The 2010 National Hurling League will get undwerway with a repeat of this year’s All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary at Semple Stadium.
The glamour tie, which provides Liam Sheedy’s side with an early opportunity to gain a measure of revenge for their narrow defeat to the four-in-a-row champions earlier this month, will be played under lights on Saturday, 20 February.
The game is also a repeat of last May’s National League final which the Cats won after extra-time.
The other Division 1 first round games between Limerick and Galway, Cork and Offaly and Waterford and Dublin will take place the following day, Sunday, 21 February.
The old me would have been angered by such blatant emboldening but I have grown up and moved on, time you did the same tt*…After all we did win an all ireland this year and are on the way back…
We love our traditional music down in Clare but we also love our hurling
Dublin manager Anthony Daly is hoping to meet county footballers Conal Keaney and Shane Ryan to discuss the possibility of them joining up with his resurgent hurlers next year.
Daly is keen to bolster his much-improved squad and believes that the addition of either, or both, would strengthen his options come Championship 2010.
Speaking to the media, the Clare native revealed: 'There’s a bit of a question mark about Conal and what’s he going to do. We’d love to have Conal Keaney next year, but the bottom line is it is up to him. He might try to do a bit of both or he might try to throw his lot in with the hurlers - that would be a major lift for us. But that’s down to him.
‘We spoke to him last year and he knows my position on it. We haven’t approached anyone yet because they are busy with the clubs, so we are letting the hare sit and see what happens. He gave an exhibition last week against Pat’s - he’s a real natural hurler.’
Daly also said the door would be open to Ryan, who lost his starting place in Pat Gilroy’s football team this summer.
He added: ‘I’m not closing the door on anything. I wouldn’t be for saying that someone like Shane Ryan would come in and we’d be throwing out one of the lads who served us well this year. I’d be for saying, if Shane wanted to have a cut, we’d have a look at him. I’d pick anyone on merit.’
Bump,
for posters from the stronger hurling counties to discuss the NHL.
This weekend’s fixtures
Allianz GAA Hurling National League Roinn I 2010
Round 1
Saturday 20th Feb 2010
7 30 PM Semple Stadium, Thurles Tiobraid Árann v Cill Chainnigh Barry Kelly
Broadcast:Setanta Ireland
Sunday 21st Feb 2010
2 30 PM Kilmallock Luimneach v Gaillimh Cathal Mc Allister
2 30 PM Páirc Uí Chaoimh Corcaigh v Uibh Fhaili Michael Wadding
2 30 PM Walsh Park Port Lairge v Áth Cliath Diarmuid Kirwan
Broadcast:TG4 (Deferred)
I predict that Offaly will give Cork enough of it, mightn’t win but will get within 5 or 6 points…Galway should hammer limerick, if Dublin want to be considered a decent side then they should be getting the better of a second string Waterford side…Will wait til I see the Kilkenny team before I make a prediction but would fancy Tipp as they will be bulling to make amends after last year
Of course ye can, keep an eye on the other thread though, it will be good to know the names of some of the Laois, Kildare and Westmeath hurlers for next year’s league.
Has the Waterford team been named yet Puke? I heard Molumphy will be playing, seems like Cian knew the score all along. Would agree with your other predictions although Cork will win by 10+.
Heading up to the match in thurlas tomorrow night. Looking forward to it, haven’t been there with
the lights on. Don’t think the KK team will be announced until tonight, no sign of it on KKcats.com.
The Tipp team (favs for this match, the AI and the Munster titles) is as follows:
Brendan Cummins
C O’Brien, P Curran, B Maher
D Fanning, P Maher, S Maher
B Dunne, S McGrath
S Hennessy, S Callanan, H Maloney
E Kelly, M Webster, N McGrath.
Strong full forward line, we’ll be lucky to keep the score down. I expect at least 4 goals to be shipped tomorrow night. Out of the Welsh cup, practically out of the league, no hope in the club AI, Leinster won’t be won, 5 in a row me hoop… never mind 2009 and the recession, 2010 is going to be a disaster down Noreside