Allianz HL Division 1 Group A round 1
Westmeath 1-16 Galway 5-34, TEG Cusack Park FT
Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-20, LIT Gaelic Grounds FT
Allianz HL Division 1 Group B round 1
Dublin 0-18 Kilkenny 1-20, Parnell Park FT
HL1A full time: Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-20
The sides finish level at the Gaelic Grounds. Limerick struck six of the last seven points. The draw was a fair result. That's all from me today - thanks for reading.
Ninety seconds left...
HL1A: Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-20
A long-range Reidy free - his eighth - splits the posts and the teams are level again.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this keenly-contested match.
We are in the 70th minute and Tipperary still hold a one-point advantage...
HL1A: Limerick 0-19 Tipperary 0-20
Forde's free ends Tipperary's scoring rot and the Premier County are back in front with three minutes of normal time remaining.
HL1A: Limerick 0-19 Tipperary 0-19
Limerick's subs have made a big difference. All the momentum is with them now as Reidy smacks over a free to tie the scores up for the ninth time.
HL1A: Limerick 0-18 Tipperary 0-19
With six minutes left, Casey gets his second and we are back to a one-point game!
Gearoid Hegarty is in but his speculative shot sails wide.
HL1A: Limerick 0-17 Tipperary 0-19
Reidy converts a free as Limerick rally and close within three with twelve minutes left. Flanagan then comes out and gathers and slots his fourth!
HL1A: Limerick 0-14 Tipperary 0-19
Forde converts again and Tipp now lead by five.
Can't see this new interpretation of the advantage rule lasting too long. It simply makes no sense.
HL1A: Limerick 0-14 Tipperary 0-18
Meanwhile, at the other end, Forde reaches a dozen scores and pushes the gap out to four ahead of the second water break. It's Tipp's game to lose now...
A Limerick shot flies over the bar but they are awarded a free instead and it goes wide. I think that's the new disadvantage rule in action!
HL1A: Limerick 0-14 Tipperary 0-17
Kyle Hayes fouls Willie Connors and Forde points the free from close to the posts.
HL1A: Limerick 0-14 Tipperary 0-16
As Tipp stand off, sub Peter Casey points from distance with his first touch.
HL1A: Limerick 0-13 Tipperary 0-16
Forde has now scored ten times - four of those from play.
HL1A: Limerick 0-13 Tipperary 0-15
A terrific strike from Forde (free) doubles the Tipperary lead in the tenth minute of the second half.
HL1A: Limerick 0-13 Tipperary 0-14
A free gives Forde his eighth point and the visitors are back in front. Yellow card for Richie English.
HL1A: Limerick 0-13 Tipperary 0-13
Tidy finish from Adrian Breen from an acute angle on the run. Level again.
HL1A: Limerick 0-12 Tipperary 0-13
Forde knocks over a free in the 40th minute to get the scoreboard moving again.
The second half starts. Which way is this one going to go? Your guess is as good as mine...
That was an exciting opening period and the stage is set for an enthralling second half.
HL1A half time: Limerick 0-12 Tipperary 0-12
A long-range Diarmuid Byrnes free ensures that they are level for the seventh time and the half-time whistle sounds with the sides deadlocked.
HL1A: Limerick 0-11 Tipperary 0-12
Flanagan looks unplayable today. He gets in front of his man again and arrows over his third. Level for the sixth time but Michael Breen replies.
HL1A: Limerick 0-10 Tipperary 0-11
Adrian Breen spins around on the wing and keeps his cool to flick over a magnificent Limerick point.
HL1A: Limerick 0-9 Tipperary 0-11
What a score that was from Ronan Maher, who thumped over a monster free from deep inside his own half!
HL1A: Limerick 0-9 Tipperary 0-10
Captain William O'Donoghue claims the hosts' ninth point of the game. They come again but Tipp defend stoutly.
Save!
Nicky Quaid denies Jake Morris, whose shot was straight at him.
HL1A: Limerick 0-8 Tipperary 0-10
Make that six for Forde, this one from a free inside his own 65. There have been five points since the water break and Tipp have hit four of those...
HL1A: Limerick 0-8 Tipperary 0-9
Liam Sheedy's men move ahead on 25 minutes thanks to a fifth Forde point.
HL1A: Limerick 0-8 Tipperary 0-8
The Treaty men work the sliothar up to Reidy and he obliges but full back Ronan Maher replies instantly with a Tipperary equaliser.
HL1A: Limerick 0-7 Tipperary 0-7
Dan McCormack whips over a delightful levelling score as Tipp's belief grows.
HL1A: Limerick 0-7 Tipperary 0-6
Forde's free sails over from a central position and it's back to a one-point affair again, with 15 minutes left in the first half.
Play resumes with a Tipperary '65' and Forde drags it wide from an awkward angle.
HL1A: Limerick 0-7 Tipperary 0-5
Reidy is a quality free taker and he makes no mistake in bagging his third score. The action pauses for the first water break with the holders two ahead.
HL1A: Limerick 0-6 Tipperary 0-5
Forde follows up quickly with his third point - again from play - and we're back to a one-point game.
HL1A: Limerick 0-6 Tipperary 0-4
Seamus Kennedy to Forde and straight between the uprights! Tipp need more of that.
HL1A: Limerick 0-6 Tipperary 0-3
A delightful point on the run off the stick of Reidy and it's double scores after 13 minutes.
HL1A: Limerick 0-5 Tipperary 0-3
Two between them now thanks to a second superb Seamus Flanagan point.
HL1A: Limerick 0-4 Tipperary 0-3
The All-Ireland champions lead for the fourth time as David Reidy flashes over a free.
HL1A: Limerick 0-3 Tipperary 0-3
A routine free for Jason Forde and he makes no mistake - level for the third time.
HL1A: Limerick 0-3 Tipperary 0-2
Midfielder Darragh O'Donovan nudges the holders back ahead on five minutes.
HL1A: Limerick 0-2 Tipperary 0-2
Adrian Breen restores the Treaty County's advantage but Willie Connors quickly ties the scores up for the second time.
Game on!
Perfect conditions for a game of hurling!
Tricolour flutters softly on the breeze as the national anthem is played.
One last huddle before throw-in. Tipp are in their traditional blue and gold, while Limerick are donning green and white hoops for this one.
The fact that both managers have named very strong teams for tonight's game speaks for itself. It might be the first round of the league ... but this is a game neither side wants to lose.
Twenty minutes until throw-in. This should be a fantastic game. Which group of players will be least rusty as their season belatedly gets up and running?
Tipp will give their hosts a Guard of Honour ahead of the game but I'm expecting the niceties to end there!
The Treaty County had a perfect record in 2020 as they won every competition they entered. Can the holders hit the ground running this year against the Premier County?
Tipperary (Allianz HL Division 1 v Limerick): Barry Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher, Barry Heffernan; Brian McGrath, Seamus Kennedy, Bryan O'Meara; Alan Flynn, Michael Breen; Dan McCormack, Patrick Maher, Niall O'Meara; Willie Connors, Jason Forde, Jake Morris. Subs: Brian Hogan, Robert Byrne, Paddy Cadell, Cian Darcy, Paul Flynn, Mark Kehoe, Padraic Maher, John McGrath, Noel McGrath, James Quigley, Dillon Quirke.
Limerick (Allianz HL Division 1 v Tipperary): Nickie Quaid; Aaron Costello, Sean Finn, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan; Tom Morrissey, David Reidy, Conor Boylan; Adrian Breen, Seamus Flanagan, David Dempsey. Subs: Barry Hennessy, Jerome Boylan, Peter Casey, Ronan Connolly, Josh Considine, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Darren O’Connell, Brian O’Grady, Mark Quinlan, Brian Ryan.
Don't go anywhere as we have another huge game coming up at 5:30 - Limerick V Tipperary!
HL1B full time: Dublin 0-18 Kilkenny 1-20
Martin Keoghan helps himself to 1-4 as Kilkenny open their league programme with a five-point victory away to Dublin. The game's only goal arrived on the hour. The sides were level at the second water break but the Cats bossed the fourth quarter.
HL1B: Dublin 0-18 Kilkenny 1-20
Treacy with another late consolation score from a free...
HL1B: Dublin 0-17 Kilkenny 1-20
Substitute David Treacy converts a late, late Dublin free.
HL1B: Dublin 0-16 Kilkenny 1-20
Donnelly leaves seven between them with 70 minutes played.
HL1B: Dublin 0-16 Kilkenny 1-19
Substitute Alan Murphy gets his name on the scoresheet. Nice move by the Black & Amber.
Wides at either end as the match starts to peter out...
Water break woes
Going into the water break Dublin has landed four quickfire scores to draw level. Since then, they have conceded 1-2 unanswered and had a man sent off!
HL1B: Dublin 0-16 Kilkenny 1-18
TJ Reid rubs salt in the wounds as he uses the resultant free to bag his seventh score.
Red card!
Dublin are down to 14 men as Liam Rushe picks up a second yellow for a late hit on Conor Browne.
Martin Keoghan has given a Man of the Match display here - he has registered 1-4 of the visitors' tally.
Goal!
Is that game over? With an hour played, Keoghan finishes with aplomb and the Cats lead by four - 1-17 to 0-16!
HL1B: Dublin 0-16 Kilkenny 0-17
Keoghan nudges the Cats back in front with 14 minutes left. That's his fourth from play.
Level!
Wow! Sub Cian Boland hits the equaliser and Kilkenny are saved by the second water break... Four quickfire Dubs points have left this match on a knife-edge.
HL1B: Dublin 0-15 Kilkenny 0-16
Three points in two minutes for the Dubs as Sutcliffe scores from distance after taking the pass from Gray!
HL1B: Dublin 0-14 Kilkenny 0-16
Crummey is shoved in the back and Burke (free) registers his seventh of the day.
HL1B: Dublin 0-13 Kilkenny 0-16
At the other end, Burke pops over a free from inside his own half.
HL1B: Dublin 0-12 Kilkenny 0-16
The resultant Reid free flies straight and true from 55 metres.
Padraig Walsh is fouled and Daire Gray gets a yellow card.
HL1B: Dublin 0-12 Kilkenny 0-15
TJ converts his fifth and the gap is back to three.
HL1B: Dublin 0-12 Kilkenny 0-14
But the Cats always seem to have an answer - this time it's Keoghan with the score.
HL1B: Dublin 0-12 Kilkenny 0-13
Burke slots a tricky '65' and the gap is back to the minimum.
HL1B: Dublin 0-11 Kilkenny 0-13
Eamonn Dillon pulls one back - his first score of the day.
Ooh!
Almost a Dublin goal but Sutcliffe and Hayes both miss.
HL1B: Dublin 0-10 Kilkenny 0-13
Crummey and John Donnelly swap points at the start of the second half before TJ Reid nails a free from his own '45'.
HL1B half time: Dublin 0-9 Kilkenny 0-11
The Noresiders ahead by two at the break. We saw as many wides as points in that first half.
HL1B: Dublin 0-9 Kilkenny 0-11
Debutant James Bergin notches his second off his right hand side.
HL1B: Dublin 0-9 Kilkenny 0-10
And Padraig Walsh has the Black & Amber back in front, pointing from 50 metres as we move into first-half injury time.
HL1B: Dublin 0-9 Kilkenny 0-9
It didn't take long for Cillian Buckley to reply - what a score that was!
HL1B: Dublin 0-9 Kilkenny 0-8
Dublin have been the better team and they deservedly move ahead on the stroke of half time thanks to a Donal Burke free.
Save!
Eoin Murphy denies Ronan Hayes and Burke takes the '65', stroking it left and wide - Dublin's eighth wide.
HL1B: Dublin 0-8 Kilkenny 0-8
The sides are level again after Danny Sutcliffe helps himself to an excellent score.
HL1B: Dublin 0-7 Kilkenny 0-8
David Keogh fends off two challenges and points via the upright to halve the deficit again.
HL1B: Dublin 0-6 Kilkenny 0-8
A rapid exchange between Daire Gray and Keoghan.
HL1B: Dublin 0-5 Kilkenny 0-7
But TJ Reid (0-3) makes amends with an epic strike from inside his own half (free).
Yellow card for Liam Rushe for that foul on TJ Reid, who surprisingly misses the subsequent free.
HL1B: Dublin 0-5 Kilkenny 0-6
The Dubs refuse to let their heads drop and have their fifth point courtesy of Donal Burke - super strike from play, his third!
A Burke free goes right and wide as Dublin miss the target yet again.
Two more Dublin wides. Conor Burke will be disappointed with that most recent one.
This of course is Dublin's first match in six months, so a bit of early rustiness can be forgiven. It's been 23 weeks since Kilkenny played.
Four wides for Kilkenny too as Eoin Murphy misses the target. We stop for the first water break.
Great defending from Huw Lawlor. Dublin with their fourth wide.
HL1B: Dublin 0-4 Kilkenny 0-6
Two between them for the first time as Padraig Walsh claims the sixth Cats score.
HL1B: Dublin 0-4 Kilkenny 0-5
But Martin Keoghan restores Kilkenny's advantage. Brian Cody has lost Richie Leahy to a hamstring injury.
HL1B: Dublin 0-4 Kilkenny 0-4
Sides level for the fourth time as Burke points a free.
HL1B: Dublin 0-3 Kilkenny 0-4
Darragh Corcoran edges the Cats back in front.
HL1B: Dublin 0-3 Kilkenny 0-3
Chris Crummey and TJ Reid (65) with the latest exchange of points in this one.
HL1A full time: Westmeath 1-16 Galway 5-34
Jarlath Mannion and David Glennon swap late points as the Tribesmen prevail by 30 points in Mullingar.
HL1B: Dublin 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1
TJ Reid and Donal Burke trade early frees.
Penalty!
Gearoid McInerney fouls Mitchell and it's a penalty to Westmeath - but O'Brien fires it wide.
Game on at Parnell Park!
HL1A: Westmeath 1-15 Galway 5-33
Conor Cooney decides to just take his point from the penalty.
Penalty!
A late chance for Galway to add a sixth goal - in the 70th minute...
HL1A: Westmeath 1-15 Galway 5-32
Centre back Shane Cooney decides to help himself to a late brace of points!
Kilkenny (HL1 v Dublin): Eoin Murphy; Ciaran Wallace, Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan; Darragh Corcoran, Padraig Walsh, Conor Browne; Cillian Buckley, Richie Leahy; John Donnelly, Adrian Mullen, Martin Keoghan; James Bergin, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody
Dublin (Allianz HL Division 1 v Kilkenny): Sean Brennan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Cian O’Callaghan; Daire Gray, Liam Rushe, Sean Moran; Conor Burke, James Madden; Danny Sutcliffe, Chris Crummey, Ronan Hayes; Donal Burke, Eamonn Dillon, David Keogh.
We are less than five minutes away from Dublin V Kilkenny. Here are the teams for that one:
HL1A: Westmeath 1-15 Galway 5-30
Fintan Burke converts a classy sideline cut for the rampant visitors; both goalkeepers then execute superb saves before Williams reduces the arrears.
HL1A: Westmeath 1-14 Galway 5-29
Nice consolation point from Joey Boyle. Conor Cooney nonchalantly hits back from a crazy angle.
HL1A: Westmeath 1-13 Galway 5-27
Fintan Burke sweeps one over and the gap is 26 points.
Goal!
Galway have their fifth major. Coen picks out Conor Cooney with a great handpass and he makes no mistake - 5-26 to 1-13!
HL1A: Westmeath 1-13 Galway 4-26
Niall O'Brien is a class act. He whips over another free - his tenth score.
HL1A: Westmeath 1-12 Galway 4-26
Niland (free) takes his total for the day so far to 0-13.
HL1A: Westmeath 1-12 Galway 4-25
From the centre of the field, close to the right sideline, Johnny Coen gets in on the act. Niall Burke then contributes Galway's 25th point.
Goal!
Substitute Niall Mitchell picks goalkeeper Eanna Murphy's pocket, dispossessing the Galway custodian and tapping to an empty net! 1-12 to 4-23.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-12 Galway 4-23
Cathal Mannion and Conor Cooney add on more Galway points from out the field.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-12 Galway 4-21
From play this time, Niland adds to his tally.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-12 Galway 4-20
O'Brien arrows over a long-distance Westmeath free; wide at the other end from Concannon.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-11 Galway 4-20
The Niland radar has been recalibrated and the free flies over.
Goal!
In the 39th minute, cutting in from the left, Concannon blasts a superb effort into the top right corner of the Westmeath net! O'Brien replies from a free - 4-19 to 0-11!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-10 Galway 3-19
Niland missed a free having earlier popped one over for the opening score of the second half.
Westmeath made a good fight of it but Galway's greater quality told more and more as the first half progressed. Conor Whelan, Niall Burke and Jarlath Mannion with the goals - 3-18 is some tally for 35minutes! I'll be back soon with updates from the second half.
HL1A half time: Westmeath 0-10 Galway 3-18
The short whistle sounds with 17 points between the sides.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-10 Galway 3-17
Niland whips over a free in the second minute of first-half injury time.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-10 Galway 3-17
Galway reply with a ridiculous Niland free and another Niall Burke strike.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-10 Galway 3-15
Shane Williams spins and fires a superb point across his shoulder between the uprights!
Goal!
Jarlath Mannion finds the bottom right corner of the net after gathering a Cathal Mannion pass inside - 3-15 to 0-9!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-9 Galway 2-15
Niland again from another free, then Niall Burke as the visitors start to pull away
HL1A: Westmeath 0-9 Galway 2-13
Double scores again as Niland fires over another free. Jarlath Mannion sends a shot inches over the bar and leaves ten between them.
We won't see a better score today than that audacious Doyle effort.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-9 Galway 2-11
Sat Nav Niland lands a massive Galway free from inside his own half. Ciaran Doyle replies with an incredible first-time volleyed strike from 50 metres!
Double scores at the moment, with twelve minutes left in the first half.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-8 Galway 2-10
Moments after becoming the third Galway player to be booked, Aidan Harte hammers over an inspirational point from inside his own half. Niland tacks on a free.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-8 Galway 2-8
At the other end, the unerring O'Brien registers his seventh pointed free!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-7 Galway 2-8
Niland on target from a Galway free as we move towards the 20-minute mark.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-7 Galway 2-7
The hosts reply with another O'Brien free, leaving those two goals between the teams...
Goal!
A second for Galway as Burke groundstrokes to an empty net after the diving Eoin Skelly had denied Concannon - 2-7 to 0-6!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-6 Galway 1-7
O'Brien makes light of an acute angle to slot his fourth free of the game, then nonchalantly drills one over from out the field. Galway's Niland is yellow-carded in between, as was Jack Fitzpatrick seconds earlier. We pause for the first water break.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-4 Galway 1-7
Jarlath Mannion whips one over from close range and Conor Cooney adds a monster point to leave six between them!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-4 Galway 1-5
A stunning Galway point from distance from midfielder Cathal Mannion is cancelled out stylishly by Ciaran Doyle. Back come the Tribe with a Niall Burke strike.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-3 Galway 1-3
A third converted O'Brien free keeps the Lake County in touch.
Goal!
Conor Whelan collects a long delivery over the top of the Westmeath defence, rounds the goalkeeper and bats to an empty net - 1-3 to 0-2 after ten minutes!
HL1A: Westmeath 0-2 Galway 0-3
O'Brien converts his second free of the afternoon, sending the yellow Sliothar confidently over the bar.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-1 Galway 0-3
Brian Concannon takes his point from close range and Niland adds another one.
HL1A: Westmeath 0-1 Galway 0-1
Niall O'Brien's free flies straight between the uprights but the lead is short-lived as Cathal Mannion replies immediately.
Great work at both ends of the field by the respective full backs.
Evan Niland drops a Galway free short inside the opening minute.
Game on!
Sean Stack from Dublin is the match referee.
Flags fluttering in the wind, the national anthem booms through an eerily deserted stadium. Here we go!
It's breezy at Cusack Park and the sun is out. How great is it to have the GAA back?!
Both these teams usually wear maroon, of course. Today Galway are in white and Westmeath are donning green jerseys.
December feels like a lifetime away but we are now less than 20 minutes away from some long-awaited intercounty GAA action. First up is Westmeath V Galway in Mullingar at 2pm.
It wouldn't be a new GAA season without a raft of new rules to grapple with. It will be interesting to see how the players and referees cope.
Galway (Allianz HL Division 1 v Westmeath): Eanna Murphy; Sean Loftus, Gearoid McInerney, Jack Fitzpatrick; Aidan Harte, Shane Cooney, Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Cathal Mannion; Conor Cooney, Evan Niland, Brian Concannon; Jarlath Mannion, Niall Burke, Conor Whelan.
Westmeath (Allianz HL Division 1 v Galway): Eoin Skelly; Darragh Egerton, Tommy Doyle, Conor Shaw; Alan Cox, Aaron Craig, Derek McNicholas; Robbie Greville, Davy Glennon; Joey Boyle, Ciaran Doyle, Jack Galvin; Niall O'Brien, Darragh Clinton, Shane Williams. Subs: Noel Conaty, Tommy Gallagher, Brendan Doyle, Kevin Regan, Peadar Scally, Jack Gillen, Shane Clavin, Josh Coll, Ciaran Nolan, Eoghan Ahearn, Niall Mitchell.
It might be summer but that's certainly national league weather so far today. Hopefully it brightens up a little bit for the three matches.
Better late than never!
As ever, we'll be with you all the way throughout the afternoon and evening as the action unfolds.
Allianz HL Division 1 Group B round 1:
In between, Leinster rivals Dublin and Kilkenny face off at Parnell Park, where throw-in is scheduled for 3:30.
Allianz HL Division 1 Group A round 1:
The first intercounty match of the year throws-in at 2pm at Mullingar, where Westmeath play host to Galway. In the same group, at 5.30, the Gaelic Grounds provides the setting for the huge all-Munster meeting of holders (and All-Ireland champions) Limerick and Tipperary.
The 2021 national hurling league commences today, with three intriguing top-flight matches going down for decision.
The wait is over!
On the second Saturday of May, we are going to experience competitive intercounty action for the first time this year.