National Hurling League Previews

(Matches at 3.00 unless stated)

Saturday

Division One A

Galway v Kerry, Athenry

GALWAY followed good wins over Offaly and Clare with last week's untroubled demolition of Dublin. This won't stretch them much either.

Antrim v Dublin, Casement Park

WITH Dublin hurling currently in the doldrums, this becomes an intimidating fixture. Antrim have hurled well recently and ran Clare's admittedly understrength outfit close last week. This hasn't been a happy venue for Dublin and that trend may continue.

DIVISION ONE B

Cork v Waterford, Pairc Ui Rinn

LAST season's finalists have been mediocre so far. Cork's defeat by a firedup Laois will concentrate the holders' mind. Waterford won't have been very happy at Kilkenny's comfortable victory last week. Changes have been made, including Tony Browne's reversion to centre back. Cork haven't been going very well, but they've been going better than the visitors. And that's before taking into account the psychological upper hand that Cork enjoy in this fixture.

DIVISION TWO

London v Tyrone, Ruislip

NOT a great start to London's season but they should pick up the points.

Westmeath v Kildare, Mullingar

ON current form, Kildare have every chance.

Derry v Meath, Ballinascreen

DERRY have started well enough but may not be able to hold onto the points.

Carlow v Monaghan, Carlow

THE decline of Carlow has been as precipitous as it has been marked. This is a fairly low height to be attempting but they should get their first win.

DIVISION THREE

FIXTURES: Sligo v Longford, Markievicz Park; Louth v Fermanagh, Drogheda; Donegal v Leitrim, Ballyshannon; Cavan v Mayo, Cavan.

SUNDAY

DIVISION ONE A

Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds

A FIXTURE that has attracted the best part of 20,000 people in each of the last two seasons may be more low-key this year. Clare are more experimental about the league while Limerick are deep in the depressing stages of team rebuilding. Clare's is one of the hardest teams to break into on the basis of league form since Mick O'Dwyer's Kerry footballers. Lorcan Hassett is given the chance to reproduce his St Joseph's club form at wing forward as is Christy O'Connor in goal. Eamonn Cregan's public dismay at the performance of Limerick a week ago will focus minds, but despite last season's comfortable win in this fixture, the home side does not look up to the task.

DIVISION ONE B

Wexford v Down, Enniscorthy

THIS won't give Rory Kinsella's side much opportunity to work out of their systems last week's lacklustre and indifferent display in Thurles. Down, after two big defeats, will prioritise damage-limitation. Even that ambition looks lofty.

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Nowlan Park

BEST match of the hurling weekend brings together two work-in-progress sides with lively current form. Nicholas English seems alarmed at the expectations his team have been unwittingly stirring. Yet they are moving at a frenetic rate for March and look exciting going forward. Kilkenny have recovered well from the defeat by Cork and have had two good results since. Their forwards have also been impressing and are unchanged from last week's win in Waterford. Tipperary's attack is more exuberant but Kikenny's more varied. This will be Tipperary's first real test given Wexford's non-show. Kilkenny have had more competitive matches and a guess says they will win.

DIVISION TWO Roscommon v Wicklow, Athleague Home advantage to swing it.