SUNDAY 6 APRIL
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B final
Offaly v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.45pm
TV
Live coverage of both finals on TG4 on Sunday with highlights and reaction on The Sunday Game on RTÉ2 from 9.30pm.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
RADIO
Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport. Also live updates on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an Lae.
WEATHER
Another dry and sunny day for most but cloudier conditions may develop in the southwest with the odd spot of drizzle possible near coasts. Highest temperatures of 11 to 18 degrees, warmest in the west and southwest, in light to moderate east to southeast breezes.
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Faith restored in Offaly, but can they down the Déise?
A week after winning the Division 3 football league title, Offaly will be hoping to add to their honours with the Division 1B hurling crown when they face Waterford.
These are good times to be a Faithful fan – last season brought a Joe McDonagh title while there have been All-Ireland Under-20 titles in both codes since 2021. Something is stirring.
It certainly feels a long way since their relegation to the Christy Ring Cup for the 2020 season.
Their last second-tier league title came in 2009, then known as Division 2, and it was also played in Munster as they defeated Wexford by a goal in Thurles - Daniel Currams touching home James Rigney's long delivery for the only major of the contest.
As well as the divisional name change, the big difference was that only one promotion spot was up for grabs back then, but Offaly and Waterford are already assured of Division 1A hurling next term regardless of what happens Sunday.
That may point to a potentially low-pace affair, but Johnny Kelly’s side had nothing to play for at Walsh Park two weeks ago but still gave the Déise their fill of it despite playing the majority of the game with 14 players.
That was due to the ridiculously harsh sending off of James Mahon. There was shock when the red card was flashed by referee Johnny Murphy. More so, maybe, when the appeal failed. The GAA has delivered a stern message before championship.
Unlike the football finals, that 'C’ word shouldn’t come into play here. Offaly are out in Leinster against Dublin on 20 April, Waterford a week later in Munster against All-Ireland champions Clare, so plenty of time to recover.
Since their surprise opening round loss to Carlow, Waterford are five wins from five and will be aiming to bring up the half dozen ahead of that clash against the Banner.
Peter Queally’s squad spent last week in Portugal preparing for, firstly, Munster, but no doubt the chance of early-season silverware would have been brought up.
Injuries are clearing up but still persist, although Iarlaith Daly is set to be available for selection having missed the last number of games. Peter Hogan may also be handed a starting spot having impressed off the bench against the same opposition two weeks ago and Tadhg de Búrca’s recent return is huge.
Stephen Bennett was the difference that day though, and the fact that he has carried on for another season despite persistent hip injuries is a credit to the man – and a major boost to the county.
It’s midfield where Offaly really hurt Waterford last time out with Killian Sampson producing a storming performance that had everything you’d want – including four points from play. If he’s given the freedom of the Páirc then Offaly could be in business.
Emerging superstar Adam Screeney recently spoke of his osteitis pubis issues and even if feeling OK, it’s hard to see him being thrown in here so Brian Duignan will again carry the main scoring burden while Patrick Taaffe may be handed the spot of the suspended Mahon, the pair lining out together in Offaly underage full-back lines over the years.
Rebels’ silver lining
First things first, Cork have won silverware under Pat Ryan but a 2023 Munster Hurling League isn’t going to kill the notion that they have to pick up a major trophy under his guise, and fast.
The Rebels are the name on everyone’s lips ahead of their Division 1A final against Tipperary at a sold out Páirc Uí Chaoimh, so much so that it would be easy to forget that it was actually the Premier County who topped the group stage.
That said, some of Cork’s hurling this term has been simply sensational and they look like a team hell-bent on making up for last year’s narrow All-Ireland final loss to Clare.
Over their first four games, Cork managed five goals and anyone watching those matches were left wondering how they only got to that tally as they continually broke in on opposition defences at pace.
It seems like they solved that particular problem as they hit Clare for six goals and Galway for four in their final two league games.
Those 14 goals have been shared between eight different players with Brian Hayes leading the way with five.
One of those arrived in their final match against Galway, but there was concern 15 minutes from time when he went off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Lo and behold, the St Finbarr’s man has been named to start in the final in a surprise move.
Tipp boss Liam Cahill has always treated the league with respect and they got their just rewards for a group stage that saw them pick up 10 points from a possible 12.
Impressively, they matched Cork score for score in the league – racking up a total of 166 (9-139) to their opponent’s 167 (14-125).
They’re managing a mean score of just over 24 scores per game having hit that target twice as well as 22 scores, 23, 27 and 28. Against Cork, 24 scores may not get it done, even with a few goals in there.
Youngster Darragh McCarthy, who has 2-44 to his name this season, can expect some close attention, but he has already shown that he has the physicality despite his youth to take on such challenges.
Watch Donegal v Derry in the Ulster Football Championship on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio
