Allianz League: Clash of the champions as Limerick take unbeaten run into glamour tie with Kilkenny

The clash of the champions is the mouth-watering tie as the Allianz Hurling League roars back into action this weekend.

Nowlan Park is the venue as defending League champions Kilkenny entertain All-Ireland title holders Limerick in the pick of the Division 1A matches on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).

The All-Ireland champions have carried on where they left off last year, beating Wexford and Tipperary in the first two rounds, leaving them two points ahead of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford and Clare. Kilkenny beat Cork in the first round before losing to Clare in round two.

Carlow’s draw with Galway, the 2017 All-Ireland Champions and beaten 2018 finalists, was the big story of the second round in Division 1B. That point took them into fourth place, just ahead of Offaly and Laois who have both lost their opening games.

Carlow will be away to Waterford in Round 3 while Laois and Offaly clash in a crucial game in Portlaoise. Carlow play Laois in Round 4 on February 24 and face Offaly in the final round on March 3.

2019 ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE RESULTS & FIXTURES

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

Round 1: Tipperary 2-16 Clare 1-11; Limerick 1-17 Limerick 2-11; Kilkenny 2-18 Cork 0-17.

Round 2: Clare 2-20 Kilkenny 1-22; Wexford 1-18 Cork 0-17; Limerick 1-21 Tipperary 1-14.

Round 3: February 16: Cork v Clare; February 17: Kilkenny v Limerick; Wexford v Tipperary.

Round 4: February 24: Clare v Wexford; Tipperary v Kilkenny; Limerick v Cork.

Round 5: March 3: Clare v Limerick; Cork v Tipperary; Wexford v Kilkenny.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Round 1: Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-18; Galway 1-27 Laois 2-15; Waterford 2-28 Offaly 0-7.

Round 2:  Carlow 0-20 Galway 0-20; Waterford 4-22 Laois 1-15; Dublin 2-19 Offaly 0-12.

Round 3: February 16: Laois v Offaly; Waterford v Carlow; February 17: Galway v Dublin.

Round 4: February 24: Offaly v Galway; Carlow v Laois; Dublin v Waterford.

Round 5: March 3: Carlow v Offaly; Dublin v Laois; Waterford v Galway.

Quarter-finals: March 10: Top 1A v 4th 1B; 2nd 1A v 3rd 1B; 3rd 1A v 2nd 1B; 4th 1A v Top 1B.

Semi-finals: March 16.

Final: March 24

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

Round 1:  Mayo 0-17 Meath 0-7; Westmeath 2-17 London 0-15; Kerry 1-21 Antrim 2-16.

Round 2: Westmeath 4-13 Kerry 2-17; Antrim 3-13 Meath 2-15; London v Mayo – Postponed.

Round 3: February 17: Meath v London; Antrim v Westmeath; Kerry v Mayo.

Round 4: February 23: London v Kerry; February 24: Westmeath v Meath; Mayo v Antrim.

Round 5: March 4: Antrim v London; Kerry v Meath; Westmeath v Mayo.

Final: March 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B

Round 1: Kildare 2-16 Donegal 1-13; Derry 1-16 Down 0-14; Wicklow 2-20  Warwickshire 0-11.

Round 2:  Derry 3-18 Donegal 0-12; Down 1-23 Wicklow 0-15; Kildare 8-19 Warwickshire 0-6.

Round 3: February 17: Donegal v Wicklow; Kildare v Derry; Warwickshire v Down.

Round 4: February 24: Down v Donegal; Warwickshire v Derry; Wicklow v Kildare.

Round 5: March 3: Derry v Wicklow; Donegal v Warwickshire; Kildare v Down.

Final: March 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A

Round 1: Roscommon 3-18 Louth 1-11; Armagh 4-11 Monaghan 0-5; Tyrone 2-17 Lancashire 0-10.

Round 2: Armagh 2-14 Lancashire 0-12; Roscommon 1-21 Monaghan 0-14;  Tyrone 2-23 Louth 1-11.

Round 3: February 16: Lancashire v Louth; February 17: Armagh v Roscommon; Tyrone v Monaghan.

Round 4: February 24: Louth v Armagh; Monaghan v Lancashire; Roscommon v Tyrone.

Round 5: March 3: Lancashire v Roscommon; Louth v Monaghan; Tyrone v Armagh.

Final: March 10

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B

Round 1: Cavan 2-9 Leitrim 1-11; Sligo 2-14 Fermanagh 1-16.

Round 2: Sligo 2-14 London 0-19; Next Sunday (February 10): Fermanagh v Longford.

Round 3: February 16: Longford v Leitrim; Sligo v Cavan.

Round 4: February 24: Cavan v Longford; Leitrim v Fermanagh

Round 5: March 3: Fermanagh v Cavan; Longford v Sligo.

Final: March 10