February 8th - NHL Rnd 1

Cork vs Dublin

A cold freeze greeted the first round of the National Hurling League with most of the fixtures falling foul to the adverse weather conditions. One fixture that survived was the meeting of Gerald McCarthys Cork and Anthony Dalys Dublin. There were many side stories to this clash, not least the on-going exile of the squad of 2008. The previous day an estimated 10,000 people marched in support of the rebel rebels, to show solidarity to the players and to further highlight the damage this strike will do to the GAA season.
With Gerald McCarthy fielding an experimental team, Dalys Dublin were in a no win situation. The Dublin side who were physically the stronger and more experienced at this level started the brighter, getting a goal inside the first five minutes of the game.At half time the Dubs looked comfortable leading by 3-4 to 0-7. but this didnt tell the whole story as in the opening 35 minutes they were playing against a strong wind and in the conditions all six of their forwards hit wides. In the second half the rebels battled bravely against the elements and all the odds and really put it up to Dublin. Bouyed by their keepers peanalty save in the 42nd minute Cork seemed to get some self belief. Dublin however won the 2 league points on offer winning by 4-14 to 1-14. Another interesting side note to this story was the introduction of the new yellow card system. Cork the more inexperienced team were the side that suffered with these rules losing three players in total, two in the first half.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; R Treanor, T Brady, N Corcoran; M Carton, S Hiney, captain, D O'Reilly (0-1); S Durkin, A McCrabbe (1-9, 1-0 sideline, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65); J Boland, L Ryan, J Kelly (1-0); D O'Callaghan (0-1), P Carton, L Rushe (2-1). Subs : S Lambert for Boland half-time, J McCaffrey (0-1) for Kelly (51 mins), M O'Brien for M Carton (54 mins), D Treacy (0-1) for O'Callaghan (58 mins), S Martin for P Carton (62 mins.)

CORK: A Kennedy; E Clancy, C Murphy, C O'Sullivan; E Keane, R Ryan, captain, C Leahy; B Johnson (1-6, 1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65), G O'Connor (0-1); T Óg Murohy, A Ryan (0-1), D Crowley (0-1); A Mannix (0-2), M Collins (0-1), E Cronin (0-1). Subs: T Murphy for Crowley yellow card (22 mins), J Moran for Ryan yellow card (29 mins), R O'Driscoll for Clancy (54 mins), G O'Driscoll (0-1) for Collins yellow card (60 mins).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).

Waterford vs Tipperary

Tipperary opened the defense of their National League title against the only team to beat them in 2008, Waterford. Both Sheedy and Fitzgerald are looking for an additional two or three players that can really add to their panels and help them to close the gap on the pace setters Kilkenny. Tipp started with the talented John O'Brien and captain Willy Ryan in the full forward line. At this ealry stage in the season The Premier are definitley the more settled looking team, playing to good game plan with a defnesive unit that is strong in all departments. If Tipp are to make the necessary in-roads on Kilkenny they need to find a ball winning half forward and another regular scoring forward. An option may well be to bring the talented Eoin Kelly out and leave O'Brien in at full forward. Waterford were without many of their more noted stars as Davy expands the net in search of new talent. Waterford battled well and had their chances but Tipp were much the stronger, much sharper and without their talisman Kelly had the edge on the Deise with a score line of 1-12 to 2-13.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; C O'Brien, D Fanning, P Curran; B Dunne (0-1), C O'Mahony (0-1, 65), D Fitzgerald; S Maher, T Stapleton; P Kerwick (1-1), P Maher (0-1), J Woodlock (0-2); P Kelly (1-1), J O'Brien, W Ryan (0-4, three frees). Subs: J Devane (0-2) for Woodlock (52 mins), S McGrath for Stapleton (62 mins), S Callanan for P Maher (70 mins).

WATERFORD: C Hennessy (1-0, free); E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; R Foley, M Walsh, J Murray; S O'Sullivan, J Nagle (0-1); J Kennedy (0-1), G Hurney, S Prendergast (0-6, three frees and two 65s); S Walsh, D Shanahan (0-1), S Molumphy (capt; 0-2). Subs: S Casey for S Walsh (5 mins), P Hurney (0-1) for G Hurney (49 mins), M Shanahan for Casey (59 mins), T Connors for Nagle (69 mins).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).