THE ALLIANZ HURLING League returns this weekend with the 2013 competition kicking off.

In the opening round, the glamour games in Division 1A see new Tipperary manager Eamonn O’Shea take his team south to face Cork on Saturday night.

While on Sunday, there is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final between Galway and Kilkenny in Pearse Stadium.

There is also a full round of Division 1B games, kicking off with Saturday’s meeting of Dublin and Offaly.

Saturday February 23rd
Division 1A
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7pm, (Ref: Michael Wadding, Waterford), (Setanta Sports 1)
Division 1B
Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 7pm, (Ref: James McGrath, Westmeath), (Setanta Ireland)
Sunday February 24th
Division 1A
Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, (Ref: Diarmuid Kirwan, Cork), (TG4 Live)
Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm, (Ref: John Sexton, Cork), (TG4 Deferred)
Division 1B
Carlow v Wexford, Dr Cullen Park, 2pm, (Ref: Brian Gavin, Offaly)
Limerick v Antrim, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm, (Ref: Johnny Ryan, Tipperary)

Elsewhere in the Allianz Hurling League, there is a full round of games in Division 2A, Division 2B and Division 3A.

Sunday February 24th
Division 2A
Kerry v Westmeath, Austin Stack Park, 1pm, (Ref: Shane Hourigan, Limerick)
Derry v Wicklow, Celtic Park, 2pm, (Ref: Liam McAuley, Antrim)
Kildare v Laois, St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, 2pm, (Ref: Tony Carroll, Offaly)
Division 2B
Armagh v London, Athletic Grounds, 1pm, (Ref: Garrett Duffy, Antrim)
Down v Meath, Páirc Esler, Newry, 2pm, (Ref: Eamon Hasson, Derry)
Mayo v Roscommon, Elverys McHale Park, 2pm, (Ref: John Keane, Galway)
Division 3A
Fermanagh v Tyrone, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 2pm, (Ref: James Clarke, Cavan)
Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 2pm, (Ref: Brendan Sweeney, Cavan)
Fingal v Louth, Swords, 2pm (Ref: John Keenan, Wicklow)

There are two matches in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League on Saturday after both were called off due to the weather last week.

Saturday February 23rd
Division 2
Louth v Galway, Drogheda, 2.30pm, (Ref: Derek Fahy, Longford)
Armagh v Wexford, Athletic Grounds, 7pm, (Ref: Joe Curley, Meath)

On Sunday there is a double-header of Gaelic football action in Croke Park.

Sunday February 24th
AIB All-Ireland Club JFC final: Ballinasloe (Galway) v Kenmare Shamrocks (Kerry), Croke Park, 2pm, (Ref: Ciaran Brannigan, Down)
M.Donnelly Interprovincial FC final: Leinster v Ulster, Croke Park, 3.45pm, (Ref: Paddy Neilan, Roscommon)

Before that, it is a bumper week of third-level action with the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup and the semi-finals of the Sigerson Cup taking place.

Tuesday February 19th
Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals
Dublin IT v Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock, 2pm, (Ref: Owen Elliott, Antrim)
UCC v Cork IT, Mardyke, 3pm, (Ref: Johnny Ryan, Tipperary)
Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals
Waterford IT v Limerick IT, Carriganore, 2.30pm, (Ref: Anthony Stapleton, Laois)
UCD v UL, Belfield, 2.30pm, (Ref: Brian Gavin, Offaly)
Friday February 22nd
Sigerson Cup semi-finals
Dublin IT v DCU, Athlone IT GAA pitch, 12.45pm, (Ref: Michael Duffy, Sligo)
Athlone IT v UCC,  Athlone IT GAA pitch, 2.30pm, (Ref: Gary McCormack, Dublin)

And finally the Cadbury’s U21 football championship begins tonight with three preliminary round games taking place in Leinster.

Tuesday February 19th
Cadbury’s Leinster U21FC preliminary round
Offaly v Laois, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 7.30pm, (Ref: Brendan Cawley, Kildare)
Meath v Louth, Páirc Tailteann, Navan, 7.30pm, (Ref: Damien Maher, Westmeath)
Dublin v Carlow, Parnell Park, 7.30pm, (Ref: Fergal Smyth, Longford) 

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