We’re warming into January with most of our Scoreline team back to the grind this week, so let’s take a look at some of the stories making headlines on KCLR and Scoreline.ie this morning.
When the cats are away…
Beginning with camogie and reigning All-Ireland senior champions Kilkenny will start their Very National Camogie League campaign on February 18th with a road trip to Clare. The fixtures list, available on Scoreline.ie this morning, sees Brian Dowling’s side handed three home games against Galway, Cork and Tipperary.
Kilkenny went unbeaten in the league last year but missed out on a place in the final by virtue of that drawn away game against Cork in the final round. The intermediates begin their league campaign also at home to Galway in a likely double-header with the senior game.
Carlow begin life in Division 3 under new manager Peter Chap Cleere with a trip to Louth on March 4th. The county have also confirmed a new minor camogie management team with Shane Murray and Dessie Ward taking up the mantle for 2023. They’ll be joined by selectors Ann Kavanagh, James Connolly, Noel Lillis, Maria Foley. The minor championship is set to begin in March.
No home for Waterford?
On the hurling front, Kilkenny’s national league clash with Waterford in March looks like it will be played in either Dungarvan or a neutral venue. The Déise will lose home advantage until July at least with Walsh Park set to undergo repair works.
Speaking of the league, one man with plenty of experience under his belt is eight-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny and former Offaly manager Michael Fennelly.
He was at the Thyestes Day launch yesterday and chatting with our Robbie Dowling about the Cats win over his former side, Fennelly has been telling KCLR that the Walsh Cup is the perfect proving ground to get ready for bigger challenges ahead. You can hear a lengthy interview with Michael Fennelly this Saturday afternoon on Scoreline, and it’s a good one too.
Among other things, he talks about Henry Shefflin’s second year in charge of Galway and his own club Ballyhale’s upcoming All-Ireland club final against Cuchullains Dunloy.
That game is confirmed for a 1.30pm throw-in time on Sunday week in Croke Park, following at 3.30pm by the senior football final between Glen and Kilmacud Crokes.
Sexton, Furlong out
In rugby, both Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong will miss Leinster’s trip to Gloucester this Saturday lunchtime.
Both will be assessed next week but are expected to be fit for the start of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. Carlow’s Ed Byrne continues to miss out as he recovers from a knee injury he picked up last month.
Arsenal advance
Arsenal will play Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup after Mikel Arteta’s side beat Oxford United 3-0, including two goals from Eddie Nketiah. Arsenal and City are the top two teams in the Premier League and meet in February.
In the Carabao Cup tonight, Man United host Charlton in the quarter-finals at Old Trafford. United captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended, while new signing Jack Butland may get a start in goal. Elsewhere, Newcastle are up against Leicester at St James’ Park with Eddie Howe vowing to pick a full-strength side after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
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