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All-Ireland SHC weekend: All you need to know

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There are decisive games to come across the provincial championships

SATURDAY 16 APRIL

Leinster SHC
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 4.30pm
Kilkenny v Kildare, UPMC Nowlan Park, 6pm
Offaly v Wexford, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 6pm

Munster SHC
Tipperary v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
Carlow v London, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1pm
Antrim v Westmeath, Corrigan Park, 5pm
Laois v Down, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 5pm

Christy Ring Cup
Derry v Kerry, Find Insurance Celtic Park, 1.30pm
Donegal v Meath, Letterkenny, 1.30pm
Wicklow v Roscommon, Echelon Park, 1.30pm

Lory Meagher Cup
Lancashire v Warwickshire, Páirc na hÉireann, 2pm
Leitrim, Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2pm
Longford v Monaghan, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Nicky Rackard Cup
Louth v Mayo, Dowdallshill, 1.15pm
Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park, 1.15pm
Tyrone v Armagh, Garvaghey, 1.15pm

SUNDAY 17 APRIL

Munster SHC
Limerick v Waterford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 3pm

ONLINE

Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport.

TV

GAA+ has live coverage of Galway v Dublin and both Munster SHC games across the weekend.

Highlights and reaction to all the weekend's action on The Saturday Game (9.30pm) and The Sunday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

RADIO

Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport as well as Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

WEATHER

Saturday: Rain spreading from the north-west, with strong breezes. Highs of just 13C.

Sunday: Similar weather on Sunday with passing showers and highs of 13C.

For a detailed forecase, go to met.ie.


All to play for in Leinster

Are we about to see a big change in Leinster?

There's excitement brewing in the eastern province that maybe Kilkenny won't be lifting the Bob O'Keeffe Cup next month.

It's not a slight on the Cats, of course, but the neutral wants to see something different play out.

Now, that said, if Kilkenny win both of their remaining games, they'll be back into the decider, and if they make it that far, would you back against them?

That starts with Kildare's visit to UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday; the defending champions unbackable favourites against the side currently looking like they'll be relegated.

This is a first ever championship meeting between Kilkenny and Kildare.

25 May 2025; Conor Whelan of Galway is tackled by Conor Donohue of Dublin during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Dublin and Galway at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Dublin and Galway are aiming to break Kilkenny's hold in Leinster

The two teams who have notions of taking Kilkenny's place on the steps of the Hogan Stand next month are set to meet in Salthill in the opening game of the weekend in Leinster.

Galway looked impressive in dismantling Kilkenny on day one, and they followed it up a straightforward victory over an Offaly side who've held the Cats and the Dubs. At this stage, with full points from their three games, the Tribesmen are many people's favourites for the provincial title.

Dublin were in that position before the start of the championship as they followed up a trip to the All-Ireland semi-finals last year with league promotion.

It was nearly over before it began as they stole a draw on the opening day against the Faithful, but they've looked secure in seeing off Kildare and Wexford in the games since.

For all the talk of progress in the capital, this feels like a big one for Niall Ó Ceallacháin and his troops. The Dubs have only one win in their last four meetings with Galway, but that did come at Pearse Stadium two years ago.

It's noteworthy that current manager with the Tribesmen, Micheál Donoghue, was in charge of the Metropolitans at the time.

17 May 2025; Brian Duignan of Offaly in action against Conor Foley of Wexford during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match between Wexford and Offaly at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Wexford and Offaly will aim to keep their top-three hopes alive

On the week that the BBC announced that Big Break is to return to our screens, an Offaly v Wexford hurling match has something riding on it again - 1990s nostalgia is in full swing.

The Faithful have made Tullamore a fortress in the championship, so far, with two All-Ireland semi-finalists from 2025 being held by Johnny Kelly's men. A win against the Yellowbellies and there's a great chance for Offaly to finish in the top three in the competition, which would secure them a shot at the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

The difference this week is that they have to deal with the pressure of the favourites' tag, although the nature of their draw with Kilkenny on Sunday will be a great fillip.

Wexford will like coming in as underdogs considering their record in the Leinster round-robin since its introduction. If Kilkenny overcome Kildare, then they're safe from relegation.

If they could beat Offaly, which they would feel confident they can do despite their current form, then qualification for the All-Ireland Championships would be within their grasp. The Yellowbellies have only lost once to the Midlanders since 2000, with seven championship wins in that time.


leinster shc 2026 round 3

Waterford's summer swansong to be heard in May once more

The action in the Munster Championship is spread across two days with All-Ireland holders Tipperary under the cosh as they prepare to welcome 2024 Liam MacCarthy champions Clare to Thurles.

Both have a chance of reaching the provincial decider where they'll almost certainly face Cork, barring a string of unusual results. That is to say, there's one Munster final place up for grabs, with three counties realistically fighting for it.

There's not been much between the Banner and the Premier in recent years with two wins each in their last four meetings. It's possibly noteworthy that Clare's wins came in Thurles, while Tipp's came in Ennis.

With Clare on two points, a defeat would be less damaging for them than it would be for the hosts, who only have one point from their two games.

10 May 2025; Shane O Donnell of Clare passes the sliothar under pressure from Tipperary players including Peter McGarry during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Clare and Tipperary at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis, Clare.

It's a bit different for Waterford on Sunday, who have to win, and hope for other results to go their way. Even with a win, three points is unlikely to be enough for them to secure a top three finish.

The Déise haven't come out on top against Limerick since 2011, losing nine games in the interim, including the 2020 All-Ireland final, and the All-Ireland semi the following year.

Limerick, after one of the biggest shocks in hurling in their defeat to Dublin in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final, had won six games on the spin in 2026, after losing their opener to Waterford, en route to league glory.

Munster started with a defeat to Cork in the round-robin but they put it behind them by beating Clare impressively two weekends ago.

They have a good scoring difference already and they'll be eyeing running up a decent total on Sunday before potentially ending defending All-Ireland champions' Tipperary's summer on Sunday week.


Munster SHC table

Joe McDonagh Cup final spot withing Carlow's grasp

Carlow are to set to welcome London to Netwatch Cullen Park as they look to continue their 100% record in the competition.

With nearest rivals Laois and Down set to meet, a win for the Barrowsiders would guarantee their spot in the final in Croke Park in early June. A draw might even do them, depending on how results go elsewhere.

The Exiles have lost all three games so far, with a scoring difference of minus 20. Defeat for them and their stay in the Joe McDonagh will have lasted one season, so they're fighting to take it to the last day.

The clash of Laois and Down nearly has a semi-final feel to it, with the winner in pole position to reach the final. That said, we could end up with three teams on six points at the end of next week's fixtures, so there's plenty to play for.

A draw between the two counties would keep them in the hunt for a place in the final, and guarantee both of them that Antrim and Westmeath, who will lock horns at Corrigan Park, can't catch them.

Whoever wins in Belfast has an outside chance of reaching the final.

Westmeath and Antrim have both beaten London already, so they might both be safe before throw-in, if the Exiles lose out to Carlow.


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Watch The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport.

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