There is a busy weekend of action for Kilkenny hurling supporters to look forward to as the senior and intermediate championships continue while the minor deciders also take place.
The action begins on Saturday afternoon in Freshford in what is arguably the most pressurising game of the season in the form of the senior relegation final.
Graigue Ballycallan, who have suffered six straight defeats this season, take on Lisdowney at Páirc Lachtain at 12.30pm.
At 1pm, the first of two finals in the Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor Hurling Championship throws-in as Thomastown meet Rower-Inistioge in UPMC Nowlan Park in the Roinn B decider.
Thomastown were comfortable winners over Glenmore in last weekend’s semi-final and Rower-Inistioge defeated St Martin’s by a single point after extra-time.
The Roinn A final has a throw-in time of 3pm and sees city rivals James Stephens and Dicksboro go head-to-head for the first of two games between the clubs across the weekend.
Last year’s winners Dicksboro eventually proved too strong for Graigue Ballycallan in a close last-four tie, while James Stephens had five points to spare over Erin’s Own.
The quarter-finals of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling Championship take place on Saturday afternoon.
Old rivals Carrickshock and Dunnamaggin go up against each other at 2.30pm in Piltown.
The other three ties begin at 5pm.
St John’s Park will play host to Danesfort’s clash with Conahy Shamrocks, Rower-Inistioge take on Mooncoin in Ballyhale and league champions Thomastown will be strong favourites when they play St Martin’s in Gowran.
Fenians and St Lachtain’s will be fighting for their intermediate status when they face off at 4.30pm in the relegation final in Ballyragget.
There is also one game in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Premier Junior Hurling Championship Section A quarter-final as last year’s defeated finalists Tullogher Rosbercon meet Windgap at 5pm in Bennettsbridge.
Sunday begins with another junior tie as James Stephens and Dicksboro meet at 11.30am in St John’s Park.
At the same time, the junior quarter-finals continue as Eddie Scally’s Blacks and Whites face John Lockes in Danesfort and Piltown and Graignamanagh face off in Bennettsbridge.
The rearranged senior quarter-final between Ballyhale Shamrocks and Clara is the first game of a double header at UPMC Nowlan Park at 2pm.
The much-anticipated semi-final showdown between James Stephens and Dicksboro concludes the weekend at 3.45pm.
Live games on KCLR this weekend:
Lisdowney vs Graigue Ballycallan – St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Relegation final – Saturday, 12.30pm, Páirc Lachtain
Dicksboro vs James Stephens – Kilkenny Honda Centre MHC final – Saturday, 3pm, UPMC Nowlan Park
Clara vs Ballyhale Shamrocks – St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC quarter-final – Sunday, 2pm, UPMC Nowlan Park
Dicksboro vs James Stephens – St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC semi-final – Sunday 3.45pm, UPMC Nowlan Park
