WEEKEND PREVIEWS
FOOTBALL
TODAY
MUNSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
CORK v KERRY
Páirc Uí Rinn, 6.00; Referee: B Cawley (Kildare) Cork won this fixture the last time it was played on Leeside, and they united as a group in making a stand to ensure they retained home advantage this time, but there is an overwhelming sense that this currently qualifies as a lapsed rivalry.
Cork are 50/1 to win in a twohorse race, implying that their only shot at getting over the line is if Kerry are somehow taken down by a tranquillising dart.
It is hard to recall a time when Cork have been given less of a chance, but the evidence against them is damning.
They came within a score of facing the ultimate indignity of having Kerry wave them off into the Tailteann Cup but they managed back-to-back wins over Down and Offaly – although the subsequent championship form of both those teams hardly makes that something to lean on.
They conceded the highest number of scores – an average of just under 20 points a game, across the entire league – while Kerry scored in excess of 18 points a game in winning the Division 1 title. Enough said.
VERDICT: Kerry
ALL-IRELAND U20 FC SF SLIGO v KILDARE
Breffni, Cavan, 4.0; Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary) A historic day for Sligo football, this is their first appearance in an All-Ireland semi-final and they have done it the hard way, edging out Roscommon by a point, while coming from five points and a man down with just eight minutes to go in the final against Mayo.
Kildare only fell over the line in an error-ridden Leinster final against Dublin but that just means they have more room for improvement.
VERDICT: Kildare
TOMORROW
CONNACHT SFC SEMI-FINAL
GALWAY v LEITRIM,
Pearse Stadium, 3.30; Referee: P Faloon (Down) It is likely that Andy Moran left Castlebar a fortnight ago disappointed but relieved that he would not be facing his former Mayo team-mates, but accepting the reality that the challenge facing his Leitrim team is no easier despite that.
He has overseen a radical improvement, winning four league games this spring and negotiating a problematic opening-round trip to London made all the more difficult by the absence of the suspended Keith Beirne.
But this is a whole different level – Galway are moving sweetly, driven on by the imperious Paul Conroy, with Damien Comer and Shane Walsh capable of wreaking havoc in attack.
It has the makings of a long and difficult day for Moran.
VERDICT: Galway
ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
CAVAN v DONEGAL, St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones, 4.00; Referee: C Lane (Cork)
Cavan’s 2020 shock Ulster final win is the obvious reference point in the build-up, but it is likely to fuel a Donegal side who will hardly have forgotten the pain of that winter afternoon.
It is hard to believe that game would have rolled the same way had it been played in midsummer, where Donegal have long had Cavan’s number.
Cavan are on a winning run but against modest opposition, although they were impressive in putting Antrim to the sword, not least Gearoid McKiernan and the excellent Paddy Lynch.
However, Donegal are built to win and keep ball, while their consistency is such that they are bidding for a 10th final appearance in 12 seasons.
VERDICT: Donegal
ALL-IRELAND U20 FC SF KERRY v TYRONE,
O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 1.00; Kerry v Tyrone; Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow) Another of those fixtures that reek of menace for Kerry. Declan O’Sullivan’s team have struggled for form in getting this far, poor against Clare and only marginally better against Cork, which hardly inspires. Still, their form trajectory is upwards but it will need to be against a lively Tyrone outfit, headlined by Ruairi Canavan, whose bloodlines hardly need explaining when seen in full flight.
VERDICT: Tyrone
MUNSTER SHC, RD 3 LIMERICK v TIPPERARY,
Gaelic Grounds, 2:00pm; Referee: L Gordon (Galway) Colm Bonnar’s publiclyexpressed concern regarding the condensed season centred on the reality that two top Munster teams would be gone from the championship by the end of May, but he may have been overly optimistic.
After defeats to Waterford and Clare – and with the prospect of having to travel to the AllIreland champions – such has been the sense of despair in Tipperary that for many they were already out of the championship before the end of April.
They still have a mathematical chance, but for it to come into play they’ll have to win a game in which the market has declared them 6/1 no-hopers.
Summer done in Tipp and this time the hay is not even cut.
VERDICT: Limerick
LADIES FOOTBALL
TODAY
MUNSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
KERRY v TIPPERARY;
Páirc Uí Rinn (Cork), 3.30pm Fresh from landing the Lidl National League Division 2 title, and promotion to the top flight,
Kerry will start as favourites to book a place in the Munster final. The Kingdom take on a Tipperary side without the services of the injured Aishling Moloney and also Aisling McCarthy, who has remained in Australia for the summer.
It’s a big ask for the Premier County to get a result against Kerry in this one, but they did survive in Division 2 of the Lidl National League and that will have lifted confidence levels.
Páirc Uí Rinn is the venue for this one – with the winners to play Waterford or Cork in the provincial decider.
LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
DUBLIN v MEATH; Parnell Park, 7pm Dublin already have a win under their belts after their victory over Westmeath last weekend, while this is Meath’s first Leinster SFC outing since 2016.
Dublin boss Mick Bohan makes six changes to the team that comfortably defeated Westmeath.
Abby Shiels (pictured) resumes her position between the sticks ahead of Ciara Trant, while Ellen Gribben and Martha Byrne come in at the back in place of Niamh Collins and Aoife Kane.
Lauren Magee drops to the bench and is replaced by Kate McDaid, while Kate Sullivan and Lyndsey Davey return to the starting 15 ahead of Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell.
Meath make one change to the starting team that defeated Donegal in the Lidl National League Division 1 Final, with Orlaith Duff starting ahead of Katie Newe.
While many still speak about their epic encounter last September in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Final, Dublin and Meath last met at Páirc Tailteann in front of a bumper crowd in early March, when a late Hannah Tyrrell free secured a narrow Lidl NFL victory for Dublin.
On that occasion, both sides had nothing to lose, having already qualified for semi-finals, but they still gave it everything. They were level five times and the game was nip and tuck throughout, before Tyrrell’s late free sealed the win. Another tight contest is expected at Parnell Park, where Dublin can guarantee a TG4 Leinster SFC Final slot at Croke Park on May 28.
TOMORROW ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
CAVAN v DONEGAL; St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, 1.45pm Cavan return to action for the first time since their group outings in Division 2B of the Lidl National League. The Breffni girls have it all to do against a Donegal outfit still smarting from defeat to Meath in the Lidl NFL Division 1 Final.
Donegal will be anxious to bounce back and book a place in the provincial final against holders Armagh – but Cavan have huge motivation of their own to make it there.
Cavan, on their day, are capable of producing a big performance, and Donegal will have to be at their best to get the win here.
Manager Maxi Curran has made two changes to his League Final starting team, with Tanya Kennedy and Niamh Hegarty coming in for Tara Hegarty and Roisin Rodgers.