Hurling League set for take-off
February 04, 2009
The revised format for this year's Allianz GAA Hurling League, which begins next Sunday, adds an exciting dimension to a competition which will provide lots of excitement right up the finals on the first weekend in May.
With Divisions One and Two both comprised of eight teams, each county is guaranteed seven games. Unlike last year which featured quarter and semi-finals, the new format is similar to football with the top two teams qualifying directly for the finals.
Commenting at the Launch of the 2009 Allianz GAA National Hurling Leagues Brendan Murphy, CEO Allianz Ireland, said; "This is the 17th season that Allianz has sponsored the GAA National Hurling Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport.
"We've got off to a flying start this year - Saturday's spectacular 125 year celebration, which was viewed throughout the world, was a wonderful reflection on the modern GAA and is a credit to everyone involved.
"Now it's the turn of the hurling leagues to provide the entertainment and looking at the opening fixtures this weekend we won't be disappointed."
Also commenting at the launch Nickey Brennan, Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael, said;
"Over the past two decades Allianz have been a steadfast supporter of the GAA not just at Senior level with their sponsorship of the National Leagues but also with their support for Cumman na mBunscol."
Six counties; Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford have won the Division One hurling title during the period of Allianz' sponsorship."
Tipperary, who head the overall League title honours list with 19 Division One titles, are the defending champions and will begin the new campaign with a trip to Walsh Park to take on Waterford next Sunday. It promises to be quite a contest as they served up an outstanding game when they met in last year's All-Ireland semi-final which Waterford won by 1-20 to 1-18.
Limerick and Clare, who meet in the Gaelic Grounds, also clashed in last year's championship with Clare winning the Munster semi-final by 4-12 to 1-16. Limerick are in a new era under the management of Justin McCarthy, the man who led Waterford to three Munster title win since 2002.
It's a new era for Dublin too, who face their first League tie against Cork under the guidance of former All-Ireland winning captain, Anthony Daly who led Clare to glory in 1995 and 1997.
Galway and Kilkenny will meet for the second time in a week, having clashed in a very exciting Walsh Cup final in Freshford last Sunday. It was level at the end of normal time but Kilkenny edged clear in extra-time to win by 2-17 to 1-18 so the re-match in Pearse Stadium is expected to attract a very big crowd.
Next Sunday's full hurling list is as follows (Games at 2.30 unless stated)
Div 1: Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds; Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium; Waterford v Tipperary, Walsh Park; Cork v Dublin, Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Div 2: Kerry v Wexford, Tralee, 1.0pm; Antrim v Westmeath, Casement Park; Offaly v Carlow, Tullamore; Laois v Down, Portlaoise.
Div 3A: Meath v Kildare, Pairc Tailteann; Wicklow v Armagh, Arklow; Derry v Mayo, Banagher.
Div 3B: Tyrone v Fingal. Omagh; Donegal v Longford, Letterkenny; Roscommon v London, Athleague, 1.0pm
Div 4: Cavan v Fermanagh, Ballyconnell; Sligo v Monaghan, Markievicz Park; South Down v Leitrim, Leitrim.
ON TV...
TG4 will show the Waterford-Tipperary game 'live' from Walsh Park on Sunday (2.30), followed by a deferred showing of the Galway v Kilkenny game in Pearse Stadium.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE ROLL OF HONOUR (DIVISION ONE)
19 - Tipperary (1928-49-50-52-54-55-57-59-60-61-64-65-68-79-88-94-99-2001-2008)
14 - Cork (1926-30-40-41-48-53-69-70-72-74-80-81-93-98)
13 - Kilkenny (1933-62-66-76-82-83-86-90-95-2002-2003-2005-2006)
11 - Limerick (1934-35-36-37-38-47-71-84-85-92-97)
8 - Galway (1932-51-75-87-89-96-2000-2004)
4 - Wexford (1956-58-67-73)
3 - Clare (1946-77-78)
2 - Dublin (1929-39)
2 - Waterford (1963-2007))
1 - Offaly (1991)
DIVISION ONE WINNERS DURING ALLIANZ' SPONSORSHIP (1993 - )
5 - Kilkenny (1995-2002-2003-2005-2006)
4 - Tipperary (1994-1999-2001-2008)
3 - Galway (1996-2000-2004)
2 - Cork (1993-1998)
1 - Limerick (1997)
1 - Waterford (2007)
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