Munster and Leinster hurling championships swing into action this weekend, heres a few snippets of information from hoganstand website…
CLARE v CORK
They meet for the third successive year in the Guinness SHC and for the 7th time in ten years. Cork are seeking their fifth successive win over Clare who last beat the Rebels in the 1998 Munster semi-final. The counties have met on 44 occasions in the championship with Cork leading 30-11 while there have been three draws, the last of which was in 1969. Interestingly, their last two championship meetings (2005 All-Ireland semi-final and 2006 Munster semi-final) failed to produce a goal.
CLARE v CORK - POINTS OF INTEREST
*Cork are seeking their fifth successive championship victory over Clare, having won in 1999-2003-2005-2006. Prior to that Clare had beaten Cork four times in a row in 1993-95-97-98.
*The last time Cork lost their opening Munster championship tie was in 2002 when they were beaten by a point by Waterford. Clare havent won their opening game since 2003 when they beat Tipperary. They lost to Waterford, Tipperary and Cork over the past three seasons.
- Cork beat Clare by 0-20 to 0-14 in last years Munster semi-final in Thurles. Cork scorers were: Joe Deane 0-9, Jerry OConnor 0-4, Tom Kenny 0-2, Brian Corcoran 0-2, Neil Ronan 0-1, Niall McCarthy 0-1, Ronan Curran 0-1. Clare scorers were: Niall Gilligan 0-6, Tony Carmody 0-3, Barry Nugent 0-2, Daithi OConnell 0-1, Alan Markham 0-1, Jonathon Clancy 0-1.
*Clare have played 45 championship games over the past ten seasons, winning 24, drawing 5, losing 15 while one (v Offaly 1998 All-Ireland semi-final replay) was unfinished. Cork have played 37 championship games in ten years, winning 27, drawing 1 and losing 9.
*Cork and Clare met in the National Hurling League on April 2 last with Cork winning by 1-13 to 0-14. Cork topped Division 1A with four wins from five games prior to losing to Waterford in the semi-final. Clare finished 4th in 1B after winning two, losing two and drawing one of their five games.
*Next Sundays winners will play Waterford in the Munster semi-final on June 17.
OFFALY v LAOIS
Offaly are seeking their 13th successive Leinster championship win over Laois, who recorded their last victory over their neighbours in 1972. The counties have clashed 50 times in the championship, with Offaly leading 29-17 while there has been four draws.
They met last year in a game which was ruined by the appalling weather conditions. Offaly won by 2-12 to 0-8 prior to losing to Wexford in the Leinster semi-final.
Offaly were relegated to Division 2 of the League after winning two, drawing one and losing two of their five games in Division 1A which forced them into a relegation play-off with Limerick which they lost by 6-20 to 1-18 . Laois won the Division 2 title and then played Limerick for a place in Division 1 but were beaten by 3-15 to 1-13
OFFALY v LAOIS - POINTS OF INTEREST
*Offaly have played 42 championship games in the last ten years, winning 21, drawing 1 and losing 19 with one (v Clare 1998 All-Ireland semi-final replay) unfinished. Laois have played 34 games, winning 15, drawing 2 and losing 17.
*Despite winning the All-Ireland title in 1998, it is 13 years since Offaly last won the Leinster title. Laois havent won the title for 58 years (1949).
*Laois scored an average of 1-13 in their four championship games last year but conceded an average of 2-18.
*Offaly scored an average of 1-14 in their five championship games last year and conceded an average of 2-12.
*Next Sundays winners will play Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final on June 10.
It would be great if the hurling championship could be ignited early doors this year with some exciting and
competitive games.