The main event
Limerick’s clash with Cork is the big game of a hurling dominant weekend. The All-Ireland champions are one defeat, or possibly draw (see permutations below) away from exiting the championship in May. The reigning champions look like they’ve already surrendered their Munster title – they were going for five provincial titles in a row – but if they lose to the Rebels for the third time this year, there’ll be no four All-Irelands in a row either. There won’t even be another game for them.
Just last month they were 11-point winners over Kilkenny in the league final, but seeing Cian Lynch, Gearóid Hegarty and Seamus Flanagan all taken off as they struggled for the third championship game running against Tipperary has left many questioning if this is an end of an era moment. We will see on Sunday if the old Limerick are coming back, or are they just that?
Provincial final hangover
Last weekend Munster champions Kerry came up against a fresher, hungrier and more focused Mayo team in the first round of the All-Ireland round-robin. Clare were also beaten by Donegal. Ulster (well at least the final was) is much more competitive than the Munster championship, but how will Derry and Armagh do, two weeks after their Ulster final? Or will their opponents have reset and rebounded to add further support to the notion that provincial winners are at a disadvantage in the round-robins series.
[ Mayo breach Fitzgerald Stadium fortress to inflict humbling defeat on KerryOpens in new window ]
Hurling permutations
Format – Heading into the final round of games in the Leinster and Munster round-robins on Sunday, how do things currently stand? The top two teams in each province after Sunday’s games will head into the provincial finals with the winners progressing into the All-Ireland semi-finals.
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The losers will head into the quarter final, where they will meet teams who emerge from the preliminary quarter-finals. They will be contested by third-placed teams in both groups against one of the Joe McDonagh Cup finalists (Carlow and Offaly). It’ll be the end of the road for the fourth-placed teams while the bottom team in Leinster will be relegated and replaced in 2024 by the winner of the Joe McDonagh Cup final.
Teams that are level on points are separated firstly by who won their head to head, if it was a draw or there are more than two teams level on points then scoring difference comes into the mix. And if that’s level, it’ll come down to who has scored the most.
So in Leinster, Kilkenny, Galway and Dublin are already guaranteed to progress. Galway are currently top of the table, ahead of Kilkenny on scoring difference, if they draw with or beat Dublin they will be in the Leinster final regardless of results elsewhere. Likewise if Kilkenny win or draw they will contest the 2023 Leinster final.
If Dublin win however, and Kilkenny win, then Dublin will overtake Galway on the head to head. If Dublin win and Kilkenny lose, then it’ll go to scoring difference between the top three. In that case Dublin would need to win by 26 points to overtake Galway.
A draw or win over Kilkenny will keep Wexford up, but a defeat and a win for Antrim over Westmeath will see them relegated. Antrim will be safe with a win over Westmeath, anything less and they go down. Westmeath will be safe with a draw or win, and likewise if Wexford are beaten.
In Munster things aren’t as delicate, with no automatic relegation and no playoff unless the Joe McDonagh Cup winner is a Munster team. Clare have played all of their matches and are already in the Munster final.
If Tipperary beat a pointless Waterford team in Thurles they will join them, if they lose and there’s a winner between Limerick and Cork, they’ll finish third. But if they lose and there’s a draw in the other game, then it’ll go down to scoring difference to see who takes second place, in which case Cork would qualify for the final.
If Tipp lose by five points or more and Cork and Limerick draw, then they will exit the championship with Limerick sneaking into third place. If Tipp draw and Cork win, then Cork will progress to the final on scoring difference. If Tipp draw, Limerick will need to win by more than five points to reach the Munster final.
But if Tipp win, and Cork win or draw, the Rebels progress. While Limerick will have to win in that case to keep their All-Ireland defence alive.
TV and Fixtures
SATURDAY MAY 27th
All-Ireland SFC round 1 Louth v Cork, Pâirc Tailteann, 3pm; Armagh v Westmeath, Athletic Grounds, 4.45pm (Streaming on GAAGO); Derry v Monaghan, Celtic Park, 7pm (Streaming on GAAGO)
Joe McDonagh Cup final Carlow v Offaly, Croke Park, 4.45pm (Live on RTÉ2)
SUNDAY MAY 28th
All-Ireland SFC round 1 Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park, 4pm
Leinster SHC round-robin Westmeath v Antrim, Cusack Park, 2pm; Dublin v Galway, Croke Park, 2pm (Live on RTÉ2); Wexford v Kilkenny, Wexford Park, 2pm
Munster SHC round-robin Tipperary v Waterford, Semple Stadium, 4pm; Limerick v Cork, Gaelic Grounds, 4pm (Live on RTÉ2)
Team news
Dublin (SFC v Roscommon): Stephen Cluxton, Daire Newcombe, David Byrne, Cian Murphy, James McCarthy, John Small, Lee Gannon, Brian Fenton, Tom Lahiff, Brian Howard, Seán Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, Cormac Costello. Subs: David O’Hanlon, Colm Basquel, Craig Dias, Michael Fitzsimons, Seán MacMahon, Greg McEneaney, Ross McGarry, Lorcan O’Dell, Dean Rock, Niall Scully, Paddy Small.
Roscommon (SFC v Dublin): Conor Carroll, Conor Hussey, Brian Stack, David Murray, Niall Daly, Eoin McCormack, Dylan Ruane, Keith Doyle, Ciarán Lennon, Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Cian McKeon, Ben O’Carroll, Donie Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh. Subs: Colm Lavin, Robbie Dolan, Colin Walsh, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Niall Kilroy, Eddie Nolan, Cian Connolly, Conor Cox, Shane Cunnane, Conor Daly, Richard Hughes.
Derry (SFC v Monaghan): Odhran Lynch, Christopher McKaigue, Eoghan McEvoy, Conor McCluskey, Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty, Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin. Subs: Ryan Scullion, Declan Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul, Shea Downey, Lachlan Murray, Ben McCarron, Paul McNeil, Padraig Cassidy, Conleth McGuckian, Mark Doherty, Diarmuid Baker.
Monaghan (SFC v Derry): Rory Beggan, Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy, Ryan Wylie, Karl O Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy, Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Dessie Ward, Jack Mc Carron, Gary Mohan, Ryan Mc Anespie. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Sean Jones, Conor McManus, Shane Carey, Darren Hughes, Thomas McPhillips, Kevin Loughran, Kieran Hughes, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon.
Louth (SFC v Cork): James Califf, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny, Leonard Grey, , Niall Sharkey, Anthony Williams, Tommy Durnin, Conor Early, Conall McKeever, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes, Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, Craig Lennon. Subs: Peter McStravick, Ryan Burns, Jonathan Commins, Bevan Duffy, Liam Jackson, Ciaran Keenan, Conall McCaul, Daire McConnon, Oisin McGuinness, Dylan McKeown, Ciaran Murphy.
Cork (SFC v Louth): Míchéal Aodh Martin, Maurice Shanley, Daniel O Mahony, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor, Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire, Brian O’ Driscoll, Ruairi Deane, Killian O’ Hanlon, Sean Powter, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones. Subs: Patrick Doyle, Kevin O’Donovan, Tom Clancy, Cian Kiely, Paul Walsh, Eoghan Mc Sweeney, Blake Murphy, John O’ Rourke, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Conor Corbett.
Armagh (SFC v Westmeath): Ethan Rafferty, James Morgan, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Greg McCabe, Conor O Neill, Jarly Óg Burns, Ben Crealey, Ciaran Mackin, Rory Grugan, Jason Duffy, Stefan Campbell, Andrew Murnin, Rian O’Neill, Aidan Nugent. Subs: Shea Magill, Ciaran Higgins, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Callum Cumiskey, Connaire Mackin, Shane McPartlan, Conor Turbitt, Jemar Hall, Cian McConville, Oisin Conaty.
Westmeath (SFC v Armagh): Jason Daly, Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Jamie Gonoud, James Dolan, Andy McCormack, David Lynch, Sam Duncan, Ray Connellan, Sam McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, Senan Baker, Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Stephen Smith. Subs: Trevor Martin, Jonathan Lynam, Lorcan Dolan, Kieran Martin, Robbie Forde, David Giles, Darragh Seery, Conor McCormack, Eoin Mulvihill, Daniel Scahill, Ronan Wallace.
Tipperary (SHC v Waterford): Rhys Shelly, Cathal Barrett, Michael Breen, Ronan Maher, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O Mara, Seamus Kennedy, Alan Tynan, Dan McCormack, Conor Stakelum, Patrick Maher, Noel McGrath, Jake Morris, Gearod O’Connor, Mark Kehoe. Subs: Barry Hogan, Conor Bowe, Seamus Callanan, John Campion, Pauric Campion, Joe Fogarty, Enda Heffernan, Brian McGrath, John McGrath, Johnny Ryan, Sean Ryan.
Limerick (SHC v Cork): Nickie Quaid, Michael Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash,Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O Donovan, William O Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey. Subs: Jamie Power, Ciaran Barry, Conor Boylan, Colin Coughlan, Aaron Costello, Adam English, Richie English, Graeme Mulcahy, Shane O Brien, Cathal O Neill, David Reidy.
Cork (SHC v Limerick): Patrick Collins, Niall O’ Leary, Damien Cahalane, Sean O Donoghue, Ger Mellerick, Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Brian Roche, Luke Meade, Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton, Shane Kingston, Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy. Subs: Ger Collins, Eoin Downey, Tommy O’Connell, Ethan Twomey, Conor Cahalane, Sean Twomey, Shane Barrett, Alan Cadogan, Brian Hayes, Conor Lehane, Padraig Power.
Waterford (SHC v Tipperary): Shaun O’Brien, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Prunty, Conor Gleeson, Iarlaith Daly, Calum Lyons, Jack Fagan, Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron, Neil Montgomery, Austin Gleeson, Jack Prendergast, Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Peter Hogan. Subs: Billy Nolan, Conor Ryan, Paddy Leavey, Patrick Fitzgerald, Tom Barron, Patrick Curran, Padraig Fitzgerald, Colin Dunford, Kevin Mahony, Carthach Daly, Seamus Fitzgerald.
Wexford (SHC v Kilkenny): James Lawlor, Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt, Simon Donohoe, Matthew O’Hanlon, Ian Carty, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Kevin Foley, Jack O’Connor, Liam Óg McGovern, Oisin Foley, Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald, Lee Chin. Subs: Cian Byrne, Cian Byrne, Darragh Carley, Cathal Dunbar, Mikie Dwyer, Conor Foley, Conor Hearne, Richie Lawlor, Charlie McGuckin, Niall Murphy, Joe O’Connor.
Kilkenny (SHC v Wexford): Eoin Murphy, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody. Subs: Aidan Tallis, Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Pádraig Walsh, Conor Fogarty, Alan Murphy, Timmy Clifford, Walter Walsh, Cian Kenny, Shane Walsh, Billy Drennan.
Dublin (SHC v Galway): Seán Brennan, Paddy Doyle, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Conor Donohoe, Conor Burke, Daire Gray, Mark Grogan, Chris O’Leary, Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Cian Boland, Sean Currie, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey. Subs: Eddie Gibbons, John Bellew, James Madden, Andy Dunphy, Darragh Power, Aidan Mellett, Alex Considine, Fergal Whitely, Dara Purcell, Joe Flanagan, Cian O’Boyle.
Galway (SHC v Dublin): Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Gearóid McInerney, Darren Morrissey, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Fintan Burke, Joseph Cooney, Tom Monaghan, Ronan Glennon, Evan Niland, Conor Cooney, Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan, Declan McLoughlin. Subs: Darach Fahy, TJ Brennan, Eoin Lawless, Adrian Tuohey, Seán Linnane, Cianan Fahy, Jason Flynn, Donal O’Shea, Liam Collins, Jamie Ryan, Brian Concannon.
Westmeath (SHC v Antrim): Noel Conaty, Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville, Cormac Boyle, Charlie McCormack, Davy Glennon, Derek McNicholas, Niall O’Brien, Owen McCabe, Joseph Boyle, Ciaran Doyle. Subs: Conor Bracken, Niall Mitchell, Shane McGovern, Kevin Regan, Jack Galvin, Eoin Keyes, Peter Clarke, Shane Clavin, Gary Greville, Jack Gillen, Darragh Clinton.
Antrim (SHC v Westmeath): Ryan Elliott, Paddy Burke, Ryan Mc Garry, Niall O Connor, Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill, James Mc Naughton, Michael Bradley, Keelan Molloy. Conor Johnston, Eoin O Neill, Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Sean Elliott. Subs: Tiernan Smyth, Stephen Rooney, Conor Boyd, Enda Óg Mc Garry, Daniel McKernan, Paul Boyle, Joe Maskey, Seamie Mc Auley, Rian McMullan, Neil McManus, Domhnall Nugent.
Carlow (Joe McDonagh Cup v Offaly): Brian Tracey, Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Niall Bolger, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh, Conor Kehoe, Kevin McDonald, Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan, James Doyle, Jack Tracey, Martin Kavanagh, Paddy Boland. Subs: Damien Jordan, JP Treacy, Richard Coady, Michael Joyce, Fiach O’Toole, John Michael Nolan, Jack Kavanagh, Paudie O’Shea, Ciarain Kavanagh, John Doyle, Lorcan Doyle.
Offaly (Joe McDonagh v Carlow): Stephen Corcoran, Dara Maher, Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, David King, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson, Sam Bourke, David Nally, Cillian Kiely, Jack Clancy, Adrian Cleary, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill. Subs: Eamonn Cleary, Eimhin Kelly, Paddy Delaney, Paddy Clancy, Joey Keenaghan, Shane Dooley, John Murphy, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Hardiman, James Nally, Liam Langton.
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