The weekend's Hurling League action previewed by SEÁN MORAN

Today

National Hurling League - Division One

Tipperary v Cork,Semple Stadium, 7.30 (Live Setanta Ireland) – Tipperary had a useful run-out in Walsh Park last weekend when Liam Sheedy got the chances to take a closer look at his panel although conditions made it a rather tenuous hurling experience. The half backs played really well, just overshadowing the full-back line on the basis of ball supply. John O'Brien threatened a good deal at full forward but fought a losing battle with the surface for much of the afternoon. O'Brien is one of the six players, including Brendan Cummins, shuffled out for this evening's encounter with the much-reduced Cork, as Sheedy gives a run to a few more players. The visitors gave a battling display in Cork a week ago but still lost by nine to Dublin. This evening won't be pretty and it's a shame that Semple Stadium's first big floodlit occasion is to be such a damp squib.

Division Two

Carlow v Kerry, Dr Cullen Park, – Even with the advantage of a match played Kerry will hardly be expected to get anything out of this.

Fixtures: Division Three A:Kildare v Wicklow, Newbridge; Division Four:Monaghan v Cavan, Inniskeen.

Tomorrow

All-Ireland club junior hurling championship final

(Extra-time if necessary)

Dripsey(Cork) v Tullogher Rosbercon(Kilkenny), Croke Park, 2.0 – Only four years old Dripsey follow in the footsteps of near-neighbours Canovee but will have their work cut out against the Kilkenny champions who had a big win over Galway's Skeheena in the semi-final.

All-Ireland club intermediate hurling final

Blarney(Cork) v Cappataggle(Galway), Croke Park, 3.45 – Like Kerry in the football, Cork are on a possible double and Blarney have every chance against the Galway side, who scored a late goal in extra-time to beat Meath's Kilmessan.

National Hurling League

Division One

Dublin v Galway,Parnell Park, 1.0 – Dublin were happy to get the win in Cork for all the assumptions about the trip. Anthony Daly will hope that with that win under the team's belt that they can hurl with fewer inhibitions. Galway never got to field against Kilkenny and have five debutants for this. It's unfortunate for Daly that his side is so under-strength for this campaign and again tomorrow, he is unfortunate with All Star nominee David O'Callaghan missing out with flu. Although Dublin won this two years ago tomorrow should be Galway's.

Kilkenny v Limerick,Nowlan Park (Deferred coverage TG4) – Limerick's impressive start to Justin McCarthy's tenure sets the team up nicely for this trip to the home of the All-Ireland champions. Three first-half goals underwrote the win over Clare, a prescription not easily filled against the All-Ireland champions even in the experimental days of spring. Still, an excellent opportunity for McCarthy to measure his new charges against the game's gold standard.

Clare v Waterford,Cusack Park – A host of reacquainting: Davy Fitzgerald coming back home to face his own county and Michael McNamara, the manager under whom he finished his long playing career. It's also the match that last summer saw the departure of Justin McCarthy and opened the door for Fitzgerald's intercounty management career. He ruefully conceded that he was a bit short for the opening match against Tipperary last week and those enforced absences haven't notably cleared up.

Clare were shocked by Limerick’s productive opening and just failed to recover but have been playing well and can get back on track.

Division Two

Down v Antrim,Portaferry – Antrim, with a useful Walsh Cup run behind them, should be able to survive the trip to the Ards peninsula.

Wexford v Laois,Wexford Park – With the advantage of having won the only match played so far in the division Wexford host a Laois team that welcomed back Zane Keenan this week, some relief for Niall Rigney's plague of injuries.

Westmeath v Offaly,Cusack Park – A chance for Westmeath to impact on the game's caste system but Offaly's previously forgetful attitude to Division Two hurling is probably a thing of the past.

Fixtures: Division Three A:Armagh v Derry, Athletic Grounds; Mayo v Meath, Ballina. Division Three B:Longford v Roscommon, Newtowncashel; London v Tyrone, Oxley Park; Fingal v Louth, Swords. Donegal, bye. Division Four:Fermanagh v Down South, Enniskillen; Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon.