This weekend promises some exciting matches in the Leinster SHC. Saturday will witness Carlow, currently performing commendably in the round-robin series, going head-to-head against Kilkenny at the Netwatch Cullen Park at 4.30. The match will be broadcast live on GAAGO. Carlow’s performance has been notable, having given Galway and Dublin a tough time. Their clash with Dublin was only decided by a five-point victory, thanks to Seán Brennan’s remarkable goalkeeping and a lucky goal.
This game is significant for Tom Mullally, the Carlow coach, as he matches wits with the team from his own county. Adding to Carlow’s strength, James Doyle, their key midfield player, will be returning to the team after healing from an injury he received during the league Division 2A final against Laois. It will be his first championship involvement this season.
The match is going to be a definitive challenge for Carlow, with Kilkenny known for their unyielding determination. Despite missing four of their key players, they held Galway to a commendable draw. From the injured players, only Eoin Murphy will be returning for the game against Carlow. The general consensus leans towards a Kilkenny win.
In another thrilling match-up, Dublin will face Antrim in a critical game at Parnell Park, with the first whistle set for 4.0 pm. While not live-streamed, the significance of this match has heightened recently. Antrim’s unprecedented victory over Wexford has forced many to reconsider the possible outcomes of the championship.
Both Dublin and Antrim had their share of triumphs against Wexford earlier in the tournament. Dublin managed two surprise injury-time goals securing a draw, while Antrim overturned a seven-point disadvantage in the second half, clinching the win with a strategically placed goal by Niall McKenna.
There hasn’t been much to separate Dublin and Antrim over the last year. Micheál Donoghue’s side scraped to a draw in Belfast a year ago and narrowly managed a victory in the league this past February.
Dublin’s previous home game victories suggest they will perform well, given their successful performance three years prior. Their condition has improved after recovering from injuries, which increases their confidence in handling Antrim’s strong forwards – James McNaughton, Conal Cunning and Keelan Molloy. At the same time, they are able to create sufficient opportunities through rapid attacks that provide Dónal Burke the chance to score from set-plays. Judgement: Dublin is favoured.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Cork v Limerick, at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.0pm [Streaming live on GAAGO] – Limerick’s upcoming match will help gauge how close they are to their peak performance. A filled-to-capacity crowd at Cork awaits, eager to prevent the seemingly inevitable exit of their home team from the tournament. They’ll be joined by player cohort tired of incessant pessimism. Historically, this tends to be a pivotal match in the round-robin era.
Limerick announced their contender status six years ago, when they managed a draw with Aaron Gillane sent off. Cork, still smarting from their humiliation in the previous year’s All-Ireland series, did little to thwart the reigning champions on a drizzly Easter Sunday in 2022, adding a real sense of summertime intensity to the contest.
Recalling Cork’s defeat by Limerick brings to mind their 2019 visit to the reigning champions. Following a home defeat by Tipperary, they still managed a victory – further fuel for those traditionalist viewpoints that Cork are unafraid of their neighbours to the west. Despite this being their final victory before suffering four losses, including a particularly harrowing defeat in the 2021 All-Ireland.
A more relevant point may be what transpired last year when Limerick narrowly avoided elimination, triumphing by a single point. This represented a slow yet steady progression for John Kiely’s team, gradually elevating them to surpass incrementally increasing high bars.
Hitherto, Limerick’s performance has been commendable, particularly in comparison to their 2023 results, fetching them four points from matches that previously earned them just one point. However, there seems to have been a slight fortune element in these games, ranging from Clare’s collapse to Tipp’s absence.
In a blow to their performance prospects, the pivotal player, Peter Casey, has suffered an injury that will impede his game time for the remainder of this season, an unfortunate event that’s likely to negatively impact their offensive play. Demonstrating vulnerability to consistent aggressive tactics, the kind shown by Clare in Ennis, they found themselves visibly wearied, leading to a 12-point swing against them during the last quarter.
On the other hand, fistful of issues plagues Cork as well. Their undeniable first pick for central defence, Ciarán Joyce, is on the sidelines due to an injury. Moreover, their gameplay frequently witnesses lapses in focus and discipline.
Adding to their woes, they’ve earned the ill-famed reputation for not being able to clinch the victory in closely contested games, a comment rarely uttered about the reigning champions. The final verdict: Limerick takes the win.