All Ireland finalists go head to head in the NHL

Cork will have home advantage over Kilkenny for the opening round of the Allianz National Hurling League play-off section, a repeat of last year's All-Ireland final and the game most likely to impact on their chances of progressing to the final on May 1st.

Details of the three play-off rounds were announced yesterday, and Cork, who topped Division One B, were given home advantage on the basis that the Division One A leaders were given it last year. Kilkenny get to play their other two games at home, while Cork's only away trip is to Clare on April 17th.

The last round will be played on April 23rd to avoid a clash with the football final, which is set for Croke Park on Sunday, April 24th.

The football semi-finals, on April 17th, won't be played in Croke Park, and a decision on the hurling final will only be made once the pairings are known.

WEEKEND TEAMS

OFFALY (SF v Dublin): P Kelly; C Daly, C Evans, S Sullivan; K Slattery, S Brady, N Grennan; C McManus, A McNamee; N Coughlan, M Daly, J Reynolds; C Quinn, N McNamee, J Coughlan.

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE PHASE TWO

(First team named have home venue)

Round One (Sunday, April 10th)

Division One - Play-off section: Cork v Kilkenny; Wexford v Galway; Tipperary v Clare. Relegation section: Limerick v Waterford; Antrim v Laois; Down v Dublin.

Division Two - Play-off section: Carlow v Offaly; Kerry v Westmeath; Meath v Derry. Relegation section: Wicklow v Roscommon; Sligo v Kildare.

Division Three: Louth v Mayo; Monaghan v Armagh, Tyrone v Donegal. Shield section: Fermanagh v Longford; Cavan v Leitrim.

Round Two (Sunday, April 17th)

Division One - Play-off section: Kilkenny v Wexford; Galway v Tipperary; Clare v Cork. Relegation section: Waterford v Antrim; Laois v Down; Dublin v Limerick.

Division Two - Play-off section: Offaly v Kerry; Westmeath v Meath; Derry v Carlow. Relegation section: Roscommon v Sligo; Kildare v Wicklow.

Division Three: Mayo v Monaghan; Armagh v Tyrone; Donegal v Louth Shield section: Longford v Cavan, Leitrim v Fermanagh.

Round Three (Saturday, April 23rd)

Division One - Play-off section: Kilkenny v Tipperary; Cork v Galway, Wexford v Clare. Relegation section: Waterford v Down; Limerick v Laois; Antrim v Dublin

Division Two - Play-off section: Offaly v Meath; Carlow v Westmeath; Kerry v Derry.

Division Three - Mayo v Tyrone; Louth v Armagh; Monaghan v Donegal; Shield final.

Finals: Sunday May 1st (Venues TBC)