Laois and Carlow had the honour of kicking off the hurling championship in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise last weekend. It was a game that the Laois men eventually won with a bit to spare.
It may have been a low key start but that will all change this weekend as some of the country’s heavyweights set out on the road hoping to claim provincial and All-Ireland honours. It's going to be one hell of a busy weekend for Kilkenny fans not only can they look forward to all the intercounty action but with a full round of the local leagues down for decision there won't be much time spent at home.
Local scene
The local scene kicked off on Thursday evening with one game in both the senior and intermediate grades. I can only assume it was on a day earlier than usual to give everyone a chance to get to Nowlan Park on Saturday evening to witness Galway and Wexford.
The Shamrocks and Clara take on each other in Thomastown, by the time you read my column I expect that the Shamrocks will have beaten the Clara men and will be sitting in the top of the Group B table. Their position at the top could be short lived as Dunnamaggin may have too many guns for Graigueballycallan the following night. A win here for the southerners will see them leapfrog the Shamrocks back to the top. If Dunnamaggin win, and I expect they will, they will be the first team this year to reach the safety zone, which would take away the dreaded fear of relegation. The rest of the senior action doesn't take place until Sunday - due to the Munster championship there will be an early and late start to these games. St Martins take on O'Loughlins in what could be the game of the round, after beating the champions in round one they narrowly fell at the next hurdle when losing out to Dunnamaggin. Despite O'Loughlins losing their two opening games, I still reckon they are one of the team’s best equipped to do well when the championship comes around. There was no shame in losing to the Shamrocks last time out. However, they will be disappointed having dominated for long periods but if they can bring the same attitude to the Castlecomer field on Sunday, I think they will get their first brace of points. I have been tipped off by a ‘Comer man that this is the second senior league match to take place in Castlecomer’s new home of hurling, a fine pitch it is and best of luck to them on that front. James Stephens and Fenians go head to head in Freshford, both these sides enter this one on the back of a defeat, and my hunch here is that the city men will come away with the points. The evening session sees Erin’s Own battle it out with newly promoted St Lachtains, after poor starts by both sides they both picked up points last time around. This is a hard one to predict but I am going for the ‘Comer men as I think they will be more at home at the Ballyragget venue. At the same time Tullaroan and Carrickshock meet in Callan, if Richie Power has recovered from his recent injury scare it will be hard to look beyond them in this one.
The Intermediate league also got underway on Thursday night in Gowran where Blacks and Whites took on highflying Dicksboro - (no result however at the time going to press ). All the other games in this grade take place on Sunday, it's a pity so many games are crammed into the one day. Danesfort and Conahy Shamrocks make the short journey to Palmerstown in what could be a tight affair. Dicksboro's ground allows for tight play so scores could be hard to come by. A victory for either side could be fashioned on free taking ability. When it comes to the dead ball position Danesfort can call on the Hogan brothers Paddy and Richie, this might give them the edge. Mullinavat and Young Irelands head for Ballyhale on Sunday afternoon; these two unbeaten sides haven’t met since the senior relegation battle in '07 when Young Irelands came away with the narrowest of victory. I think it’s fair to say that a lot has changed in both camps since then. A major change of the guard has taken place in terms of personnel, and young blood has been introduced to both sides. My heart will always say Young Irelands but my head says the loss of Sean Kehoe due to a recent cruciate injury will swing this in the southerners favour. Some of the Gowran chaps will have to become men here if they want to win. Neighbours Graiguenamanagh and the Rower Inistioge go to war in Thomastown on Sunday evening. This Derby game could take on a life of its own. The noises coming out of the Rower camp is of injuries and exam tied players. Rumour has it that intercounty panellist Michael Grace will be missing as will their best young prospect Joe Lyng. I'm sitting on the fence here by calling a draw. The Emeralds and Glenmore meet halfway in St Johns Park, this is another game that possibly could go either way, I've tossed the coin here and it comes up in favour of the south men. That leaves just Tullogher Rosbercon and Mooncoin. I haven't seen the Tullogher men in action for some time but any time I've seen them play they always give 100 per cent. Mooncoin are a Jekyl and Hyde side, at times against Gowran they played with confidence with great skill and then for some reason they seem to switch off. The latter is a bad habit and something they have got to get rid of. If the real Mooncoin turn up they should be good enough.
Leinster hurling championship
All roads lead to Nowlan Park on Saturday evening for the clash of Galway and Wexford in the first round of the Leinster championship. I expect a huge crowd will turn up for this game - there will be as many Kilkenny supporters as there will be of the participating sides. Galway have never beaten Wexford in all of their six championship outings but I reckon that stat will be erased by 9pm on Saturday evening.
Their last championship was back in '96 that was the year that Wexford ended up 'dancing at the crossroads'. The only link to that game is a certain Ollie Canning, a quick look down memory lane sees Ollie Canning replace another legend Joe Cooney. Ollie, if recovered from injury, could once again have a bearing on this game as he will pick up Wexford's main goal scoring threat Rory Jacob. If Ollie is stopping them at one end, his younger sibling Joe will be expected to do damage at the other. They are potentially a very good side but can they bring their league form to Nowlan Park next Saturday? I'd usually give Wexford a chance when visiting Nowlan Park as they always play well there but this time around Galway have disposed of their challenges with ease. There can be no ifs and buts from the Tribesmen, they've got to stand up and be counted. The gulf in class in the two league finals was frightening, so I predict Galway will win by at least seven points.
The Antrim and Offaly clash will get a bit lost this weekend in the shadow of the big guns. I've been impressed with the Offaly defence this year, in David Kenny they have one of the best defenders around.
They should have enough scoring this time around but I think they will struggle when they meet the top ranked teams.
Munster championship
That leaves just a small matter of the preliminary Munster championship round. It may be pre-liminary in name but most of us see this clash between the two Munster giants Tipperary and Cork as the real provincial decider. If their league encounter in Páirc Uí Caoimhe is anything to go by this will be a cracker. I don't think the league was a priority for the Tipperary camp this year.
If the Premier men can take the positives from last year’s All-Ireland campaign and realise what happened then will have no bearing this time around they can go far. I expect them not only to win on Sunday but also to retain their Munster title. It's dangerous to be writing off the Rebels especially in their own backyard but age waits for no man and I think a few of the older brigade will come under severe pressure in the latter stages and I'm not so sure that they have the backup on the line to replace them.
