SATURDAY 24 MAY
Joe McDonagh Cup
Carlow v Laois, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Kildare v Down, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 2pm
Kerry v Westmeath, Austin Stack Park, 2pm
Lory Meagher Cup semi-final
Monaghan v New York, TEG Cusack Park, 1pm
SUNDAY 25 MAY
Munster SHC
Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm
Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Leinster SHC
Offaly v Antrim, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 2pm
Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm
Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs and live scores on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app across Saturday and Sunday.
TV
There’s a double-header on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Sunday with live coverage of Dublin v Galway (2pm) and Cork v Waterford (4pm) from 1.30pm.
GAA+ will also have live coverage of the crucial relegation battle between Offaly and Antrim.
Highlights of the weekend’s action on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on Saturday Sport/Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, Spórt an tSathairn/Spórt an Lae ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHER
Saturday: A rather wet and breezy day with outbreaks of rain spreading from the west, turning heavy at times later. Feeling humid with highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in fresh southwest winds.
Sunday: Brighter on Sunday with sunny spells but scattered showers will become widespread through the morning and afternoon. A noticeably cooler day with highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees in fresh westerly winds.
For more, visit met.ie.
It’s the concluding weekend in both Munster and Leinster while a highly-competitive Joe McDonagh group table will also be finalised.
Saturday also sees the first knockout game of the hurling championship season as New York are in town for a Lory Meagher semi-final against Monaghan.
One giant gone, another at risk
Last weekend’s results in Munster meant that All-Ireland holders Clare are not even going to get to defend their title outside of provincial borders while Cork – tipped by so many as Liam MacCarthy champions in waiting – could be joining them in having a watching brief for the business end of the season.
The permutation at the Páirc is a simple one, avoid defeat and the Rebels are All-Ireland series bound, and could yet reach a Munster final, but a loss to Waterford and the Déise will leap-frog them into third and would bring Cork’s season to an end.
Pat Ryan’s side will have searched their souls this week and the mettle of the group – or perhaps the lack of it – will be demonstrated by what they produce in response to last week’s humbling at the hands of Limerick.
Clearly, the message will be that one bad day cannot define a team and the fact the match comes just a week later gives them a good chance to get it out of their system quickly. They also know that any sort of win would guarantee them a provincial final slot, regardless of what happens at the Gaelic Grounds, as they have both the head-to-head and scoring difference advantage on Tipperary.
They will have to try and do it without Declan Dalton (hamstring) and Niall O’Leary (groin) though who were both withdrawn against the Treaty.
Waterford famously have never advanced from Munster under the round-robin system and they’re also battling history, with Cork holding a massive win rate in their previous 72 championship clashes.
Recent times have been more encouraging though, with four wins in their last nine championship meetings against Cork – including a 2-25 to 1-25 group win last term in what would be Davy Fitzgerald’s final victory as Déise boss as he fell to the turf at full-time and took aim at the critics afterwards.
Jamie Barron and Stephen Bennett got the goals that day and the pair will carry the county’s hopes into battle again here.
Barron is in inspired form this season and scored four points from play in last week’s loss to Tipperary while Bennett took his championship tally to 12-227, allowing him to overtake Paul Flynn as the county's all-time top scorer in the championship.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Ger Millerick, Eoin Downey, Seán O'Donoghue; Cormac O'Brien, Ciarán Joyce, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Brian Roche; Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Séamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Eoin Roche, Tommy O'Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Conor Lehane, Diarmuid Healy, Jack O'Connor, William Buckley, Shane Kingston.
Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kennny, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitgerald, Tadgh de Burca, Paddy Leavey; Darragh Lyons, Gavin Fives; Sean Walsh, Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron; Jack Prendergast, Michael Kiely, Patrick Fitzgerald.
Subs: Shaun O'Brien, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony, Kieran Bennett, Shane Bennett, Patrick Curran, Austin Gleeson, Conor Sheahan, Tom Barron, Padraig Fitzgerald, Carthach Daly.
While fingernails are likely to be bitten in Cork, it will be a much more relaxed fare at the Gaelic Grounds as Limerick try and secure the point against already-eliminated Clare that would guarantee a seventh Munster final appearance on the bounce having won the previous six.
Even if they were to lose, it would require Cork to win and Limerick to lose some 25 points somewhere in the scoring difference to drop below Tipp.
Sunday’s game will come a decade and day on from Cian Lynch’s championship debut when the then 19-year-old produced a Player of the Match display – incidentally also against Clare.
TJ Ryan’s side were also-rans back then, losing to Tipperary and Dublin in their next two games, but how things have changed in the years since.
John Kiely must have been left bewildered by the spring coverage of their side, the sparkle seemingly gone after last year’s All-Ireland semi-final loss to Cork and the Rebels’ continued growth. Last week, they put 3-26 on their rivals in a 16-point hammering.
For Clare, their season has been underwhelming as they often left themselves with far too much to do. All they can do this weekend is somehow try and restore a bit of pride and it’s hard to see them ending the round-robin without a win to their name.
Limerick: Shane Dowling; Barry Murphy, Dan Morrissey, Michael Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Colin Coughlan; Darragh O'Donovan, William O'Donoghue; Gearoid Hegarty, Cathal O'Neill, Tom Morrissey; Seamus Flanagan, Shane O'Brien, Peter Casey.
Subs: Jason Gillane, Adam English, Vince Harrington, Ethan Hurley, Barry Nash, Aidan O'Connor, Fergal O'Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Paddy O'Donovan, David Reidy, Eddie Stokes.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Darragh Lohan, Rory Hayes; Cian Galvin, John Conlon, David McInerney; Sean Rynne, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Shane Meehan; Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan, David Reidy.
Subs: Eamon Foudy, Daithi Lohan, Ross Hayes, Diarmuid Ryan, Paddy Donnellan, Aron Shanagher, David Fitzgerald, Jack O'Neill, Ian Galvin, Colm O'Meara, Shane O'Donnell.
Tidying up in Leinster
A round to go but we already know that Kilkenny are in the Leinster final, Galway and Dublin are safely though to the All-Ireland stages and Wexford have nothing to play for this weekend as they host the Cats.
The game with the most consequence perhaps comes in Tullamore as Offaly host Antrim with both sides chasing their first points – and the loser will drop down to the Joe McDonagh Cup.
In many ways, Antrim are fortunate to even have such a lifeline given how poorly Davy Fitzgerald’s side have performed this year.
It was actually at the same venue when the first alarm bells started ringing. In a seemingly 50-50 Division 1B game on paper in February, Offaly hammered them by 15 points.
All four of their Leinster games have also ended in double-digit losses, while the six goals conceded against Galway last weekend was a real low point.
Fitzgerald said he would be taking his criticism of officials to Croke Park after Declan McCloskey’s red card, and we’re yet to hear whether an appeal has been successful or not.
James McNaughton returns from suspension but is only on the bench, as is Keelan Molloy.
Offaly, by contrast, were only caught in the final stages against both Dublin and Wexford so can feel somewhat aggrieved to still have relegation hanging over them.
Manager Johnny Kelly said he was bemused by suggestions that they should hold back against the Model County and save their energy for the Saffrons, and they certainly gave everything last week.
Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Killian Sampson, Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan.
Subs: Liam Hoare, Sam Bourke, Eoghan Cahill, Brecon Kavanagh, Jack Clancy, Eoin Burke, Padraig Cantwell, David King, DJ McLoughlin, Ben Miller, David Nally.
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Paddy Burke, Niall O'Connor; Conall Bohill, Joe Maskey, Conor Boyd; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell; Ryan McCambridge, Nigel Elliott, Scott Walsh; Joseph McLaughlin, Eoin O'Neill, Cormac McKeown.
Subs: Ruairi McCormick, Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Sean McKay, Paul Boyle, James McNaughton, Aodhan McGarry, Keelan Molloy, Fred McCurry, Jack McCloskey.
Parnell Park’s clash of Dublin and Galway will have the prize of a Leinster final on offer with both sides safe in the knowledge that they have already extended their respective seasons.
Both enter the match on six points so scoring difference only come into play if there’s a draw – and in that case it will be Galway that advance to a meeting with Kilkenny for the Bob O’Keeffe Cup.
There had been a small sense that Dublin may be in transition this year as they changed management teams, and also the fact that Niall Ó Ceallacháin came in late as his Na Fianna side went all the way to All-Ireland glory.
However, they have shown very well and their stirring comeback against Kilkenny last week, along with their ability to dig out a result when things were going against them at home to Offaly, suggests some steel has been infused.
Galway had questions to answer after their heavy Round 1 loss to Kilkenny, but they have responded with three straight wins, albeit expected wins, and 6-27 against Antrim last week demonstrated a squad purring along nicely in attack.
Last year, they were eliminated at this stage by Dublin, then managed by current Galway boss Micheál Donoghue, and their recent record in this fixture is poor having last played here in the championship in 2019 when their season again came to an end at the hands of Dublin.
Dublin: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Paddy Doyle, Chris Crummey, Paddy Dunleavy; Conor Burke, Conor Dohohue; Brian Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan, Darragh Power; Sean Currie, John Hetherton, Ronan Hayes. Subs: Sean Brennan, Colin Currie, Andy Dunphy, Daire Gray, Andrew Jamieson-Murphy, David Lucey, James Madden, Riain McBride, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, Conal O'Riain, Fergal Whitely.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Padraic Mannion, Fintan Burke, Daithí Burke, Cianan Fahy, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan; David Burke, Tom Monaghan; John Fleming, Cathal Mannion, Tiernan Killeen; Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Anthony Burns**. Subs:** Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Joshua Ryan, Shane Cooney, Seál Linnane, Ronan Glennon, Dan Loftus, Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney, Rory Burke, Colm Molloy.
The final game in Leinster is essentially a dead-rubber. Kilkenny can only finish first, Wexford can only finish fourth.
The derby element will always provide a spark, but expect lots of rotation and maybe an enjoyable game of hurling minus some of the usual intensity.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Cian Molloy, Simon Donohoe, Conor Foley; Eoin Ryan, Damien Reck, Darragh Carley; Conor Hearne, Corey Byrne Dunbar; Jack O'Connor, Lee Chin, Rory O'Connor; Kevin Foley, Mikie Dwyer, Cian Byrne.
Subs: Andrew Kennedy, Chalrie McGuckin, Cathal Dunbar, Niall Murphy, Conor McDonald, Jack Redmond, Seamus Casey, Darren Codd, Tomás Kinsella, Simon Roche, Oisín Pepper
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Peter Connellan, Padraic Moylan, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Adrian Mullen, Zach Bay Hammond; Killian Doyle, Peter McDonald; Luke Connellan, John Donnelly, Fionán Mackessy; Billy Drennan, TJ Reid, Owen Wall.
Subs: Aidan Tallis, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler, Shane Staunton, Richie Reid, Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy, Stephen Donnelly, Gearoid Dunne, Martin Keoghan, Niall Shortall.
Kildare on the brink
When Kildare conceded 4-22 in Inniskeen in March to hand Down the Division 2 title, few would have tipped them to go on and secure a first-ever Joe McDonagh final spot, but that’s the case should they gain revenge over Ronan Sheehan’s side. That would also bring a guaranteed All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final spot too.
Down, their previous conquerors, started the Joe McDonagh Cup by conceding six goals to both Carlow and Laois but Kildare would go on to beat both.
The Ulster side, who have lost key attacker Tom McGrattan to a cruciate injury, did earn their first win last time out against Kerry so nothing is guaranteed for the Lilywhites as their opponents have their own survival to fight for.
Kerry and Westmeath are in a similar position when they meet in Tralee. The winner survives, the loser will be hoping that scoring difference – or the result in Newbridge – doesn't drop them into the Christy Ring.
The other match involves the top two currently, Laois and Carlow, and both can make the final and both can miss out.
If Kildare lose and this game at Cullen Park is close, or ends in a draw, they both progress. They’ll be taking no chances though with a win guaranteeing a spot in the final.
One thing to note, expect goals as they have combined for 32 across their games to date. Carlow’s six against Down was not their highest tally having hit Westmeath for seven last time out.
New York controversy
The Lory Meagher latter stages are not without drama this year as instead of the top two competing in the final, the second-placed team – in this case Monaghan – face a semi-final against New York, who have been parachuted in.
Speaking in Gaelic Life on Thursday, Oriel boss Arthur Hughes described the decision as "an absolute disgrace", pointing out that just two years ago the GAA were seriously looking at excluding five counties from the National League and now a Congress motion has seen New York entered into the championship semi-final before playing a game.
The Ulster side are here courtesy of a late run of points to earn a draw with Longford last week, but are really facing a tough task at Cusack Park.
Richie Hartnett is overseeing a 31-man New York panel and many of those involved claiming an historic Connacht League title at the start of last year.
Galway’s Johnny Glynn will be the most notable name on display while Seán O'Leary-Hayes represented Cork previously and Conor Hammersley was with Tipp.
The winner faces Cavan in the final next weekend.
Watch a hurling championship double-header, Dublin v Galway (2pm) and Cork v Waterford (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm 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. Highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm
