HISTORIC PAIRING IN ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1 FINAL

It will be an all-Leinster Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final for the first time since 1991 (Offaly v Wexford) when Kilkenny and Dublin meet in Croke Park next Sunday (throw-in 1600).

It will also be the first time since 1991 that Munster won't be represented in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 decider. However, they dominate the Division 2 final which will see Clare and Limerick meeting in Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening (1900) with the winners being promoted to Division 1 where they will replace Offaly.

Dublin are back in the Division 1 final for the first time since 1945 when they lost to Clare and are seeking to win the title for the first time since 1939 when they won the second of their two titles.

It's a different story for Kilkenny who are bidding for their 15th title. If they win, they will move one clear of Cork and into second place behind Tipperary on the Roll of Honour.
Kilkenny, who last won the title two years ago, are seeking their sixth crown in ten seasons, having also been successful in 2002-2003-2005-2006-2009.

Dublin and Kilkenny clashed in the Divisional series earlier this month, a game that produced a draw after a most exciting contest (Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11). They also met in the Walsh Cup final in late February with Dublin winning by four points, 2-17 to 2-13, after leading by 11 points at half time.

Paths to the final

KILKENNY
Kilkenny 1-17 Tipperary 1-10
Kilkenny 0-14 Cork 1-10
Kilkenny 2-16 Wexford 0-17
Galway 4-14 Kilkenny 3-13
Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 1-13
Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11
Kilkenny 1-27 Offaly 1-19
Played 7, Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1.
Average for: 2-16; Average Against: 1-16


DUBLIN
Dublin 2-19 Waterford 3-16
Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15
Dublin 2-23 Offaly 1-13
Dublin 3-21 Wexford 2-15
Galway 2-11 Dublin 0-14
Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11
Dublin 1-15 Cork 1-14
Played 7, Won 4, Drew 2, Lost 1
Average For: 2-17; Average Against: 2-14


DUBLIN
Dublin 2-19 Waterford 3-16
Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15
Dublin 2-23 Offaly 1-13
Dublin 3-21 Wexford 2-15
Galway 2-11 Dublin 0-14
Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11
Dublin 1-15 Cork 1-14
Played 7, Won 4, Drew 2, Lost 1
Average For: 2-17; Average Against: 2-14


Head to head...
Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11, Croke Park, April 2
Kilkenny led by 3-11 to 1-14 in the 57th minute but Dublin staged a spirited revival to earn a draw in a high-quality contest. Dublin started well and led by five points at one stage in the first half before Kilkenny battled back and a goal from Eddie Brennan cut the margin to two at half-time (1-12 to 2-7). Kilkenny's best spell was in the third quarter but just when it looked as if they would pull away, Dublin rallied to take a precious League point.
Scorers: Dublin: P Ryan 1-5 (0-1 free, 0-1 '65'), C Keaney 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 '65'), L Rushe, R Dwyer 0-2 each, S Durkin, J McCaffrey, D Plunkett 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: M Ruth 2-1, R Hogan 0-5 (0-2 frees), E Brennan 1-2, M Fennelly 0-2, A Fogarty 0-1.

CLARE v LIMERICK
This pair were favourites to reach the final from the start and so it has turned out although Clare had a far more difficult route, losing to Limerick and Laois and beating Antrim by just one point. Limerick were much more convincing, winning all seven games by margins of between five and 15 points.

Limerick beat Clare by nine points in the first round. This will be Clare's second attempt to escape from Division 2, having lost last year's final to Wexford.
Paths to the final


Clare
Limerick 2-9 Clare 0-6
Clare 2-14 Antrim 2-13
Clare 1-27 Westmeath 2-17
Clare 5-22 Down 0-6
Clare 6-23 Kerry 1-18
Laois 3-16 Clare 3-13
Clare 4-28 Carlow 0-8
Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2.
Average For: 3-19; Average Against: 1-14
Limerick
Limerick 2-9 Clare 0-6
Limerick 1-20 Westmeath 0-15
Limerick 1-25 Down 2-11
Limerick 1-18 Laois 0-16
Limerick 3-18 Carlow 1-15
Limerick 1-24 Kerry 1-9
Limerick 4-15 Antrim 0-15
Played 7, Won 7.
Average For: 2-18; Average Against: 1-12


Head to head...
Limerick 2-9 Clare 0-6, Ennis, February 13
Limerick made the best possible start under new manager, Donal O'Grady, easily winning the opening round tie. First half goals by Richie McCarthy and Graeme Mulcahy gave Limerick a 2-4 to 0-1 half-time lead and they powered on to an easy victory in the second half.
Scorers: Limerick: R McCarthy 1-5 (1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees); G Mulcahy 1-1; K Downes, J Ryan, D O'Grady 0-1 each.
Clare: N O'Connell 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 '65'); C McGrath 0-2 (0-2 frees); F Lynch 0-1; C McInerney 0-1(free).
ALLIANZ GAA HURLING LEAGUE ROLL OF HONOUR (DIV 1)

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)
14 - KILKENNY (1933-62-66-76-82-83-86-90-95-2002-2003-2005-2006-2009)
11 - Limerick (1934-35-36-37-38-47-71-84-85-92-97)
9 - Galway (1932-51-75-87-89-96-2000-2004-2010)
4 - Wexford (1956-58-67-73)
3 - Clare (1946-77-78)
2 - DUBLIN (1929-39)
2 - Waterford (1963-2007)
1 - Offaly (1991)

2011 ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE: RESULTS & FIXTURES
Round 1: Kilkenny 1-17 Tipperary 1-10; Galway 1-24 Wexford 0-6; Cork 1-20 Offaly 1-15; Waterford 3-16 Dublin 2-19.
Round 2: Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15; Galway 1-24 Offaly 1-10; Kilkenny 0-14 Cork 1-10; Waterford 1-11 Wexford 0-12.
Round 3: Tipperary 1-20 Waterford 0-18; Cork 1-20 Galway 1-17; Dublin 2-23 Offaly 1-13; Kilkenny 2-16 Wexford 0-17.
Round 4: Galway 4-14 Kilkenny 3-13; Tipperary 1-20 Offaly 0-10; Waterford 0-18 Cork 0-17; Dublin 3-21 Wexford 2-15.
Round 5: Cork 1-14 Tipperary 1-14; Galway 2-11 Dublin 0-14; Offaly 2-15 Wexford 1-16; Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 1-13.
Round 6: Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11; Tipperary 4-23 Galway 1-14; Waterford 2-19 Offaly 1-19; Wexford 1-16 Cork 1-15.
Round 7: Dublin 1-15 Cork 1-14; Wexford 1-14 Tipperary 0-17; Waterford 1-17 Galway 1-16; Kilkenny 1-27 Offaly 1-19
Next Sunday: Dublin v Kilkenny, Croke Park. 4.0
Division 2
Round 1: Laois 1-19 Westmeath 0-9; Down 2-11 Carlow 0-14; Antrim 1-15 Kerry 0-12; Limerick 2-9 Clare 0-6.
Round 2: Limerick 1-20 Westmeath 0-15; Carlow 0-20 Laois 2-10; Clare 2-14 Antrim 2-13; Kerry 2-23 Down 3-16.
Round 3: Laois 0-20 Antrim 0-16; Clare 1-27 Westmeath 2-17; Limerick 1-25 Down 2-11; Carlow 2-17 Kerry 1-12.
Round 4: Kerry 1-15 Westmeath 1-13; Antrim 0-10 Carlow 1-6; Clare 5-22 Down 0-6; Limerick 1-18 Laois 0-16.
Round 5: Clare 6-23 Kerry 1-18; Antrim 2-13 Westmeath 2-9; Down 3-15 Laois 3-11; Limerick 3-18 Carlow 1-15.
Round 6: Laois 3-16 Clare 3-13; Carlow 2-15 Westmeath 1-14; Antrim 5-8 Down 1-14; Limerick 1-24 Kerry 1-9.
Round 7: Down 4-14 Westmeath 3-15; Limerick 4-15 Antrim 0-15; Laois 4-15 Kerry 1-15; Clare 4-28 Carlow 0-8.
Final: Next Saturday: Clare v Limerick, Ennis,7.0 Tweet

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