Wee County should clear first hurdle in Leinster
ALTHOUGH the All Ireland series got under way almost two weeks ago in The Bronx in New York with Sligo defeating the hosts, its this coming weekend when most people will begin to tune into the 2017 football championship for the first time.
There are six matches in total taking place over the course of the weekend across three provinces. First up are our neighbours Monaghan who take on Fermanagh on Saturday evening in Clones where they will be expected to account for Pete McGrath’s charges.
The Farney men have been holding their own with all the top teams in recent years, competing comfortably in Division One of the league and claiming two Ulster titles in 2013 and 2015.
While they’ve been knocking on the door of the big time for the past few seasons, they’ve ultimately failed to push through it.
Malachy O’Rourke’s men have reached the quarter-final stages three times since 2013 but on each occasion they’ve come up short - but 2017 could be different for Monaghan, especially now that the emergence of Jack McCarron has eased the scoring burden on the always overworked Conor McManus.
Donegal begin their championship the following day with a home tie against Antrim in Ballybofey. The Saffrons are available at 9/1, so expect traffic to be all one-way.
Six of the minnows in Leinster football embark on their championship campaigns on Sunday afternoon at three separate venues around the province.
With the debacle of our county ground still unresolved and on the long finger, Louth ‘enjoy’ home advantage in Parnell Park against Wicklow.
While we have some injury worries and will definitely be without the influential Andy McDonnell, we will be expected to account for the Division Four side. The Garden County have languished in the lower tier of the league for the last number of years and won just one game in the current campaign, at home against London.
It’s no secret that Colin Kelly is unhappy regarding a number of issues with the County Board at the moment, but this will have little or no impact on Sunday’s performance. In fact sometimes such wranglings have a galvanising effect on the entire camp.
While there are bigger fish to fry later in the summer, we still cannot take Wicklow for granted. Back in 1987 I was on the forty when we suffered a shock defeat in Aughrim which knock us out of the Leinster Championship.
Much was expected of the Mickey Whelan-managed side after a first-round victory over Longford, but we started badly and never really got into the game. Back doors or qualifiers were not around ain the 80s, so this defeat ended our season and also the reign of the popular Dublin All-Ireland winner. Thirty years on, I don’t think Wicklow are capable of another upset, but we have to show up and must have the right attitude. I’m confident we will.
In the other matches Carlow play Wexford in Dr Cullen Park and Laois have home advantage against Longford.
Provincial heavyweights Dublin and Kildare await the winners of these first-round ties, so expect attendances at both Sunday’s venues to reflect all four counties’ Leinster title aspirations.
Also on Sunday, 2016 runners-up Mayo face the aforementioned Sligo in Castlebar.
It’s probably a little unfair to say this is last chance saloon for Mayo, but the years are definitely running out for some of their more experienced players.
They should account for Sligo at the weekend, but I have my doubts that they are better equipped than last season. One-man band Cillian O Connor requires greater support up front. However, league form would suggest he is still ploughing a lone furrow. In-form Galway are waiting in the wings.
Louth minors play Offaly in the Leinster Minor quarter-final on Saturday afternoon in Drogheda. Throw in is at 3 o’clock, so try to get there early to support the young lads.
League of Ireland
Cork City finally dropped their first points of the season after they were held to a 1-1 draw in Galway. However, they still remain 12 points clear at the top. Dundalk remain in third place after a 4-0 victory over Sligo, while Drogheda are in mid-table following their 2-0 loss to St Pat’s.
Sideline Bet
We added another €60 to our Sideline Bet total last week with Man United’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Thursday night. We go for another draw this week, with Laois and Longford available at odds of 15/2.