FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHBOX

Laois v Offaly

Laois Hire O’moore Park, 7pm

THE first meeting of the counties in Leinster since way back in 2005, when Laois scored a victory thanks to a last gasp Ross Munnelly goal. There were two qualifier clashes in the meantime, both won by Laois in 2006 and ‘19, while last year’s Tailteann Cup group game was a draw.

All things being equal, Offaly are probably the stronger side on paper but momentum is a factor and they had a messy League where they diced with relegation to Division Four, from which Laois emerged with reasonable comfort.

VERDICT: Laois

Dublin v Meath

Tom., Croke Park 4.30pm (RTE)

ONCE Gaelic football’s box office fixture, it’ll be the last game of the weekend played out at a largely deserted Croke Park, with nothing to suggest that Dublin won’t maintain their dominance.

Granted, Meath unexpectedly gave them plenty of it in the 2021 Leinster semi-final but normal service has since been restored.

The concession of

3-12 to Longford last Sunday suggests that the Meath defence will be in for a long day against a Dublin side with a point to prove after being outplayed in the League final.

VERDICT: Dublin

Kildare v Wicklow Tomorrow, Laois Hire O’moore Park, 1.45pm

NO one in the Kildare camp will admit it publicly, but they will have been quietly pleased at Wicklow taking Westmeath out last Sunday.

Kildare must reach the Leinster final to avoid the Tailteann Cup and the route is a little more negotiable for them now. They needn’t be resting on their laurels, however, given their form but you’d still expect them to set up a crunch Leinster semifinal with Louth or Wexford all the same.

VERDICT: Kildare

Down v Antrim Newry, 6pm (BBC)

DOWN scored a comfortable nine-point win when the counties met at Corrigan Park in February, a result which Antrim’s promotion aspirations didn’t recover from after showing some early promise in Division Three. Having reached a Tailteann Cup semi-final last year, Andy Mcentee (inset) and Antrim will have designs on going deep in that competition again this year though Down will be keen to avoid it. They made it harder on themselves by losing the Division Three final to Westmeath.

VERDICT: Down

Louth v Wexford

Tomorrow, Laois Hire O’moore Park, 4pm WESTMEATH have an interest in this as anything less than a Louth win will condemn them to the Tailteann Cup.

Wexford have momentum after finishing their Division Four campaign strongly and putting a big score on Carlow last Sunday, but they’re still coming up against a fairly seasoned side who operate two divisions above them.

Louth haven’t reached Leinster finals in successive years since 1958, when they were reigning All-ireland champions.

VERDICT: Louth

Fermanagh v Armagh

Tomorrow, Brewster Park, 2pm (BBC NI)

ARMAGH scored a fourpoint win at Brewster Park last month en route to promotion back the top tier. Fermanagh suffered immediate relegation after being promoted to Division Two last year.

Bar a freak 24-point loss to Cavan, Fermanagh were competitive in the League and there are a few survivors on either side from their defeat of Armagh at the same stage in 2018, but it’s difficult to envisage them coming unstuck in Brewster Park again.

VERDICT: Armagh