The 60x30 season really kicks off this weekend with the Irish 60x30 Nationals taking place across several Wexford venues.
The omission of reigning All-Ireland Champion Robbie McCarthy is the only significant blotch on an otherwise strong 20 man field in the Men's Open. Dublin's Eoin Kennedy takes his position as top seed and will start as warm favourite. The likes of Gavin Buggy (Wexford), Brian Carroll (Meath), & CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) will be expecting to push Kennedy and will all be fighting it out on the bottom half of the draw for a final berth.
All of the Men's Open matches will take place in Castlebridge, bar three Last 16 fixtures. Kicking off the action is a tasty Prelim between Michael Gregan (Wicklow) & Martin Mulkerrins (Galway) at 10am Saturday morning. Ger Coonan (Tipperary) v Joe McCann (Mayo) in St Marys at 11.30am is another 1st Round Highlight, as is Gary McConnell (Meath) v CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick).
The QF's are set from 4pm on Saturday, with SF's starting at 10am Sunday morning.
Eight players have entered the Ladies Open, with a repeat of last years All-Ireland Final between Martina McMahon (Limerick) & Catriona Casey (Cork) on the cards. All of the Ladies QF's & SF's will take place in New Ross from 11am on Saturday, with the Final preceeding the mens Final at 12.30pm on Sunday in Castlebridge.
Elsewhere there are 11 other adult & juvenile grades being played at the below venues:
- Mens B - Kilmyshall
- Mens C - Balymitty
- Masters - Templeudigan
- Golden Masters B - Templeudigan
- Diamond Masters - Templeudigan
- Boys 17&U - Coolgreany
- Boys 15&U - Coolgreany
- Boys 13&U - Coolgreany
- Boys 11&U - Castlebridge
- Girls 17&U - Taghmon
- Girls 15&U - Taghmon
- Girls 13&U - Taghmon
- Girls 11&U - New Ross