Allianz NHL Division 1A weekend preview
With Round One of the Allianz National Hurling Leagues taking place this weekend, Peter McNamara previews the three fixtures in Division 1A.
Cork will be eagerly-awaiting the opportunity to lower Kilkenny’s masts in the league at Páirc Ui Rinn but Brian Cody’s men should not be as discounted as they have been prior to this clash.
In fact, Kilkenny, marginally, could win, what could be, a dogfight on Leeside.
Cork’s inventive looking full-forward line comprising of Alan Cadogan, Paudie O’Sullivan and Patrick Horgan should trouble the Cats provided they are afforded the ammunition to do so from players out the field.
However, therein lies the kicker, will Cork generate enough possessions in key areas to defeat Kilkenny?
Cody’s side will attempt to negate Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s outfit by turning the contest into a battle and we all know how much the Cats love a battle!
If Kilkenny manage to do this, Cork could come unstuck despite being odds-on favourites for the win on this occasion.
Kilkenny.
Dublin have been installed as the favourites to be relegated from Division 1A however, Ger Cunningham’s unit are promising to be much more competitive than such a theory would have us believe.
As Waterford legend Ken McGrath
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Still, Tipp, with Eamon O’Shea at the helm, have been to the last two league finals and are favourites to lift the trophy this year.
Of course, it could be argued the Premier County have bigger fish to fry later on, and that is the case, in fact, but, for now, Tipp will be eager to build early-season momentum.
Clare defeated Tipp at the quarter-final stage of the Waterford Crystal Cup while Dublin lost the decider of the Walsh Cup to Galway.
However, if Paul Ryan is curtailed, Tipp should prevail.
The meeting of Galway and Clare at Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon could develop into a high-scoring, titanic tussle, if the weather is any way decent in the west.
In fact, it may be nigh-on impossible to separate the protagonists as the full-time whistle approaches.
Brian Gavin is in charge of this tie too so the game should flow.
Jason Flynn, named at full-forward by Anthony Cunningham, scored 0-11 from frees last Saturday night as the westerners claimed the Walsh Cup overcoming Dublin 1-22 to 1-20 at Croke Park.
Clare will need to be disciplined to avoid Flynn having a similar influence this weekend.
Additionally, James Regan struck 1-4 in open play in that encounter and will need monitoring by Davy Fitzgerald’s charges.
Still, Clare’s qualities are well-documented already and they will be very difficult to beat in this competition.
The Banner men might even be the team to beat themselves.
Draw.
