TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly were both outstanding for Kilkenny.
Tipperary 1-13 Offaly 0-3
Tipperary are pulling well clear of Offaly now and look set to book a semi-final place.
Tipperary 1-15 Offaly 0-4
Ronan Maher points and Tipperary go 14 points clear in Tullamore.
Waterford 0-2 Galway 0-0
Good start by Waterford as Kevin Moran and Brian O’Halloran both bag points from play
Tipperary 1-16 Offaly 0-11
In the closing stages and Tipperary nine to the good in Tullamore.
Waterford 0-8 Galway 0-2
Brian O’Halloran with the latest Waterford point. The home fans in Walsh Park will be happy.
Wexford 0-8 Cork 0-2
Liam Dunne’s side are flying so far in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Waterford 0-11 Galway 0-3
Really impressive stuff so far by the Deise, they’re eight points clear now.
Wexford 0-11 Cork 0-5
Patrick Horgan nails a free to cut the gap Cork face to six.
Waterford 0-14 Galway 0-4
Ten point lead for Waterford now with Austin Gleeson on target.
Waterford 0-14 Galway 0-8
Good start to the second-half for Galway as they pick off a few points. Greg Lally and Niall Healy are on for the Tribesmen.
Wexford 0-13 Cork 0-9
Patrick Horgan with two quick points since half-time and Cork are now only four adrift.
Wexford 0-14 Cork 0-10
Lovely point for Cork from Conor Lehane, they’ve begun the second-half in a determined fashion.
Cork 0-15 Wexford 0-14
Daniel Kearney bags the point that pushes Cork into the lead.
Waterford 0-18 Galway 0-11
After winning promotion last week from Division 1B, now Waterford look on course for a league semi-final place with time running out in Walsh Park.
So that’s it, we now know the Division 1 hurling league semi-final pairings on 19 April.
Cork v Dublin
Tipperary v Waterford
This guy is completely overratted
@jay bernard: don’t know how he warrants a contract of that size given his achievements in the game. He needs to start scoring regularly especially if the Wissam Ben Yedder rumours are true. WBY is a real fox in the box, Deschamps really rates him.
Best goal tally for 21 and under in the EPL, La Liga & Seria A in what was a shocking season under two different managers. 200k going to 300k based on incentives. Manchester born and bred. He’ll turn out to be some player yet
An absolute joke.
It’s 200k a week max as per Simon Stone – reliable United journo
@Brian: and you think that even £200,000 is acceptable for a player that scored 10 league goals last season. He’s English!!! He has been overhyped and overrated since they Day he broke into the first team by the British press, £200,000 per week for a very average player that would be more suited to playing for a team like Newcastle, Everton or Southampton. Mid table player at best, that shouldn’t be earning anything over 100,000 never mind 200,000 or 300,000.
@Devilsavocado: And eventually he will be destroyed by the British press too, I wish Utd would sell him on now
Beans Beans Beans
@Alan Brazil: is all you eat. Stand well back!
The club is a circus. Run by clowns who aren’t football men
@munsterman: and if you look at the nonsense that ich bin Brendan has been scribbling up there, it seems they are supported by a few clowns as well…..
@Devilsavocado: haha! G!mp
@Ich bin brendan: come on,, seriously mate, you really don’t believe the nonsense that you were writing in your previous posts do you?? There isn’t a club that finished in the top 5 above Utd that the lad would get into as a first team player. Not a single club that will be in the champions league next year had a bit of interest in buying him, he’s at best a bench player for Utd, but a 200,000 a week bench player??? WTF is going on at Utd that they offered that much money to him?? Where else was he going to go, they easily could have halved that and even then he should still consider himself lucky to be wearing the Utd jersey,, come on, I can’t be the only one who sees this….
@Devilsavocado: quit looking for validation. I’ll correct myself in that he didn’t score v pool in their 3-1 spanking but everything stated is fact inc. turning the best rb inside out and scoring in every debut. Barcelona were being touted as making an official approach, how much of that is being true is as truthful to say not a single team were, it would take a team of that stature to pull a local lad away from his local team. Apart from Kane for Spurs there isn’t a top 5 team that would produce an academy player like him. 200,000K is daft money but that’s the state of the club atm, not many want the Glazers there but that’s what they’re working with. I’m delighted he’s there for another 4 yrs, he’s got the wage now it’s upto him to start earning it, I believe he will.
@Ich bin brendan: ok fair enough, you have your opinion on the matter and people that actually know a bit about football have there’s. Let’s be honest here, I doesn’t matter that your opinion is obviously that of a delusional fan that can’t look at things without your fan glasses on but that’s ok,, we will leave it there and I’ll let you get back to your colouring book and crayons, there’s a good boy,, don’t stay up to late… :) validate myself, ha ha ha ha ha..
@Devilsavocado: “that actually know a bit about football” you have me stumped, you’ve trouble validating your opinionated drivel. “Ha ha ha” like I said before, G!mp
He’s got to start delivering on his promise . A lot of cash for a man still not scoring regularly but he does have the potential to be an absolute world class player I just hope he does start getting 30 odd goals a season .
On his debut he’s scored 2 in the EPL, same in his Europa, 1 Champions league and on his derby debut. Also turned the best rb in the country inside out to score against their biggest rivals, with the golden glove winner in goal!
@Ich bin brendan: can throw in his debut in the EFL & FA Cup as well. So every cup comp available to him. Calling him over rated is being bias, he’s proven he’s capable, needs consistency with age.
Reminds me of Ian Rush
His nose is offside
Even as a man utd fan, I think he doesn’t deserve this, prove your worth then get the money, he didn’t prove anything last season to deserve half this money.