SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY
Allianz HL Division 1A
Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park 5.30pm
Galway v Clare, Pearse Stadium, 7.30pm
Division 4
Warwickshire v Louth, Páirc na hÉireann, 2pm
Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 2pm
SUNDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Division 1A
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 3.45pm
Division 1B
Offaly v Antrim, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1.45pm
Waterford v Laois, Walsh Park, Waterford, 2pm
Westmeath v Dublin, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm
Division 2
Kerry v Derry, Austin Stack Park, 1pm
Down v Donegal, McKenna Park, Ballycran, 2pm
Tyrone v Meath, Garvaghey, 2pm
Division 3
London v Cavan, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm
Armagh v Wicklow, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh 2pm
Sligo v Mayo, Enniscrone, 2pm
Allianz HL Division 4
Fermanagh v Monaghan, Brewster Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
TV
On Saturday, Wexford v Kilkenny on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 5pm; Galway v Clare live on TG4 from 7.15pm.
On Sunday, Offaly v Antrim and Limerick v Tipperary live on TG4 from 1.15pm, with Waterford v Laois live on the TG4 Player, followed by a deferred showing on TG4 from 5.35pm.
Highlights from the weekend on Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport.
WEATHER
Saturday: A cold, dry and bright start for most in the morning. However, it will be cloudier across eastern counties with some showery rain - the chance of some wintry rain over higher ground. Similar conditions will persist through the day. Cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in a light north-easterly breeze.
Sunday: Mainly dry and cloudy, with just a few light showers near eastern and southern coasts. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees with light to moderate easterly winds.
For more go to met.ie.
Division 1A
Two games in and it's Tipperary who sit on top of the standings, following comfortable wins over Galway and Wexford. A sterner test awaits as they head to the Ennis Road to take on a Limerick side who no doubt will feel they should have picked up the full points on offer against the Rebels last weekend.
Before those neighbours collide, we have a couple of other derby battles. Wexford, pointless after two games, welcome the Black and Amber to their home patch.
Short a number of regulars, Keith Rossiter's side have found the going tough so far, though they did show some spirit during the second half against Tipperary.
Lee Chin is back from Australia and is now training with the squad, with the clash against Clare in a fortnight's time the more likely return date, if reports locally are true, for the 32-year-old.
Cathal Dunbar and Damien Reck are line to face the Cats after injury, while Kevin Foley could also feature if he can prove his fitness after a foot injury. Rory O'Connor returns after a one-match suspension.
Simon Roche and Cillian Byrne made their debuts last weekend, with Rossiter for now not dwelling on the spectre of relegation too much, preferring to try out the new guys while hoping that the more experience heads can return sooner than expected.
Kilkenny fought their way back to lead Galway going down the stretch on Sunday last. We've seen a similar scenario played out at Nowlan Park against other opposition, but this time Derek Lyng's men could finish the job. The Tribes found that bit more in those final moments and deservedly took the points.
Lyng lamented a poor showing in the first half and felt his charges did not derve anything from the game.
He told RTÉ Sport: "We weren't sharp enough. Galway were the better team. We did well to get back in the game. But overall, we didn't deserve it.
"They're a good team, they've good hurlers. They were that bit sharper, they were finding their pass and their touch was good. And they hurt us.
"We weren't putting enough pressure on them. If you don't, good teams will punish you."
Indeed, Mikey Butler had a tough day containing Declan McLoughlin, who scored 2-02 off him.
Killian Doyle (midfield), along with Harry Shine and Stephen Donnelly in the full-forward line, now make their first starts of the year in the Black and Amber colours.
Many Galway fans were probably thinking 'What a difference a week makes' after that productive trip to the Marble City, some seven days after their humbling by Tipp.
Galway's success owed much to the half-back line, with former hurler of the year nominee Pádraic Mannion floating over two points and Clarinbridge's Gavin Lee landing 0-03 and excelling at centre-back, often a problem position for the side over the years.
It would seem that the Tribes now have a decent spine to their line-up, with Shane McGrath saying as much on the RTÉ GAA Podcast earlier this week: "There is a bit of character in this group, bit of resilience and a bit of resolve," he remarked.
"They got the win but Galway have definitely something to build on. I think what you'll see from now on is that the spine of the team might not change too much. You might have Fintan (Burke), Gavin Lee at midfield, centre-forward or full-forward and Micheál will say let's build around these guys and see where it takes us."
'Gavin Lee could fix that problem' - @MrJackieTee on Gavin Lee's performance at centre-back, which laid the platform for Galway's win at Nowlan Park#RTEgaa
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 2, 2025
📺 Watch League Sunday on RTÉ2 & RTÉplayer pic.twitter.com/DBZHF3zGiR
During Henry Shefflin's reign, Galway blew hot and cold. They will look to follow up against a Clare side, who lost their opening game to Kilkenny. Only five of the side that started last year's All-Ireland final were in action in Ennis.
With the likes of Conor Cleary and and Peter Duggan still out injured, the Banner have an injury crisis to contend with. That said they were competitive in Round 1 and were unlucky not to earn a share of the spoils.
After a poor championship campaign in 2024, Tipperary will be happy that they are winning matches again. As is the way for most managers during the league, Liam Cahill is blooding new talent.
Against Wexford, there were league debuts for Gavin O'Halloran and Josh Keller, Robert Doyle earned a first start after his impact against Galway, and Oisín O’Donoghue got his first involvement off the bench at half-time.
Also, late call-up Séamus Kennedy made his first start since his cruciate injury, replacing Sam O’Farrell.
Darragh McCarthy has certainly caught the eye so far, and chalked up 1-07 against Wexford. Reaching a Division 1 final would be a boost for Cahill in his third year at the helm and that would have to be followed by an extended run in the All-Ireland series.
Anthony Daly, in the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, argues the positioning of Mikey Breen in defence is key.
"It allows Eoghan Connolly to come out and he can score from distance. There were four debuts on Sunday (against Wexford). Oisín Donoghue (introduced at half-time) really caught the eye in Cashel's run through Munster last year to an intermediate final.
"There is a lot to like."
And will there be more to like after the tussle with John Kiely's troops? The Premier will have to reverse a recent trend, however.
Since the introduction of the round-robin in the Munster SHC, Tipperary have registered just a single win (2019). The six defeats - the teams played out a lively draw two years ago - include two Munster final losses and an average losing margin of more than seven points. Last April, they left the Gaelic Grounds after a crushing 15-point defeat.
On a wretched night for hurling, Darragh Fitzgibbon's 80th-minute free secured a share of the spoils for Cork, denying a Limerick victory on Leeside.
Goalkeeper Jason Gillane made his league debut against the Rebels, with Kiely introducing David Reidy and Seamus Flanagan for the second period. Only seven of the side that lined out in last July's All-Ireland semi-final started against Cork and the manager was happy enough with how the opening encounter went.
He told reporters after the game: "It was a great opportunity for lads to get game-time under the belt. They didn't do too badly at all.
"I think a lot of fellas, we'll see that they have plenty to work off there. Listen, to say that's not a bad start, let's go again next week."
Division 1B
With their footballers going well under Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte, the Offaly hurlers will look to maintain a positive start when they host Antrim.
Brian Duignan and Dan Ravenhill starred for the Joe McDonagh champions as they combined for 18 points in what was an eye-catching attacking performance against Laois on Sunday last. Johnny Kelly's men will obviously be targeting promotion in what is shaping up to be a competitive section.
James McNaughton led the way with 1-14 as Antrim banked their first points of the league as they accounted for Westmeath a week ago.
The Loughgiel man was in fine form having carried much of the fight against Dublin in their opening defeat, but he had a fine supporting cast this time as Davy Fitzgerald's side were much improved and certainly more fluid than was the case in Croke Park.
Waterford, after their surprising loss to Carlow, will look to get up and running at home to Laois.
There was no element of fluke to Carlow's victory; it was a totally deserved success. The Déise, still without a number of regulars, should have enough to get their first points on the board.
There is a certainly a feel-good factor in Dublin hurling at the moment, this after Na Fianna's All-Ireland club success and the expectation that Niall Ó Ceallacháin can now work his magic with the county side. The Dubs look well placed to make it two wins from two against Westmeath in Mullingar.
Down's excellent start continued with a commanding nine-point win over Derry. They now head to take on a Donegal side who chalked their first win of the campaign after seeing off Tyrone by ten points.
Kerry seek a first win when they welcome Derry to Austin Stack Park, while Tyrone also go in search of points when they host Meath in Garvaghey.
London, with two wins from two, look to extend the run at home to Cavan. Elsewhere Armagh host Cavan, while a Connacht derby pits Sligo against Mayo.
Leaders Louth are in Birmingham to take on Warwickshire, while Longford v Leitrim should be interesting derby clash with both eyeing promotion. An all-Ulster tie sees Fermanagh play host to Monaghan.
