CORK HOST LEAGUE AND ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS

All the indications are that Division 1 of the Allianz GAA National Hurling League will be the most competitive for years and next Sunday's series of games will provide another fascinating instalment in a saga which has already provided some great games over the first two rounds.


DIVISION 1: CORK BIDDING TO RETAIN TOP SPOT

Sunday (2.30): Cork v Kilkenny, Pairc Ui Chaoimh (Live on TG4); Tipperary v Galway, Thurles; Offaly v Dublin, Tullamore; Waterford v Limerick, Dungarvan.
A year ago, Cork hurlers were struggling at the bottom of the table after losing their first two games; now they lead the way at the top, just ahead of Galway on scoring difference. That, plus the fact that Kilkenny hammered them in last year's League, adds to the intrigue of Sunday's clash when the All-Ireland champions visit Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Kilkenny suffered their first defeat for a year last Sunday, going down by four points to Tipperary who will host Galway in Thurles on Sunday.

Justin McCarthy takes his Limerick side to Waterford where he will renew acquaintance with many of players he managed between 2002 and 2008. Offaly, who together with Limerick are the only counties without a point so far, host Dublin who recorded a splendid win over Tipperary in their last game.

Last year: Kilkenny 4-26 Cork 0-11 (Allianz Hurling League); Tipperary 1-17 Galway 1-15 (Allianz Hurling League); Limerick 2-14 Waterford 1-13 (Allianz Hurling League); Dublin v Offaly (Didn't meet).

DIVISION 2: CLARE v WEXFORD THE MAIN ATTRACTION

Tuesday (8.0): Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise.
Saturday (2.30): Westmeath v Kildare, Mullingar.
Sunday (2.30): Clare v Wexford, Ennis; Down v Carlow, Ballygalget; Antrim v Laois, Casement Park.

There's action tonight when Laois host Kildare in a game that was postponed due to the bad weather on the opening day of the League. Laois lost to Clare last Sunday week while Kildare went down to Antrim.

Clare and Wexford have been favourites for promotion right from the start which makes their clash in Ennis the highlight of next Sunday's programme. Wexford are in Division 2 for a second successive year, having failed to win promotion last season after losing the final to Offaly. Both have won their first two games, as have Antrim who will be at home to Laois. Down and Westmeath, both of whom have lost their opening two games, have home ties against Carlow and Kildare respectively.

DIVISION 3A: TOP TWO CLASH IN TRALEE

Sunday (2.30 unless stated): Armagh v London, Crossmaglen 12.45; Kerry v Meath, Tralee; Mayo v Derry, Castlebar.

Kerry and Meath, who lead the way in the group, clash in a game where the winners will be well fancied to reach the final. However, Derry and Mayo, are poised behind the leaders which makes their clash very important too. It's second last v last when Armagh host London.

DIV 3B: DONEGAL SET EARLY PACE

Sunday (2.30): Wicklow v Sligo, Arklow; Louth v Roscommon, Drogheda Fingal v Donegal, Swords.

Donegal lead the way on two wins from two games while four teams, Roscommon, Wicklow, Fingal and Louth are all on two points while Sligo and Tyrone are still looking for their first win.


DIVISION 4: TOP TWO CLASH

Sunday (2.30 unless stated): Fermanagh v Cavan, Irvinestown, 12.45; Monaghan v Longford, Inniskeen; Leitrim v South Down, Carrick-on-Shannon.

Monaghan and Longford, both of whom have won their opening two games, clash in the group's top attraction of the third round. Cavan and Fermanagh are both on two points while Leitrim and South Down both lost their two opening games.

ALLIANZ GAA NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE 2010 - RESULTS & FIXTURES
DIVISION 1

Round 1: Waterford 4-13 Dublin 0-12; Galway 1-18 Limerick 1-11; Cork 1-22 Offaly 1-11; Tipperary 1-14 Kilkenny 1-13.
Round 2: Cork 2-21 Limerick 1-14; Kilkenny 1-17 Offaly 0-12; Galway 4-15 Waterford 1-15; Dublin 1-21 Tipperary 1-12.
Next Sunday: (Round 3): Tipperary v Galway; Cork v Kilkenny; Offaly v Dublin; Waterford v Limerick.
March 20: (Round 4): Galway v Offaly.
March 21: (Round 4): Dublin v Kilkenny; Waterford v Cork; Limerick v Tipperary.
March 28: (Round 5): Offaly v Limerick; Dublin v Cork; Tipperary v Waterford; Kilkenny v Galway.
April 4: (Round 6): Galway v Dublin; Limerick v Kilkenny; Waterford v Offaly; Cork v Tipperary.
April 18: (Round 7): Kilkenny v Waterford; Galway v Cork; Offaly v Tipperary; Dublin v Limerick.

DIVISION 2
Round 1: Clare 2-20 Down 0-6; Wexford 1-20 Westmeath 0-14; Antrim 1-11 Carlow 2-7; Laois v Down.
Round 2: Wexford 2-23 Down 1-12; Antrim 1-19 Kildare 2-7; Clare 2-12 Laois 1-11; Carlow 5-17 Westmeath 1-10.
March 9: (Round 1): Laois v Kildare.
Next Saturday: (Round 3): Westmeath v Kildare.
Next Sunday: (Round 3): Clare v Wexford; Down v Carlow; Antrim v Laois.
March 20: (Round 4): Kildare v Down.
March 21: (Round 4): Carlow v Wexford; Antrim v Clare; Laois v Westmeath
March 28: (Round 5): Wexford v Kildare; Westmeath v Antrim; Carlow v Clare; Down v Laois.
April 4: (Round 6): Antrim v Down; Laois v Wexford; Kildare v Carlow; Clare v Westmeath.
April 18: (Round 7): Wexford v Antrim; Kildare v Clare; Down v Westmeath; Carlow v Laois.

DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Meath 2-16 London 1-14; Kerry 3-13 Derry 1-9;
Armagh v Mayo - postponed.
Round 2: Meath 1-20 Armagh 2-17; Derry 5-16 London 0-8; Kerry 1-18 Mayo 2-14.
Next Sunday: (Round 1): Armagh v Mayo.
Next Sunday: (Round 3): Kerry v Meath; Armagh v London; Mayo v Derry.
March 21: (Round 4): Derry v Armagh; London v Kerry; Meath v Mayo.
March 27: (Round 5): Kerry v Armagh; Meath v Derry; Mayo v London.

DIVISION 3B
Round 1: Louth 2-11 Sligo 0-11; Fingal v Wicklow - postponed.
Round 2: Roscommon 8-15 Tyrone 1-6; Donegal 1-21 Louth 3-10; Fingal 0-15 Sligo 0-10.
Next Saturday: (Round 1): Fingal v Wicklow.
Next Sunday: (Round 3): Wicklow v Sligo; Donegal v Donegal; Louth v Roscommon.
March 21: (Round 4): Tyrone v Louth; Donegal v Wicklow; Roscommon v Fingal.
March 28: (Round 5): Fingal v Tyrone; Wicklow v Roscommon; Sligo v Donegal.
April 4: (Round 6): Roscommon v Sligo; Tyrone v Wicklow; Louth v Fingal.
April 18: (Round 7): Sligo v Tyrone; Wicklow v Louth; Donegal v Roscommon.


DIVISION 4
Round 1: Cavan 1-17 Leitrim 0-4; Monaghan v Fermanagh - postponed; Longford v South Down - postponed.
Round 2: Fermanagh 1-16 Leitrim 1-14; Longford 1-11 Cavan 1-9; Monaghan 0-15 South Down 0-10.
Next Saturday (Round 1): Longford v South Down.
March 7 (Round 1): Monaghan v Fermanagh.
Next Sunday: (Round 3): Fermanagh v Cavan; Leitrim v South Down; Monaghan v Longford.
March 21: (Round 4): South Down v Fermanagh; Longford v Leitrim; Cavan v Monaghan.
March 28: (Round 5): Leitrim v Monaghan; South Down v Cavan; Fermanagh v Longford. Tweet

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