Hurling finalists to meet again in opening round of league

All-Ireland SHC finalists Kilkenny and Galway have been pencilled in to play each other in the opening round of the 2013 Allianz Hurling League campaign.

The provisional fixtures for next year's league have been released with the Division 1A action getting underway on Saturday, February 23 as Munster rivals Cork and Tipperary clash under floodlights.

The following day, All-Ireland champions Kilkenny and Leinster title holders Galway will go head-to-head out west, while Clare will play Waterford in a tasty preview of their Munster Championship quarter-final in May.

Davy Fitzgerald's Clare side won the Division 1B title in 2012, and table toppers Kilkenny got the better of Cork in the top flight decider in May - 3-21 to 0-16.

Dublin, who were relegated from Division 1A last term, will have home advantage in their second tier opener against Offaly on Sunday, February 24.

The same afternoon will see Division 2A champions Carlow tackling Wexford on home soil, with Limerick and Antrim meeting in the other first round tie in Division 1B.

The dates, venues and throw-in times for all of the Hurling League matches are subject to change. The fifth and final round has been scheduled for Sunday, March 31.

2013 ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE PROVISIONAL FIXTURES:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Div 1A: Cork v Tipperary, 7pm

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 (2pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Clare v Waterford, Galway v Kilkenny

Div 1B: Carlow v Wexford, Dublin v Offaly, Limerick v Antrim

Div 2A: Kerry v Westmeath, Derry v Wicklow, Kildare v Laois

Div 2B: Down v Meath, Mayo v Roscommon, Armagh v London

Div 3A: Fermanagh v Tyrone, Donegal v Monaghan, Fingal v Louth

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 (7pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Tipperary v Kilkenny

Div 2B: London v Down, 2pm

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 (2pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Waterford v Cork, Clare v Galway, 2.30pm

Div 1B: Antrim v Dublin, Offaly v Wexford, Limerick v Carlow, 2.30pm

Div 2A: Wicklow v Kildare, 1pm, Westmeath v Derry, 1pm, Laois v Kerry

Div 2B: Roscommon v Armagh, 1pm, Meath v Mayo

Div 3A: Louth v Fermanagh, 1pm, Tyrone v Donegal, 1pm, Monaghan v Fingal

Div 3B: Leitrim v Longford, 1pm, Warwickshire v Sligo

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

Div 1B: Wexford v Antrim, 2pm, Dublin v Limerick, 5.15pm

Div 2A: Derry v Kildare, 5.30pm

Div 2B: Down v Roscommon, 2pm, Mayo v Armagh, 5.30pm, Meath v London, 5.30pm

Div 3A: Fermanagh v Donegal, 2pm, Tyrone v Fingal, 5.15pm

MONDAY, MARCH 18 (2pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Cork v Clare, Kilkenny v Waterford, Galway v Tipperary

Div 1B: Carlow v Offaly

Div 2A: Kerry v Wicklow, Westmeath v Laois

Div 3A: Louth v Monaghan

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 (2pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Clare v Kilkenny, Galway v Cork, 2.30pm, Waterford v Tipperary, 2.30pm

Div 1B: Carlow v Antrim, 1pm, Wexford v Dublin, Offaly v Limerick

Div 2A: Kildare v Kerry, 1pm, Wicklow v Westmeath, 1pm, Derry v Laois

Div 2B: Roscommon v Meath, 1pm, Mayo v London, 1pm, Armagh v Down

Div 3A: Fingal v Fermanagh, Monaghan v Tyrone, Donegal v Louth

Div 3B: Longford v Warwickshire, 1pm, Sligo v Leitrim

SUNDAY, MARCH 31 (3pm unless stated)

Div 1A: Tipperary v Clare, Kilkenny v Cork, Waterford v Galway

Div 1B: Antrim v Offaly, Limerick v Wexford, Dublin v Carlow

Div 2A: Laois v Wicklow, Westmeath v Kildare, Kerry v Derry

Div 2B: London v Roscommon, Meath v Armagh, Down v Mayo

Div 3A: Donegal v Fingal, Fermanagh v Monaghan, Tyrone v Louth

Div 3B: Warwickshire v Leitrim, Longford v Sligo