GAA: Return of provincial hurling championships reignites neighbourly rivalries
After the return of the provincial football championships last week, this weekend sees the turn of the hurling and ladies football championships in Munster and Leinster.
The opening round of the Leinster Hurling Championship brings some exciting pairings, with Wexford welcoming Dublin and Kilkenny meeting Antrim.
The big ticket game, however, is in Munster, where neighbours Clare and Limerick add another instalment to their fierce rivalry.
The game is made all the more intriguing by the outcome of their meetings in last year's provincial championship, in which the Banner took the win in second round, only to suffer defeat to the Shannonsiders in the final.
Here's all the fixtures taking place this weekend, and where to catch the televised games...
Saturday
Football
Connacht semi-final: Sligo v Galway – Markievicz Park, 3.30pm.
Munster semi-final: Kerry v Cork – Fitzgerald Stadium, 4pm.
Munster semi-final: Waterford v Clare – Fraher Field, 6pm.
Ulster semi-final: Derry v Donegal – Celtic Park, 6.15pm. Live coverage on RTÉ Two from 6.10pm.
Hurling
Christy Ring Cup: Derry v Tyrone – Owenbeg, 1pm.
Christy Ring Cup: London v Sligo – McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm.
Nickey Rackard Cup: Monaghan v Roscommon – Inniskeen, 2pm.
Nickey Rackard Cup: Donegal v Mayo – Letterkenny, 2pm.
Lory Meagher Cup: Lancashire v Leitrim – St Joseph’s Glenavy, 2pm.
Lory Meagher Cup: Fermanagh v Cavan – Brewster Park, 3pm.
Joe McDonagh Cup: Down v Meath – Ballycran, 2pm.
Ladies football
Munster Championship: Kerry v Tipperary – Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.45pm.
Munster Championship: Waterford v Cork – Fraher Field, 3.45pm.
Sunday
Football
Connacht semi-final: Roscommon v Mayo – Dr Hyde Park, 4pm. Live coverage on RTÉ Two.
Ulster semi-final: Cavan v Tyrone – Breffni Park, 4pm.
Hurling
Leinster Championship: Wexford v Dublin – Wexford Park, 2pm.
Leinster Championship: Galway v Carlow – Pearse Stadium, 2pm.
Leinster Championship: Kilkenny v Antrim – Nowlan Park, 2.30pm.
Munster Championship: Clare v Limerick – Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm. Live coverage on RTÉ Two from 1.30pm.
Munster Championship: Waterford v Cork – Walsh Park, 4pm.
Christy Ring Cup: Kildare v Wicklow – Manguard Park, 2pm.
Nickey Rackard Cup: Louth v Armagh – Dowdallshill, 2pm.
Lory Meagher Cup: Warwickshire v Longford – Páirc Na hÉireann, Birmingham, 1pm.
Joe McDonagh Cup: Laois v Offaly – O’Moore Park, 2pm.
Joe McDonagh Cup: Westmeath v Kerry – Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm.
Ladies football
Leinster Championship: Dublin v Kildare – Parnell Park, 2pm.
Leinster Championship: Meath v Laois – Páirc Tailteann, 2pm.