TODAY’S PREVIEWS
FOOTBALL
Allianz FL Division 1 South:
Dublin v Kerry, Thurles, 1.45; Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)
It may only be the league, but you can already hear the sound of smacking lips as this pair get it together in early summer. After last year Kerry will not be counting chickens, while Dublin will see this as possibly their only fixture between now and the All-Ireland semi-final in taking some kind of measure of where they are at. Verdict: Kerry
Galway v Roscommon, Salthill, 2.00pm, Pearse Stadium; Referee: D Coldrick (Meath)
Two teams that took a pummelling last weekend, Galway will not be as bad as they were in Tralee but if Pádraic Joyce can’t get an immediate response, Galway’s season will be in crisis even before it has started. Verdict: Galway
Division 2 North:
Down v Meath, Armagh, 1.45pm; Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh)
Eamon Wallace’s late winner last week should mean that Andy McEntee’s Meath have what little momentum is going. Verdict: Meath
Division 2 South:
Kildare v Clare, 2.00pm, Newbridge; Referee: F Kelly (Longford)
With Kerry waiting in the Munster championship, the knowledge their season will be defined by what happens in the next four weeks was evident in Clare’s blistering win over Laois but Kildare have similar motivations and home advantage. Verdict: Kildare
Division 4 North:
Leitrim v Louth, Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.00pm; Referee: P Maguire (Longford) This may have an all Ulster feel to it on the line as Terry Hyland goes head-to-head with Mickey Harte in what is pretty much win or bust for the latter.
Verdict: Louth
Antrim v Sligo, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 4.00pm; Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan) Both got off to excellent first round wins but Antrim are a level above Sligo and that should tell here.
Verdict: Antrim
HURLING
Allianz HL Division 1 - Group A:
Cork v Westmeath, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3pm; Ref: T Walsh (Waterford)
Cork’s short puck-out strategy and running
game may have upset traditionalists but a win and a draw against Waterford and Tipperary represents their best start to the League since 2014.
Verdict: Cork
Waterford v Limerick, Walsh Park, 3.45pm; Ref: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)
Waterford need to show progress and this will be a proper test against the champions. Just don’t mention the word ‘simulation’. Verdict: Limerick
Division 1 - Group B:
Kilkenny v Wexford, Nowlan Park, 2pm; Ref: C Lyons (Cork)
Padraig Walsh, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody have shone in Kilkenny’s solid start and they’ve been waiting a while now to take Wexford’s scalp.
Verdict: Kilkenny
Laois v Clare: O’Moore Park, 3pm; Ref: P Murphy (Carlow)
After losing their opening two League games for the first time since 2015, Clare need a win badly here.
Verdict: Clare
OTHER FIXTURES:
Division 2A: Kerry v Meath, Austin Stack Park, 1pm; Carlow v Offaly, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm; Wicklow v Down, Aughrim, 2pm;
Division 2B: Donegal v Mayo, O’Donnell Park, 2pm; Kildare v Derry, Hawkfield, 4pm. Division 3B: Louth v Cavan, Darver, 2pm; Fermanagh v Leitrim, Brewster Park, 2pm.