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Clare take on Kilkenny on Sunday. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
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6 talking points before the weekend's Allianz hurling league action

The big names in hurling are back in action this weekend.

1. Plenty of intrigue in Tipperary selection

Tipperary got off to a terrible league start twelve months ago, humbled by 12 points when they travelled to Páirc Uí Rinn to face Cork. It is again under floodlights that they begin another campaign tomorrow night, albeit in the familiar environs of Thurles.

There’s only seven survivors from that 2013 opening night horror in the team named to face Waterford. The intrigue is in the positioning of the team. Conor O’Mahony reverted to full-back, Shane McGrath shifted to wing-back and Kieran Bergin getting a run in attack.

Coupled with Cathal Barrett and Paddy Murphy being fresh faces at opposite ends of the pitch, it’s clear that Eamonn O’Shea is shuffling his cards at the start of spring. The results will be revealing.

2. Derek McGrath to sample the inter-county managerial stage

He’s proved himself at schools level in bringing a batch of brilliant youngster together to win Dr Harty Cup and Croke Cup titles. He proved himself at local level as he steered De La Salle to the 2012 Waterford senior hurling crown. Now Derek McGrath begins his quest to prove himself at inter-county level.

There is a natural relationship there with a core of the current Waterford squad from his De La Salle schools coaching days. He’s accepted a role that some may have argued was coming too soon for him. Now it’s going to be interesting to see how the 37 year-old – who played for the county back in the 1992 All-Ireland minor final – fares.

Derek McGrath celebrates with his team Derek McGrath celebrating with the De La Salle team after the 2012 Waterford county final. ©INPHO / James Crombie ©INPHO / James Crombie / James Crombie

3. Aidan Walsh finally dons a Cork senior hurling jersey

Even before that virtuoso display in the 2011 Munster U21 final, Aidan Walsh had been a player coveted by the Cork senior hurlers. Since then he’s had to put up with a constant barrage of questions about whether he’d like to live life as a dual star.

With his underage days over and having returned to Cork follow a stint in Dublin, he was in a position to commit. 2014 is the year that the Kanturk man will try it out and see if it works. JBM pitches him in for his first start tomorrow night at full-forward in a crucial game against Limerick.

4. Clare begin life as the kingpins

Davy Fitzgerald sounded the warning notes early in the week by predicting his team will have to battle relegation in the coming months. Naturally Clare are behind in their preparations after their joyous autumn and winter. But with plenty young, hungry players and no major injury concerns, their plight may not be as bad as is being portrayed.

They begin their new life as kingpins on Sunday – weather permitting – against Kilkenny in Ennis. Last year’s clash at the venue was an instructive experience as they lost by a point in a game that they should have won. Sunday will be equally instructive, offering an insight into a season where others teams will be looking to take them down.

Davy Fitzgerald Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald. ©INPHO / Ryan Byrne ©INPHO / Ryan Byrne / Ryan Byrne

5. How will Kilkenny respond?

After bidding farewell to 2013 at the unusually early stage of late July, Kilkenny are now setting forth on their 2014 journey. They collected the Walsh Cup earlier this month but the league will be more revealing in determining if they are refreshed and ready for a revival.

Brian Cody revealed earlier this week that they did crank back into action earlier than normal and have been working away since December. With a new backroom team and a bunch of new players eager to impress, Sunday’s trip to Cusack Park must have been one they have targeted.

6. Dublin aim for early show of strength

Anthony Daly certainly looks keen on issuing an early statement of intent on Sunday in Salthill. He’s picked 11 of the team that lost last year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Cork and is demanding a strong showing from his side.

There’s place for defensive newcomers as well in the Cuala pair of Cian O’Callaghan and Simon Timlin. While Mark Schutte was terrific in the Walsh Cup final, torching the Kilkenny defence and reeling off six points from play. Having moved up from Division 1B, Dublin will be keen to impress and progress.

Race to Croker: The four clubs chasing an All-Ireland SFC final place on St Patrick’s Day

Here’s the 20 GAA games on the inter-county and All-Ireland club agenda this weekend

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