Barry Whyte looks ahead to this weekend's National Hurling League Division 1A and 1B clashes.
Click here to read Barry's football previews for this week
Division 1A
Offaly v Clare
It’s make or break time for Offaly as they host Clare in a crucial Division 1A tie at Birr on Sunday, throw-in at 3.30pm.
The Faithful County will most likely find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle following their loss to Wexford last weekend.
Joe Bergin may be absent having picked up a groin injury against the Model side and, if he misses this tie, Offaly will be without a vital cog in the operation.
Brian Carroll has been chipping in with some scores but they need a major improvement in all departments if they are to drag themselves out of the depths.
Clare bounced back from their loss to Wexford by defeating Waterford, impressively, last week. They now sit pretty at the top of the division – albeit on points difference. Given their far superior points difference, one more win should see them in the knock-out stages.
With the pressure off, Clare should be relaxed enough to do everything correctly and plant more doubts in the minds of the Offaly supporters.
Verdict: Clare
Waterford v Down
Waterford will look to improve their points difference when they clash with Down at Walsh Park on Sunday, throw in at 3.30pm.
Let’s face it, barring a miracle, Down are already in the relegation play-off. They will need another Houdini-like escape in those play-offs, like last year, if they are to avoid the drop once more.
On Sunday they will have to attempt damage limitation as Waterford will be out to try and catch up with Clare on the 'points scored' side of the table. Justin McCarthy’s side have the ability to rack up something special, given that Eoin Kelly and Dan Shanahan normally only need one sight of goal.
This will be a whipping and will serve to do little other than give Waterford an improved chance of making the knock-out stages. If you’re a gambler take Waterford with the largest handicap you can find.
Verdict: Waterford
Cork v Wexford
Cork revert to a more traditional looking staring XV for the visit of Wexford this Sunday, throw-in at 2.30pm.
This is hardly surprising as the Model County have shown good form recently and are among a set of four teams, including Cork, that are fighting for two semi-final spots.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan is back at full-back, about 15 yards in front of Donal Óg Cusack, also returning having sat out recent games.
This could prove a gamble as Wexford are well used to facing, and admittedly being beaten by, a similar Cork XV for the last few seasons.
On the other side of the coin, the visiting Wexford side bear very little resemblance with anything that the Rebels are used to. Declan Ruth may be back for this weekend’s tie but there is a host of young blood that will be facing Cork for the first time.
If the Wexford forwards have, as appeared against Offaly last week, found their range then they should keep pace with their opponents. However, Cork have the experience to rain on their parade and take a step closer to the semi-finals.
Verdict: Cork
Division 1B
Limerick v Dublin
Downtrodden Limerick clash with lively Dublin in an early throw-in on Sunday, 1.45pm at Páirc na nGael.
The Shannonsiders have been horribly inconsistent and need to address that fact before they have to start thinking about their Munster SHC semi-final clash against Tipperary.
They were limp, again, against Kilkenny last Monday and the absence of Ollie Moran didn’t help. Moran is back for this weekend but injuries to a number of key players will see them struggle.
Dublin have already impressed this year but their good fortune is unlikely to persist. Midfielder John McCaffrey misses out for them as they look to give themselves a real chance of making it the semi-finals.
The Metropolitans are outshining their football counterparts and it will be very interesting to see if the boisterous Dublin summer support turns out to applaud the fine effort that their hurlers are putting in over the winter.
If Dublin get a handle on the Limerick forwards from the off they will be close at the final whistle. Limerick, though, have too much to prove to let this one slip by.
Verdict: Limerick
Antrim v Kilkenny
Kilkenny should build on their win over Limerick when they make the long trip north to face Antrim at Ballycastle, throw-in at 2pm on Sunday.
The Saffrons will be hoping that the Cats will be suffering from playing just last Monday and celebrating Ballyhale’s victory in the AIB Club SHC final on Saturday. They are in dire need of a lucky break but it’s unlikely that the All-Ireland Champions will let Antrim catch them on the hop like Dublin did on the opening weekend.
Kilkenny have a set-up that is far too professional to leave Ulster without a win on Sunday. This will be a last chance for many Kilkenny players to impress before the Ballyhale contingent come back. Manager Brian Cody will have them well drilled and it will be a surprise, depending on the weather conditions, if they are not well out of sight by the half-time whistle.
The Cats should find themselves in second spot on the table by the time that their team bus returns to Noreside on Sunday evening.
Verdict: Kilkenny
Galway v Tipperary
A top of the table battle will be served up when Galway host Tipperary at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, throw-in at 3.30pm.
Time was that a clash between these two sides, whatever positions they occupied in the League, could get even the most neutral support excited. There just doesn’t seem to be the same bite between them these days and it’s unlikely that this will change this weekend.
Galway need to prove that their loss to Dublin was a flash in the pan. There has been an absence of players willing to provide any inspiration and, in particular, Eugene Cloonan is not proving to be the force that he once was.
Tipp limped over the line against Antrim last weekend and need to get the Kellys motoring again to drive them on to the semi-finals. In response to the performance against Antrim there are five changes, including an alternative midfield pairing, for this week’s challenge.
If the brothers Kelly get going then Galway are going to see a place in the knock-out stages begin to drift away from their grasp.
Verdict: Tipperary.
Antrim v Dublin
In an unusual occurrence the fixtures committee has pencilled in the Antrim v Dublin clash for next Wednesday March 28, throw-in at 7pm in Casement Park.
While this is a great opportunity to showcase the floodlights at Casement Park, it is unfair to ask the young Dublin side to put aside their midweek lives to travel north for this commitment. Surely it could have been played on a football weekend?
Anyhow, the time and date of the fixture really puts the aces into the Saffrons’ hands. Provided that they are not on too much of a downer following what looks like an inevitable defeat to Kilkenny on Sunday, they have enough in the tank to snap up two points here.
Dublin, though they have been impressive of late, could do with the reality check to keep themselves focused on this year’s big target, the Leinster SHC semi-final against Wexford in the summer.
Home advantage will tell for an awful lot, given the unusual timing of the fixture, and Antrim should dent the current Dublin feel good factor.
Verdict: Antrim
