The hurling season begins here
You can keep your Waterford Crystals and Walsh Cups and every other pre-season January competition you can think of. The real hurling year gets underway this coming weekend with the Allianz Hurling League. We've predicted where all the sides may finish in the league standings in the top tier and now we're going to put our big sporty neck on the line and call this weekend's big games in the top flight.
Cork v Kilkenny Pairc Ui Rinn Saturday 7pm.
So much for talk of transition in Kilkenny. They lose five of the most decorated hurlers of all time from their panel over the winter and Brian Cody still can name a side with 42 All-Ireland medals in it. He also has the luxury of moving one of the best corner-backs of his generation in Paul Murphy to full-back to cover for JJ Delaney.
The biggest concern for Cork and for their management has to be how much they leaked at the back, even in January. They won't face anything like the most potent Kilkenny attack on Saturday night but with Richie Hogan now in his more familiar forward role, Cork cannot afford to be lazy in their defensive efforts.
Jimmy Barry Murphy knows that Saturday's game is a massive chance for Cork to not only get an important win, but restore some belief within the Cork faithful after last August and the loss to Tipperary. At home, under lights, and with an always vocal home support, the Rebels should prove too strong for the holders, but only just.
Dublin v Tipperary Parnell Park Sunday 2pm
The new era for Dublin hurling has generally gotten off to a decent start as Ger Cunningham almost bagged his first piece of silverware last week. The Corkman will be pleased with what he has seen so far from some of the newer faces but it may be later in the year that he will feel the full effect of the departed Stephen Hiney and Alan McCrabbe.
Eamon O'Shea may feel that any silverware for the county's supporters this year would be welcomed as a blow against their Noreside nemesis. Cunningham probably needs the win more than O'Shea in his first truly competitive game, but Tipperary will be eager to get points on the board early to appease their restless support. The visitors greater firepower should see them over the line.
Galway v Clare Pearse Stadium Salthill Sunday 2pm
No Joe Canning for Galway has sent a mild panic through the county's supporters but they have survived without the Portumna ace before in the league and will do so again. Anthony Cunningham does have other options and if Jason Flynn can continue his good early season form then the Tribesmen may find another way to beat sides other than depending on Canning''s brilliance most of the time.
Clare under Davy Fitzgerald in 2015 are an intriguing prospect as the Sixmilebridge man looks to restore confidence in arguably the most talented group of players around. The championship exit to Wexford, as well as some of off-field distractions, have left many questioning what exactly Clare will achieve this season.
The game between these sides ended in a draw last year. Clare, with some new faces on show, should get an away win to kickstart their campaign.
Division 1B Wexford v Antrim Wexford Park Sunday 2pm
Wexford were
the story of the Championship last season but they must kick on in 2015 under Liam Dunne. They begin their league campaign at home to an Antrim side who finished bottom of the table in 2014
Wexford missed out on the latter stages of the Walsh Cup and so have had the best part of a month to get ready for Sunday's clash. The addition of Daithi Waters to the starting line up should give the side an added edge up front and with Jack Guiney and Liam Og Mc Govern looking to develop even further, Wexford should record an opening day win in their bid for promotion.
Limerick v Waterford Gaelic Grounds Saturday 7pm
This is the first meeting of these sides since the Munster championship of 2011. Derek McGrath has committed to a radical overhaul of the Waterford panel and it will be interesting to see how it works out for the Deise.
Limerick know better than anyone that one slip-up in Division 1B and your promotion hopes can vanish. A draw on day one against Cork, which was initially seen as a very good result, and a second disastrous draw with Offaly scuppered their chances of automatic promotion last year. Gavin O'Mahony is allowed play having missed last week's club win for Kilmallock over Portaferry due to suspension and he should help the Shannonsiders to get their bid for promotion of to a positive start.
Laois v Offaly Portlaoise Saturday 7pm
A local derby is always a good way to start off the league and they don't come much more heated that these midland rivals. Offaly hurling sunk to an all-time low in 2014 but it seems that after a winter of discontent, Brian Whelehan and his charges are going much better so far in 2015.
Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett's Laois side were one of the teams of 2014 and a push for promotion from 1B could set them up nicely for a crack at causing a Leinster shock in the summer. Despite the loss to Dublin in the Walsh Cup, they showed enough promise for them to get a win on Saturday night against their neighbours.
