SATURDAY
Leinster SHC round 2
Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm
Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park, 3pm
Joe McDonagh Cup round 2
Offaly v Westmeath, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 3pm
Meath v Laois, Trim, 3pm
Christy Ring Cup round 3
Sligo v Tyrone, Markievicz Park, 3pm
London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 1pm
Kildare v Derry, Hawkfield, 1pm
Nickey Rackard Cup round 3
Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 3pm
Louth v Mayo, Dowdallshill, 1pm
Lory Meagher Cup round 3
Lancashire v Cavan, Glenavy, 2pm
Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 1pm
SUNDAY
Leinster SHC round 2
Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Munster SHC round 2
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Cork v Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2pm
Joe McDonagh Cup round 2
Kerry v Down, Austin Stack Park, 1pm
Nickey Rackard Cup round 3
Armagh v Roscommon, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Lory Meagher Cup round 3
Warwickshire v Fermanagh, Birmingham, 1pm
ONLINE
Live blogs/live scores each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
TV
Galway v Kilkenny and Limerick v Tipperary live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Antrim v Wexford and Cork v Clare live on GAAGO.
RADIO
WEATHER
Saturday: Saturday will be a cool day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered April showers feeding in over the country, in a light to moderate northeasterly breeze. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees, mildest in the west.
Sunday: Sunday will see the likelihood of more general falls of rain moving in off the Atlantic during the day. Much of the south and southeast may stay fully dry however. Fairly cool with highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. Northerly winds will likely veer westerly. For more, visit met.ie.
Munster menace
It might be only week two of the provincial hurling championships but the prospect of qualification is already looking dicier than Reilly for one of of Munster's more fancied teams.
The loser of Cork v Clare will have zero points after two games - a position only one team (Cork in 2022) has escaped from in the four previous editions of the round-robin.
Both sides come in with questions to answer.
Clare's are around conceding soft goals and the ability to withstand teams getting a run on them.
Losing by three points to Limerick is no cause for shame but, considering they were nine ahead with less than 20 minutes remaining, it was a stunning case of reverse alchemy: what would have been a golden triumph over hurling's dominant force turned into a lead balloon.
The Banner's response Sunday will tell us a lot about the mental strength of the side many believe best placed to dethrone Limerick.
Last year, they bounced back from opening-round defeat to Tipperary - when gifting goals also proved fatal - to hand a rare defeat to the champions. They'll need to show similar fortitude again.
Brian Lohan has named the same starting XV for the trip to Supervalu Páírc Uí Chaoimh but there are fitness concerns around Conor Cleary and Darragh Lohan. Tony Kelly might still not be up to speed after his first minutes of the season were that harrowing final 20 in Ennis.
It's a more fundamental conundrum for Pat Ryan. Cork came in highly fancied against a Waterford outfit who had done little of note in a season and a half but they conceded an early goal to Jamie Barron and never got in front as the Déise, boosted by the return of several key men, earned a deserved victory.
Ryan has reacted by changing nearly half the starting team: Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Tim O'Mahony, Ethan Twomey, Declan Dalton and Brian Hayes are in, Ger Millerick, Damien Cahalane, Mark Coleman, Tommy O'Connell, Seán Twomey and Conor Lehane are out. Shane Kingston is back among the subs after a hamstring injury.
Defeat would mean Cork needing to beat Limerick and Tipperary after a week off to stay in contention, Clare's path back would cross Waterford and Tipp following three weeks' rest, which looks slightly more feasible.
Davy Fitzgerald and Co get the week off to assess the competition having been WRIT OFF RIGHTLY. In fairness to Davy, he was gracious in victory, noting that everyone was entitled to their opinion and that Waterford had been competitive despite being understrength while suffering relegation.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O'Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey; Ethan Twomey, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Darragh Lohan, Cathal Malone; David Fitzgerald, David Reidy, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O'Donnell, Mark Rodgers.
Having come through a tough Clare test with superb grit, impressive stamina and, let's face it, a bit of luck, everybody is expecting a comfortable win for John Kiely's five-in-a-row hunters at the Gaelic Grounds against a team that has .
But presuming they have remembered how to hit frees since a miserable league semi-final showing, Tipp could easily produce their best performance of the year tomorrow. And are then just as capable of losing the next three.
Last season, Liam Cahill's men surprised Clare, let a lead slip to draw with Cork, scored a late equaliser to draw with Limerick in a game they also could have won and then blew it with the Munster final in sight by losing to already-eliminated Waterford. They looked drained by the eventual quarter-final exit to Galway.
So whether it will be enough to get a result or not, expect them to tear into Limerick, in the first of four games in five weekends, a tight schedule they only share with Cork.
Cahill has mostly gone for youth over experience up front: Sean Hayes makes his debut at corner-forward; 2010 All-Ireland winners Noel McGrath and Bonner Maher are on the bench, as is Noel's brother John. Paddy Cadell is also among the replacements but Cathal Barrett has not recovered from a hamstring injury. Barry Hogan reclaims the goalkeeper spot he somewhat harshly lost to Rhys Shelly last year
Sean Finn replaces the injured Mike Casey (hamstring) in the only stated change to the starting XV for the champions, despite Peter Casey being available again after suspension.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; S Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; Will O'Donoghue, Cathal O'Neill, Gearoid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Cian Lynch
Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Johnny Ryan, Ronan Maher, Craig Morgan; Michael Breen, Bryan O'Mara, Conor Bowe; Willie Connors, Eoghan Connolly; Alan Tynan, Gearoid O'Connor, Jason Forde; Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe, Sean Hayes.
Leinster contenders set to spar
While the margins remain razor-sharp in Munster, it's hard to escape the feeling that the meeting of Galway and Kilkenny in Salthill is the dress rehearsal for their inevitable reunion in the provincial final on 8 June.
In year three of the Henry Shefflin project, it feels like the Tribesmen need a trophy, as much to avoid playing three weekends in a row before a clash with the Munster champions as for the undoubted boost to belief.
They came agonisingly close last year before Cillian Buckley's late goal in the Leinster decider and Shefflin will remember that beating his native county in the group stage counted for little in 2022 when the Cats were comfortable victors in the rematch. As did Declan McLoughlin's late equaliser to secure a point last year.
Nonetheless, the chance to plant some doubts in their understrength main rivals' minds and take a huge step towards qualification will be a major motivation.
Johnny Glynn is on the bench and in line for his first appearance since 2019. Conor Whelan returns to the full-forward line after suspension, with Brian Concannon and 2017 All-Ireland winning captain David Burke among the starters having missed the win over Carlow.
Kilkenny are missing four key men after a costly opening-round victory over Antrim: Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy (head knock), Adrian Mullen (groin) and Eoin Cody (ankle ligaments) have all been ruled out, while Mikey Carey is not in the match-day squad.
Indeed, there are fears that Cody, an All-Star last year, could miss the entire provincial campaign.
Aidan Tallis is named between the sticks, while Tommy Walsh, Billy Ryan and Owen Wall (2-02 last week) are named to start.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke; Seán Linnane, Padraic Mannion, Cianan Fahy; Ronan Glennon, David Burke; Gavin Lee, Tom Monaghan, Brian Concannon; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion.
Kilkenny: A Lillis; M. Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan (c), S Murphy; C Kenny, R Reid; M Keoghan, J Donnelly, T Phelan, B Ryan, TJ Reid, O Wall.
Wexford were so close to a perfect start last weekend until what first-year manager Keith Rossiter memorably described as "three minutes I won't forget for a while".
The Yellowbellies were close to clinching what has dismissively, if not entirely inaccurately, been described as the Leinster third-place play-off before Dublin's late rally earned them a point.
Wexford will be confident of getting a first win against an Antrim team that lost by 32 points in Kilkenny but they fell over the line at home to the same opponents last year and the Saffrons are always stronger in Corrigan Park, as the Dubs can attest.
Rossiter has kept faith with the team that conceded two injury-time goals at Chadwicks Wexford Park, Antrim manager Darren Gleeson brings in three: Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd and Keelan Molloy for his first appearance of the season.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Shane Reck, Niall Murphy, Matthew O'Hanlon; Simon Donohoe, Damien Reck, Conor Foley; Conor Hearne, Liam Óg McGovern; Cathal Dunbar, Kevin Foley, Rory O'Connor; Richie Lawlor, Lee Chin, Seamus Casey.
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Niall O Connor, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd, Conal Bohill; Seaan Elliott, Eoghan Campbell; Nigel Elliot, Keelan Molloy, James Mc Naughton; Conal Cunning, Niall McKenna, Conor McCann.
Dublin will be in good spirits after their late escape in Wexford, a match they were widely expected to lose after a disappointing league campaign.
Micheál Donoghue selects the same XV starters who came good in the end.
Carlow exceeded expectations in their loss to Galway. The margin was 11 points in the end but the Scallion Eaters were just four down after Conor Kehoe's 51st-minute goal before fading.
Even at home, getting a result would be a huge In what is the 2023 Joe McDonagh winners' first Leinster campaign in five years.
Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe, Eoghan O'Donnell; Mark Grogan, Conor Burke, Ronan Hayes; Donal Burke, Brian Hayes; Danny Sutcliffe, Cian O'Sullivan, Sean Currie.
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Niall Bolger; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonald, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Ciaran Whelan, Richard Coady; Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh; Conor Kehoe, John Michael Nolan, Paddy Boland.
Joe McDonagh Cup
Westmeath and Offaly would have been favourites to reach the second-tier final, having played Division 1 league hurling this year, but both fell to surprise defeats in last weekend's opening round, to Kerry and Laois respectively. That makes tomorrow's meeting in Tullamore crucial for both sides.
Paddy Purcell scored two late goals as Division 2A champions Laois came from six points down to beat Offaly and the O'Moore men will be confident of another victory against a Meath side they beat by 14 points in the league and who lost by eight to Down last weekend.
The Mourne men travel to Kerry - 12-point winners in this clash last year - but are without star forward Shane Conway, who is doubtful for the entire campaign. Tim Prenter hit 2-01 for Down last week.
It's round three in the Christy Ring Cup, and the table already has a very divided look: London, Kildare and Derry all have four points, Wicklow, Tyrone and Sligo have none.
London could make it three from three against Wicklow in Ruislip but somebody's 100% record has to go as Kildare host Derry. Tyrone travel to Sligo with both teams hopeful of a first point.
Roscommon and Donegal lead the way in the Nickey Rackard Cup with two wins apiece. Last year's finalists Donegal are at home to Monaghan, beaten twice already, and the Rossies go to Armagh (2 points) on Sunday. Louth are aiming for their first points against Mayo (2).
In the Lory Meagher Cup, unbeaten Cavan (3pts) travel to Antrim to face last year's runners-up Lancashire, beaten in their first two games, Longford host neighbours Leitrim (2pts each) and Warwickshire (2) welcome table-toppers Fermanagh (3) to Birmingham.
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