The management teams and hurlers of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are making their final preparations as all three counties begin their respective 2022 Allianz Hurling League campaigns this weekend.
Following two promotions in two seasons, Sligo will commence their highest ever league campaign (in Division 2B) with a trip to Celtic Park in Derry on Saturday afternoon at 2pm (Live updates on Ocean FM from 2pm).
Padraig Mannion’s panel remains a young one for the 2022 season. However, with the ability to call on the likes of Finnian Cawley and Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, the Yeats County will not be short of leaders and match-winners.
The two sides met in last year’s Christy Ring Cup Semi-finals at Owenbeg with Sligo mounting a remarkable comeback only to lose by five points. With the counties sharing the same league this season, Sligo will be hoping to earn two valuable points at the Oakleafers expense on Saturday.
Elsewhere in Division 2B, Donegal host London at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Sunday at 12pm (Live updates on Ocean FM Sport on Sunday).
Mickey McCann remains with the bainisteoir bib for 2022.
Donegal suffered a one-point defeat in the Conor McGurk Cup Final to Down in mid-January.
Having missed the aforementioned Conor McGurk Cup campaign, the influential Declan Coulter has returned from injury and looks set to line out on Sunday midday.
The Setanta clubman famously moved playing allegiances from Armagh to Tír Chonaill in 2017 and his impact has been undeniable since.
Donegal will look to Coulter and Davin Flynn for inspiration against a London team which plays its first competitive match since March 2020.
Leitrim meanwhile travel to Abbotstown on Sunday to face Lancashire with a 1pm throw-in time scheduled in Division 3B (Live updates on Ocean FM Sport on Sunday).
Olcan Conway’s troops caused a major surprise in the recent Connacht Hurling League Shield Final with a six-point victory over last year’s Nicky Rackard Cup winners Mayo.
Leitrim will not need reminding of their 2021 campaign and will look to build on their recent Connacht Hurling League success this Sunday in what is a nominated home game for their cross-channel opponents.
Joe Murray, a grandson of Leitrim Gaelic Football hero of the fifties and sixties Josie Murray has proved an astute find from the Round Towers club in Dublin and coupled with the potential returns of Stephen Goldrick and Gavin O’Hagan, Leitrim will fancy their chances of a successful season starting on Sunday afternoon at the south-west Dublin venue.
Fixtures:
Saturday, February 5th
Allianz Hurling League Division 2B
Live Updates on Derry v Sligo (Celtic Park, 2pm)
Allianz Hurling League Division 3B
Fermanagh v Cavan (Ederney, 2.30pm)
Sunday, February 6th
Allianz Hurling League Division 2B
Live Updates on Donegal v London (Letterkenny, 12pm)
Mayo v Wicklow (Ballina, 2pm)
Allianz Hurling League Division 3B
Live Updates on Lancashire v Leitrim (Abbotstown, 1pm)
