WEEKEND PREVIEWS

TODAY

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1

DUBLIN V KERRY Croke Park, 7.30pm

In keeping with how this modern rivalry has rolled mostly in recent times, Kerry will come with the hurt and Dublin with the silverware.

Last year’s All-Ireland final defeat cut Kerry to the core, which might explain why their focus this spring is so much sharper and with the Cliffords back on board, they will come here with only winning in mind.

Con O’Callaghan’s bright form against Roscommon suggests that the champions are in the business of getting up to speed but this might come too quickly for them.

VERDICT: Kerry

TYRONE V MAYO O’Neills Healy Park, 5.15pm

Hosting Mayo will only serve to remind Tyrone folk how quickly things can change inside a couple of years, as their slide continues.

A third defeat in a row will leave the 2021 champions mired in deep trouble and, with the exception of Darragh Canavan, it is hard to see where the quality and leadership is that can arrest their decline.

In contrast, Mayo look like a team playing within themselves while still getting results, which is never a bad sign.

VERDICT: Mayo

FL DIVISION 3

DOWN V OFFALY

Pairc Esler, 6pm

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1 GROUP B ROUND 3

TIPPERARY V WESTMEATH

Semple Stadium, 4pm Jason Forde’s return only strengthens Tipperary’s attacking options and Noel McGrath will also bring all his craft and experience to the middle third.

VERDICT: Tipperary

DUBLIN V LIMERICK Croke Park, 5.15pm

The inclusion of Kyle Hayes in the Limerick starting line-up has dominated the pre-match conversation, manager John Kiely clearly backing his player in a season when there will be such scrutiny on a squad chasing an All-Ireland five in a row. Dublin have been off colour to date and they won’t get away with another out-of-sorts showing against a beefed up Limerick starting selection.

VERDICT: Limerick

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 2A ROUND 3

LAOIS V CARLOW O’Moore Park, 6pm

DIVISION 2B ROUND 3

TYRONE V DONEGAL

Healy Park, 3pm

DIVISION 3B ROUND 3

FERMANAGH V WARWICKSHIRE Brewster Park, 2pm

LEITRIM V LANCASHIRE

Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 1pm

TOMORROW FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1

GALWAY V DERRY Salthill, 1.45pm

Galway’s win over Tyrone is likely to prove to be a critical result in securing the Tribesmen’s Division 1 status, but Mickey Harte has loftier ambitions.

That clarity allied to their class has made them the only credible team to top the game’s power rankings on form; a position which will be reaffirmed after this.

VERDICT: Derry

ROSCOMMON V MONAGHAN

Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm Given Monaghan’s healthy habit of defying the odds, we are loath to suggest that the loser here is almost certain to fall through the relegation trap door but that is how it looks.

This time it looks like Monaghan’s bright start has served to deceive, but the most worrying aspect of their losses to Kerry and Derry is how their defence has been exposed to the degree that they have conceded six goals in those two games.

Roscommon might not possess that kind of firepower but they have more than enough to bag the points.

VERDICT: Roscommon

FL DIVISION 2:

FERMANAGH V CORK Ederney St Joseph’s, 2pm

Concern will morph into a crisis should the Rebels lose a fourth game on the bounce.

And Fermangh, blessed with solid structure and stout spirit, are exactly the kind of team which have caused Cork problems in the past.

However, they will win simply because they can’t afford to lose.

VERDICT: Cork

LOUTH V CAVAN

Páirc Mhuire, Ardee, 2pm Credit is coming slowly to Raymond Galligan’s Cavan.

They have shown to be comfortable in their skin, while in contrast Louth are stretched to their absolute limit to compete.

VERDICT: Cavan

MEATH V KILDARE Navan, 2pm

Glen Ryan’s stand-off with a local journalist post match last weekend after his team’s trouncing at the hands of Armagh encapsulated the sense of crisis that has gripped the camp.

While there is no hard evidence to suggest things will change, the reality is that Meath are hardly a level above them.

VERDICT: Kildare

ARMAGH V DONEGAL

Athletic Grounds, 3pm Ironically, the sense that these teams are so far ahead of the rest has diluted the importance of this top-of-the-table clash.

VERDICT: Armagh

FL DIVISION 3:

CLARE V WICKLOW

Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm It can be argued that Clare’s results have been better than their performances, and that the same applies in reverse to Wicklow.

VERDICT: Clare

SLIGO V ANTRIM Markievicz Park, 2pm

This is really a promotion eliminator in that whoever loses is out of the race to catch either Down or Westmeath. Sligo have the momentum. VERDICT: Sligo

WESTMEATH V LIMERICK

Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm Limerick are out of their depth at this level and Westmeath will speed up their inevitable return to the bottom tier in a game that could turn ugly for the visitors.

VERDICT: Westmeath

FL DIVISION 4:

LONGFORD V LONDON

Pearse Park, 1pm

CARLOW V LEITRIM Dr Cullen Park, 2pm TIPPERARY V LAOIS

Semple Stadium, 2pm

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1 GROUP A

CORK V WATERFORD

Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 3.45pm (TG4) Only the third round but Cork hurling is running out of excuses. The first half against Kilkenny was so poor but the introduction of Mark Coleman did a lot to transform the side. Waterford were game against Clare but the glut of injuries doesn’t help.

VERDICT: Cork

KILKENNY V OFFALY Nowlan Park, 1.45pm

The kind of Leinster derby that Offaly used to relish. This won’t be easy though with so many injuries going against a squad looking for more depth. Especially with Kilkenny getting into a groove with the O’Loughlin Gaels contingent well settled back in.

VERDICT: Kilkenny

WEXFORD V CLARE Wexford Park, 1.45pm (TG4 deferred)

Freed from the distractions of college competition, Clare will only get stronger. Seán Rynne was a revelation around the middle against Waterford and Patrick Crotty was another to enhance his claims.

VERDICT: Clare

DIVISION 1 GROUP B

ANTRIM V GALWAY Corrigan Park, 1pm

After the filleting by Limerick’s ‘B’ team, Antrim showed against Dublin that they really are a different proposition at Corrigan Park. Galway though will be out not just for the win but to keep their scoring averages up.

VERDICT: Galway

DIVISION 2A ROUND 3

DOWN V KILDARE Ballycran, 2pm KERRY V MEATH Austin Stack Park, 1pm

DIVISION 2B

WICKLOW V ROSCOMMON Aughrim, 2pm DERRY V LONDON Celtic Park, 1pm

DIVISION 3A

MONAGHAN V ARMAGH Clones, 2pm MAYO V CAVAN MacHale Park, 2pm LOUTH V SLIGO Dowdallshill, 1pm