If this past weekend was the calm before the storm, the week ahead is the storm brewing as Kilkenny and Carlow football, hurling and camogie fans have plenty to look forward to.
On the football front, Carlow’s Under 20s continue their Leinster championship campaign with the visit of Longford to Netwatch Cullen Park on Tuesday night while the county’s minors are out on Wednesday night for a 7.30pm throw-in away to Wexford.
Niall Carew’s senior side will meet Wicklow in the first round of the Leinster senior football championship on Sunday afternoon at the revised time of 2.30pm (game was previously 1pm) in Aughrim.
Tuesday also pits Kilkenny and Carlow’s minor ladies footballers against each other with the SETU South Sports Campus hosting their Leinster Ladies Minor Football Championship first-round clash at 7.30pm.
On the hurling front, it’s another round of the Under 20 championship for Carlow on Thursday evening with a trip to Portlaoise to take on Laois at 7.30pm while Good Friday sees the county’s minor hurlers head to Cusack Park in Mullingar to meet Westmeath at 2pm. Tom Mullally’s senior hurlers begin their Joe McDonagh Cup run with the visit of Allianz Hurling League Division 2 finalists Kildare to Netwatch Cullen Park for a 3pm throw-in on Saturday afternoon.
For Kilkenny hurling fans, the action also begins on Good Friday with the visit of Galway to UPMC Nowlan Park for a 5pm throw-in as Niall Bergin’s side look to make it three wins on the bounce following victories over Laois and Antrim in the group stages.
Saturday sees Mark Dowling’s Under 20 side head to Chadwick’s Wexford Park to take on Wexford on Saturday afternoon to begin their Leinster series, that game throwing in at 2pm. Then on Sunday it’s the turn of Derek Lyng’s side as they make for Pairc Uí Chaoimh to take on Limerick in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final.
This weekend also sees Carlow’s senior camogie side head to Louth to take on Armagh in the final of the VERY Camogie League Division 3. Having won four straight between the league and semi-final, it’s been a bright start for new manager Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere with promotion very much a possibility for a revitalised-looking Carlow side. That game comes with a 3pm throw in.
Ticketing details to follow.