WEEKEND PREVIEWS
TODAY ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 KERRY v MAYO Austin Stack Park, 7.30
Mayo’s travels south in the recent past have tended to be of quite the benefit to their hosts. Jack O’Connor hailed his team’s one-point squeeze in this fixture as one of the most significant results in his team’s 2022 All-Ireland success, reaffirming they had the structure and character to go after a big prize. Even the championship mauling they suffered at Mayo’s hands in Killarney last year served as a wake-up call on their road back to another final, while in contrast Mayo never got close to those levels again. This time, the points will be Kerry’s and the education Mayo’s. VERDICT: Kerry
DERRY v MONAGHAN Celtic Park, 5.00
Monaghan got something of a reality check against Kerry, but Vinny Corey was never going to be fooled into thinking their opening-round win over Dublin would make staying up a cruise. Just how hard it will be is likely to be underlined by a Derry team who have set their stall out to win the league, albeit they go into this with big questions over the fitness of Odhran Lynch and Gareth McKinless. VERDICT: Derry
DUBLIN v ROSCOMMON Croke Park, 5.00
Visits to Croke Park to play Dublin in the recent past have been brutal for Roscommon, which made last year’s merited draw in the opening round of the championship all the more impressive.
The gap has narrowed, but there was a structure and purpose about the All-Ireland champions last time out against Mayo which suggests that they simply will not tolerate a third defeat on the bounce.
VERDICT: Dublin
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 2 CORK v CAVAN Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.00
If Cork, after defeats on the road to Donegal and Louth, are unable to make home comforts count for something their Sam Maguire status will be under considerable threat.
Cavan have impressed in their opening two games – the onepoint loss to Donegal reaffirming they are a team to be respected – but Cork’s need is the greater.
VERDICT: Cork
DONEGAL v FERMANAGH Letterkenny, 2.00
Kieran Donnelly has done an admirable job in putting Fermanagh on such a strong footing with three points from two games, but this represents a significant step up from Meath and Kildare. This will also stress-test the theory that this is Donegal’s bogey ground – they have a woeful record here. If they lose this time Jim McGuinness will demand they lock the gates for good. VERDICT: Donegal
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 4 WATERFORD v LONGFORD
Fraher Field, 6.00 The scale of the challenge facing Paul Shanky as Waterford manager has already revealed itself after just two games, and it will not be getting better any time soon.
VERDICT: Longford
LAOIS v CARLOW O’Moore Park, 6.00
Carlow’s continued progress will receive quite the stern examination here, especially now that Justin McNulty has shown why he has put so much at stake in committing to the O’Moore County.
VERDICT: Laois
TOMORROW ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 TYRONE v GALWAY Healy Park, 1.45
Two powers who right now are struggling to justify their heavyweight status
Galway’s reliance on the leadership offered by Sean Kelly and Damien Comer has once more been accentuated by the absence of their two best players, and there seems to be no arresting a slump in form that has taken them from being probable Sam Maguire winners to flirting with Division 2 inside eight months.
Tyrone were toothless against Derry, but even so, they possess in Darragh Canavan a forward of rare ability and a natural born match-winner.
VERDICT: Tyrone
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 2 KILDARE v ARMAGH Cullen Park, 3.45pm
Kildare board chairman Mick Gorman officially confirmed that the form of his county’s footballers had entered the crisis stage, when revealing to club delegates last week that he had met with Glenn Ryan and had expressed his concern at results.
Against that backdrop, it would be odd if there is not a response from the home team as their former boss Kieran McGeeney comes calling. But while their attitude will be better it will not make up for the gulf in class between these two teams.
VERDICT: Armagh
MEATH v LOUTH Páirc Tailteann, 2.00
As much as their win last time out against Cork, it was the stiff questions they asked of Armagh in the opening round which suggests that there is still life in Louth after Mickey Harte’s departure.
Contrast that with Meath’s implosion against the Orchard County and the form book suggests that Louth can take a huge step in securing their Division 2 status.
VERDICT: Louth
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 3 ANTRIM v DOWN Corrigan Park, 2.00
Down’s unbeaten start hardly qualifies as a surprise, but the fact that Antrim have matched them stride for stride thus far might.
However, the Saffrons have progressed under Andy McEntee and will stay involved in the promotion race even if they lose here, which they will.
VERDICT: Down
LIMERICK v SLIGO Rathkeale, 2.00
With a squad in deep transition, Limerick’s struggles were expected but an established and fancied Sligo team have not exactly been ripping it up.
VERDICT: Sligo
OFFALY v CLARE O’Connor Park, 2.00
Clare, in defiance of losing so many key players, have revealed themselves to be ultra competitive, while Offaly have once more confirmed they do not have the quality to get out of this division. They may, however, give Declan Kelly his first win.
VERDICT: Offaly
WICKLOW v WESTMEATH Aughrim, 2.00
Westmeath have had to dig deep to maintain their winning start, which is a good quality to possess when travelling to Aughrim.
Wicklow’s renowned battling spirit has extended to manager Oisin McConville serving a fourweek ban and his mood will hardly be any better after this.
VERDICT: Westmeath
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 4 LEITRIM v WEXFORD
Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada, 2.00 After a heavy defeat to Laois last time out, if Wexford are to seriously entertain promotion they need the points here, but Andy Moran’s team, on early season form, look the more likely.
VERDICT: Leitrim
LONDON v TIPPERARY Ruislip, 1.00
Their two-point win over Longford on the road augurs well for Tipperary and they might have just enough to back that up against the exiles, who are never a soft touch when playing at home.
VERDICT: Tipperary