THE LEINSTER, MUNSTER and Joe McDonagh Cup round-robin series concluded at the weekend to cut the number of contenders for this year’s All-Ireland senior hurling title down to eight.
Carlow and Waterford had already been ruled out of the reckoning in Leinster and Munster respectively prior to the weekend’s action. The last round of provincial ties saw 2017 All-Ireland champions Galway and last summer’s All-Ireland semi-finalists Clare bow out.
The close of the Joe McDonagh Cup put Laois and Westmeath into the decider ahead of Antrim, Kerry and Offaly.
It makes the picture a bit clearer for the remainder of the 2019 championship. Sunday 30 June will see Kilkenny face Wexford in pursuit of Leinster honours, Limerick take on Tipperary in the Munster decider and Laois meet Westmeath in the Joe McDonagh Cup final.
Both Laois and Westmeath will be out the following weekend in preliminary All-Ireland quarter-finals against Cork or Dublin.
The winner of that game involving Cork will meet the beaten Leinster finalists with the victors of Dublin’s match set to face the beaten Munster finalists.
After those quarter-final ties on the weekend of 13-14 July, the semi-finals are pencilled in for 27-28 July and then the All-Ireland decider on Sunday 18 August.
Here’s the set of fixtures to watch out for.
2019 All-Ireland SHC
Sunday 30 June
Joe McDonagh Cup final: Laois v Westmeath, Croke Park, 1.45pm
Munster SHC final: Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
Leinster SHC final: Kilkenny v Wexford, Croke Park, 4pm
Weekend 6/7 July
All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals
Dublin v Winners of Westmeath v Laois
Cork v Losers of Westmeath v Laois
Weekend 13/14 July
All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals
Runner-Up Kilkenny/Wexford v Cork/Runner-Up Joe McDonagh Cup
Runner-Up Limerick/Tipperary v Dublin/Winner Joe McDonagh Cup
Saturday 27 July
All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Provincial final winner v All-Ireland quarter-final winner
Sunday 28 July
All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Provincial final winner v All-Ireland quarter-final winner
Sunday 18 August
All-Ireland SHC final
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All three are absolutely huge players for Ireland, so hopefully they all pull through
The physically that Ryan can bring when he’s on it, is hard to replace. I hope it’s just a knock that he will bounce back from quickly.
With the exception of Cian Healy, it strikes me that Farrell has more faith in what he’s already got in the squad, even to the extent of moving players out of position, than in bringing anyone else to the party at this stage.
@John Morris: I think we’d need all 3 wingers injured before we need to bring anyone else in from outside given we still have JOB to put in. (Calvin Nash next cab on the rank for me based on last season’s form)
@John Morris: Agree 100%. I would bet that Hansen & Lowe will make it but I fear this maybe the end for Ryan. Body language said it all as each team member met him afterwards. Hope I’m wrong.
McCarthy would be my replacement as I don’t see Baird as a lock.
On a more positive side, our front row are inching closer to full tilt which is exactly what we need to put Kiwis on back foot.