Allianz League preview: Dublin look to skin Cats in weekend’s feature game

Who will make it two from two before the break?

We’re not saying that Kilkenny and Dublin can relax this weekend – Brian Cody doesn’t do chill out – but we suspect the pressure on both sides won’t be quite as overbearing as it was last weekend. With a win on board for both sides there is slightly more of a margin for players to relax and enjoy their hurling.

The mood in Nowlan Park will be in stark contrast to that of the three Munster sides this weekend. Cork, Clare and Tipperary all suffered losses on day one and a failure to pick up any points from their opening two rounds may cause some worry as the trapdoor creaks open to Division 1B.

DIVISION 1A: 

Kilkenny V Dublin – Nowlan Park, Sunday, 2pm

Consistency. The biggest issue in Dublin hurling during Anthony Daly’s reign. One good game, one bad game. One good year, one bad. The same challenge will face Ger Cunningham this weekend as he looks to build on last week’s devastating win over Tipperary. The Cats did a little bit of ‘shock and awe’ of their own on Leeside despite a frantic last five minutes against Cork.

Dublin  impressed despite players still finding their feet in various new positions. Liam Rushe admitted to us there is a huge change for him moving from centre-back to no.14 but that Ger Cunningham is looking to challenge his players ahead of what they hope will be a long campaign.

Kilkenny in Nowlan Park is a different challenge though. Conor Fogarty’s injury will see a slight re-shift for the team but Cody will largely stick to what worked well against the Rebels. Their defence looked solid throughout but Paul Murphy should at least expect a more mobile threat from Rushe than his battle with Paudie OSullivan.

Dublin beat Kilkenny by 1-22 to 3-13 in last year’s Allianz League clash in Parnell Park. Expect another high-scoring affair and we’re plumping for a draw to keep everyone happy.

Cork v Clare – Pairc Ui Rinn, Saturday, 7pm

The side that can feel most aggrieved at not going into day two of the league with a win has to be Clare. Davy Fitzgerald’s silence after the loss to Galway was probably down to his rage at his team throwing away the lead in additional time. Once again their free count left them down, with Jason Flynn scoring six of his nine points from placed balls, including the winner.

The return of Conor McGrath, who made a cameo appearance last week, should bolster Clare’s attack and Bobby Duggan’s impressive showing should give him confidence ahead of the clash on Leeside.

For Cork another home loss would set them up for a relegation battle just a year after their promotion to 1A. Jimmy Barry Murphy’s defence was once again the cause of their demise against Kilkenny, and despite their late rally to narrow the gap, there is still serious issues from numbers 2-9.

Pa Cronin is one of three changes to the side that lost to Kilkenny last week as Lorcán McLoughlin, Rob O’Shea and Luke O’Farrell are drafted in at wing back, wing forward and full forward respectively. Pa Cronin, Bill Cooper and Paudie O’Sullivan all drop out as JBM looks to try and kickstart his season. Clare, as usual, won’t name until Saturday morning but Fitzgerald should rejig his side, especially in the defence.

There has been very little to separate their sides in recent meetings but they Rebels may live up to their name if they see a second home defeat in less than a week from their hurlers.

We’re going for Cork, but not by much.

Tipperary v Galway – Thurles, Sunday 2pm

The Tipperary camp have kept things very much in-house this week as they seek answers to one of their poorest performances in the league for quite a while. Dublin not only outscored them but simply outfought them for large spells in Parnell Park. Only for the efforts of John O’Dwyer  Tipperary could have faced a worse defeat in the capital. A home crowd in Thurles will not accept a performance of that standard.

Life after Joe Canning isn’t turning out to be so bad for Anthony Cunningham after all. Galway edged Clare last week but may not get away with the sneaky changing of the ball as they managed for Jason Flynn’s last minute free. It may not be an accepted practice but it’s actually good to see a bit of divilment in the Galway camp at last.

Tipp’s record against Galway in the league is especially strong, with six wins from their last eight games. Their only loss came last year in Pearse Stadium but with the pressure on last year’s runners up, Tipperary should and must return to winning form this weekend.

DIVISION 1B: 

Sunday – Offaly v Wexford, Tullamore, 2pm

Wexford’s tag as promotion favourites may have affected them last week as they scraped to a win over Antrim in Wexford Park. They’ll miss Tomas Waters this week due to suspension, but do have captain Matthew O’Hanlon and Liam Ryan back for the trip to Tullamore.

After last week’s win over Laois Brian Whelehan had the look of man who enjoyed watching Offaly hurl for the first time in an age.  He’ll need to see his side sharpen up a little bit at the back after conceding 0-23 and two penalties but there is enough to suggest that the Midlanders could earn a vital home win.

Saturday – Waterford v Laois, Fraher Field, 7pm

Derek McGrath’s side begin their league campaign with a hard earned draw with Limerick last Saturday night but their ambitions of promotion will need a major injection of finishing power this Saturday night against Laois.

The Deise led at several stages but fell flat in the last 10 minutes as Limerick took over with only Paudie Prendergast’s 50m point helping them to a share of the spoils

Ahead of this weekend Seamus “Cheddar” Plunkett has pleaded for calm after his sides loss to Offaly when they missed two penalties and still manged to hit 0-23 in a defeat.  If the Midlanders are to make an impression in the championship they need to retain their Div 1b status and a loss on Saturday would put a major dent in that ambition

A home win in a  high-scoring shootout.

Sunday – Antrim v Limerick,  Ballycastle, 2pm.

The Saffrons could have stolen the points from Wexford but even with a numerical advantage they never look assured enough to trouble the Yellowbellies. They need to get a result this weekend or their league campaign die away until the inevitable relegation play off.

It’s deja vú for Limerick as they head into game two of the league after another opening day draw. The room for slip ups is over after last week’s dramatic ending in the Gaelic Grounds.

Antrim’s home advantage is a significant one but even despite the monster trip from Shannonside, the visitors should be too good for their Ulster hosts.

DIVISION 2A:

Saturday: London v Carlow, Ruislip, 1pm

Sunday: Wicklow v Kerry, Aughrim, 1pm

Derry v Westmeath, Owenbeg, 2pm

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