THIS WEEKEND’S PREVIEWS

COMPILED BY MICHEAL CLIFFORD & PHILIP LANIGAN

FOOTBALL TODAY Division 1 Kerry v Kildare (Live eir Sport 2) Austin Stack Park, 7.0 Referee: D Coldrick (Meath) It will be interesting to see what impact last weekend’s mauling by Dublin has on Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s young team, not least a defence that has been shaken to its core. Still, if they could have handpicked opponents for a bounce-back outing, a Kildare team on a five-game losing streak would surely be their pick. Verdict: Kerry Division 2 Cork v Clare (Live on eir Sport 1) Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.0 Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry) Clare’s win in this corresponding fixture shocked Cork football to the core, but it was a day that was coming. Clare’s graph under Colm Collins has risen as fast as Cork’s has dipped, but Ronan McCarthy has got the Rebels going again.

Verdict: Cork SUNDAY

Division 1 (2.0 unless stated) Monaghan v Donegal, Clones Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone) The absence of Paddy McBrearty is a grievous blow for Donegal, but their main problem is at the other end where a lack of defensive structure continues to haunt them. Still, they have a shout here against a Monaghan team who have secured their top-flight status once more and have little to play for.

Verdict: Donegal Mayo v Tyrone, MacHale Park Referee: M Deegan (Laois) Both are coming off moraleboosting wins last weekend, which has left them one win from safety. Tyrone are unlikely to find the Mayo defence as accommodating as Donegal’s, while the home team will be keen to get the business done prior to a problematic final round visit to Ballybofey.

Verdict: Mayo Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan) Two teams boasting 100 per cent records should make this the game of the round, but with Galway having reached the final and Dublin all but over the line, there is not a whole lot riding on this. Will Kevin Walsh want to give the champions a dry run against his game-plan three weeks out from the final? Unlikely, but the reality is no matter which way he approaches it, the outcome will be the same.

Verdict: Dublin Division 2 Down v Tipperary, Páirc Esler Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh) It is not just the way that Tipperary are winning, but the manner in which they are doing so, that excites. They have such explosive attacking power that they should extend Down’s battle for survival to the final round.

Verdict: Tipperary Louth v Meath, Gaelic Grounds Referee: N Mooney (Cavan) Hard to believe Louth are not already mathematically relegated, but Meath should take care of that here.

Verdict: Meath Roscommon v Cavan, Dr Hyde Park Referee: C Reilly (Meath) If Cavan can somehow win here — something they failed to do in this fixture 12 months ago — their Division 1 status will be restored. But it is hard to see that happening against a Roscommon team who look to be back in the groove.

Verdict: Roscommon Division 3 Derry v Wexford, Celtic Park, 1.0 Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim) Wexford have to win if they are to avoid dropping straight back into Division 4, an indignity which also faces Derry. The prospect of that should be enough for the home team to triumph.

Verdict: Derry Offaly v Sligo, O’Connor Park Referee: J Molloy (Galway) Huge battle at the bottom but, buoyed by last weekend’s win over Wexford, Offaly can take another step towards survival.

Verdict: Offaly Longford v Westmeath, Pearse Park Referee: J Henry (Mayo) A Westmeath win will all but secure promotion, but Longford have hardly given up on that prize. A win here for the home team, will put them into pole position going into the final round and that is how this may roll.

Verdict: Longford Fermanagh v Armagh, Brewster Park Referee: B Cassidy (Derry) It is likely that the concession of a four-point lead late on to Westmeath will have knocked the stuffing out of Fermanagh’s promotion bid while Armagh should kill it completely.

Verdict: Armagh Allianz FL Division 4 Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park, 1.0 Referee: B Judge (Sligo) Carlow can secure Division 3 status if they win. There was a time when that kind of pressure against tough opponents like Antrim would leave them vulnerable, but they have the momentum and mental toughness to get the job done.

Verdict: Carlow Waterford v Leitrim, Fraher Field Referee: J Bermingham (Cork) Waterford were unfortunate last time out against Limerick, but Leitrim won’t need luck here. Verdict: Leitrim Wicklow v Limerick, Aughrim Referee: D Mullan Toss of a coin but home advantage to shade it for John Evans’ team.

Verdict: Wicklow HURLING Division 1 quarter-finals (extra time and winner on the day, if required) Wexford v Galway Innovate Wexford Park, 2.0 (Live TG4) Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary) That Galway ran out of steam in the promotion play-off against Limerick was no great surprise; here they meet another team who have put in the hard yards during the spring. Rory O’Connor’s leadership was one positive in the defeat by Kilkenny — a result that only proved the importance of Lee Chin to the Wexford revolution.

Verdict: Wexford Limerick v Clare (Live TG4) Gaelic Grounds, 4.0 Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway) A good old Munster derby to whet the appetite for the summer. Promotion from 1B has been a springboard for Clare and Waterford in the past to go all the way — the form Cian Lynch and company are in at the moment, they will be keen to keep this winning run intact.

Verdict: Limerick Offaly v Kilkenny, O’Connor Park, 1.0 Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow) When Brian Cody told the doubting world there were plenty of hurlers in Kilkenny ready to make a name for themselves, he must have had the likes of Richie Leahy in mind. No surprise either that results improved once TJ Reid returned to the team, the Ballyhale player continuing to set his own high standard.

Verdict: Kilkenny Dublin v Tipperary Parnell Park, 3.00 Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny) With the high score put on Laois, signs that things are coming together for Pat Gilory’s Dublin. Danny Sutcliffe’s return to form, and the Parnell Park factor, are other reasons to expect Tipperary to work hard for a semi-final place.

Verdict: Tipperary Division 1A relegation play-off Cork v Waterford Páirc Uí Rinn, 3.00 (Deferred TG4) Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow) Waterford might as well get used to hitting the road with Walsh Park quite literally falling down and ruled out for the summer. Conceding 50 scoring chances last time out against Tipp is worrying for a Cork team low on confidence.

Verdict: Waterford