THE 2013 NATIONAL hurling league is set to start with a Division 1A glamour clash between Cork and Tipperary on Saturday February 23rd.
The game will see the Rebels enjoy home advantage under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn against the Premier while the following day this year’s All-Ireland finalists Galway and Kilkenny will square off.
Other notable fixtures see Tipperary entertain Kilkenny under lights in Semple Stadium on Saturday March 9th while there will be three games on Monday March 18th to avoid a clash with the All-Ireland club finals the day before.
The fixtures have been released in the provisional list for the 2013 season with the Division 1A programme as follows:
Division 1A
Saturday February 23rd: Cork v Tipperary.
Sunday February 24th: Clare v Waterford, Galway v Kilkenny.
Saturday March 9th: Tipperary v Kilkenny.
Sunday March 10th: Waterford v Cork, Clare v Galway.
Monday March 18th: Cork v Clare, Kilkenny v Waterford, Galway v Tipperary.
Sunday March 24th: Clare v Kilkenny, Galway v Cork, Waterford v Tipperary.
Sunday March 31st: Tipperary v Clare, Kilkenny v Cork, Waterford v Galway.
Last year’s National Hurling League champions Dublin, relegated from Division 1A this season, will begin this Division 1B league campaign at home to Offaly on February 24th while they will welcome Limerick to Croke Park on March 16th.
Division 1B
Sunday February 24th: Carlow v Wexford, Dublin v Offaly, Limerick v Antrim.
Sunday March 10th: Antrim v Dublin, Offaly v Wexford, Limerick v Carlow.
Saturday March 16th: Wexford v Antrim, Dublin v Limerick.
Monday March 18th: Carlow v Offaly.
Sunday March 24th: Carlow v Antrim, Wexford v Dublin, Offaly v Limerick.
Sunday March 31st: Antrim v Offaly, Limerick v Wexford, Dublin v Carlow.
After being relegated from Division 1B this year, Laois will begin their Division 2A campaign away to Kildare, who were Division 2B champions last year.
Division 2A
Sunday February 24th: Kerry v Westmeath, Derry v Wicklow, Kildare v Laois.
Sunday March 10th: Wicklow v Kildare, Westmeath v Derry, Laois v Kerry.
Saturday March 16th: Derry v Kildare.
Monday March 18th: Kerry v Wicklow, Westmeath v Laois.
Sunday March 24th: Kildare v Kerry, Wicklow v Westmeath, Derry v Laois.
Sunday March 31st: Laois v Wicklow, Westmeath v Kildare, Kerry v Derry.
In Division 2B it is Down, Meath, Mayo, Roscommon, Armagh and London in contention.
Division 2B
Sunday February 24th: Down v Meath, Mayo v Roscommon, Armagh v London.
Saturday March 9th: London v Down.
Sunday March 10th: Roscommon v Armagh, Meath v Mayo.
Saturday March 16th: Down v Roscommon, Mayo v Armagh, Meath v London.
Sunday March 24th: Roscommon v Meath, Mayo v London, Armagh v Down.
In Division 3A, it will be Fermanagh, Tyrone, Donegal, Monaghan, Fingal and Louth in action.
Division 3A
Sunday February 24th: Fermanagh v Tyrone, Donegal v Monaghan, Fingal v Louth.
Sunday March 10th: Louth v Fermanagh, Tyrone v Donegal, Monaghan v Fingal.
Saturday March 16th: Fermanagh v Donegal, Tyrone v Fingal.
Monday March 18th: Louth v Monaghan.
Sunday March 24th: Fingal v Fermanagh, Monaghan v Tyrone, Donegal v Louth.
Sunday March 31st: Donegal v Fingal, Fermanagh v Monaghan, Tyrone v Louth.
And in Division 3B, Leitrim, Longford, Warwickshire and Sligo will be in competition.
Division 3B
Sunday March 10th: Leitrim v Longford, Warwickshire v Sligo.
Sunday March 24th: Longford v Warwickshire, Sligo v Leitrim.
Sunday March 31st: Warwickshire v Leitrim, Longford v Sligo.
