GAELIC GAMES
After over two days of waiting to find out, we finally have a date and a venue for this year’s Allianz Hurling League final.
Kilkenny’s six-point win over Cork at the weekend booked their spot in this year’s league decider in what will be a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final with Limerick waiting in the wings.
To the surprise of some, the game isn’t going to either Croke Park or Thurles on Easter Saturday, instead taking to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Easter Sunday for a 2pm throw-in.
See also: All roads lead to Cork on Easter Sunday for Kilkenny’s Allianz Hurling League final against Limerick
CAMOGIE
We’ve heard a lot about Carlow rising in recent seasons around hurling and football and while the championship is yet to come, we could be seeing the rising hit Carlow camogie this year.
The county’s senior team have booked a place in the final of this year’s VERY Camogie League Division 3A with Armagh on the horizon over the Easter weekend.
Having picked up four straight wins in the league up to this point, the new manager for this season Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere says that while the senior team are showing a good run of form, the impact is being felt at a minor level too.
See also: Carlow looking for promotion back to division 2 after an impressive victory in league semi-final
LEINSTER U20s
A week on from shipping a two-point loss to neighbors Laois, Carlow’s under-20 footballers were outgunned in Ashbourne on Tuesday night, slipping to defeat at the hands of Meath.
Five minutes into the first half, Carlow found themselves 1-04 down and would go into the break trailing 2-07 to 0-04. Failing to score in the second half, Meath tacked on another four points to run out comfortable winners.
In the other game in group 1, Laois were 2-12 to 2-09 winners over Longford. Holders Kildare picked up their first win in this year’s Eirgrid Leinster under-20 football championship last night.
They were 16 points to eight winners over Wexford and Dublin were 2-16 to seven points winners against Louth. Jack Reid was the hero for Wicklow after he scored the winning point in a 2-8 to 1-10 win over Offaly.
LOCAL FOOTBALL
Close to home, Ballinabranna had a 1-09 to 0-11 win over Asca in Division 4 of the Carlow Football League.
Tonight there are five games in the opening round of division 5 football.
Fighting Cockcs take on Ballon, Palatine go up against St Patrick’s, O’Hanrahans meet Naomh Eoin and Grange travel to play Asca while Mount Leinster Rangers welcome Railyard All games throw-in at 7.
SOCCER
A 1-nil defeat to Greece at Ferrycarrig Park meant the Republic of Ireland under-19s missed out on qualification for July’s European Championships.
Tom Mohan’s side finished third in Group 5, behind Slovakia. Greece will be in Malta in July having topped the group.
Scott McTominay scored twice in a 2-nil victory at Hampden Park to help his side to the top of their Euro 2024 qualifying group. It was a first win for Scotland over Spain in 39 years Elsewhere, Kieffer Moore’s first-half effort was the difference as Wales beat Latvia 1-nil in Group D.
There was one game in the KCLR Scoreline.ie Division 1 League last night as Evergreen B beat Ormonde Villa 2-1
RUGBY
Kilkenny Rugby’s James Blanchfield says the past few weeks have been very tough for the club.
The side has been relegated from Division 1A of the Leinster League and will join Carlow in Division 1B for next season. They are however in the semi-final of the Towns Cup where they’ll continue to defend their crown, they’re in action against Cill Dara on April 9th.
Speaking on our ‘Knock On rugby podcast, James said it’s not about the action, it’s about the reaction
See also: “We have to go backwards to go forwards” – James Blanchfield on Kilkenny Rugby’s relegation
