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Seamus Callanan is in action against Clare on Sunday. Lorraine O'Sullivan/INPHO
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5 talking points before the weekend's hurling league games

Plenty at stake between Tipperary and Clare while Galway need a solid display.

1. Plenty at stake for Tipperary and Clare

Clare absorbed plenty lessons from their Division 1A campaign last year and the last day of March was particularly significant. They lost 3-19 to 1-14 against Tipperary in Thurles in a match where they were thoroughly outplayed.

Davy Fitzgerald has referenced before how he hasn’t forgotten Eamon O’Shea urging his Tipperary team on in the closing stages, even when the league points were already secured. And the memories of last month’s 14-point Waterford Crystal Cup final beating should be fresh in the Clare squad’s minds as well.

With both teams coming off the back of disappointment in the last round, there could be a keen edge to Sunday’s showdown at Semple Stadium.

2. Galway need a solid showing in Nowlan Park.

Two years ago Anthony Cunningham took Galway – in his debut season – to Nowlan Park to take on Kilkenny. The match was a nightmare as Galway fell short of their opponents by 25 points in a chastening experience.

On Sunday they return to the same venue and meet a Kilkenny team who looked like they were clicking back into gear when taking Tipperary for 5-20 on home soil a fortnight ago. Quelling their challenge is going to be difficult.

But Galway could do with a solid showing in Nowlan Park. They slipped badly in the finale against Waterford last time out and avoiding a second successive loss would help ensure stability. It’s a key game with the Portumna crew still missing while Tipperary and Clare are the assignments that loom ahead.

Anthony Cunningham Galway boss Anthony Cunningham. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

3. Waterford’s strike rate in front of goal

Kilkenny and Tipperary may have delivered a deluge of ten goals a fortnight ago but green flags are not being rampantly waved in Division 1A. Waterford’s emerging side have reason to be pleased with their progress to date – running Tipperary closely before losing in Thurles and then decisively seeing off Galway with a strong finish – but they are the only team without a goal to their name in the division.

That can be attributed to a style of play that sees them seek to be economical in possession and coping with the fact that they do not possess a collection of battering rams in attack. They also can put scores on the board as they possess one of the sharpest and most in-form freetakers in the country in Pauric Mahony.

The Ballygunner man has hit 21 of Waterford’s 38 points in the league, 15 of those arriving from placed balls. That stellar form continued for the WIT team that won the Fitzgibbon Cup last week as he brought his tally in the knockout stages of that competition to 0-34 from three games.

4. JBM continues to trawl Cork squad in Division 1B

Jimmy Barry-Murphy said from the outset of this year’s league that he intended to shuffle his playing cards when it came to team selections. He’s certainly done that in using 26 players to date in Cork’s opening two league games against Limerick and Laois.

And it continues for Sunday’s tie at home to Offaly. Eoin Cadogan is a familiar name in the Cork defence, tasked with starting at right half-back on Sunday. There’s an interesting inclusion alongside him in Eoin Keane, the St Finbarr’s man getting the centre-back berth on the back of terrific form for CIT in the Fitzgibbon Cup last weekend. In the Cork squad, there are plenty chances being given to impress.

Jimmy Barry Murphy Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

5. Depleted Wexford head for big test in Limerick

Liam Dunne has to be pleased with how Wexford have began life in Division 1B this spring, winning on the road to Antrim and at home to Offaly. They’ve laid solid foundations for themselves yet must get set for the pivotal games against divisional heavyweights Limerick and Cork.

They travel to Limerick on Sunday unbeaten but with a squad that has been hit hard by injuries and suspension. Andrew Shore, Ciaran Kenny, Richie Kehoe, Darren Redmond, Garrett Sinnott, Conor McDonald and Eoin Moore are all absent. That leaves Dunne with a depleted squad as they get ready for a major test.

Here’s the 33 GAA league games on the inter-county agenda this weekend

Dublin welcome back Boland for trip to Waterford

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