Today’s Previews
ALLIANZ NFL
DIVISION 1
Kerry v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.45pm
Two weeks on and there is still no clarity over the severity of the injury that forced Donegal captain Michael Murphy out of the side’s win over Kildare. He is unlikely to play a part here and, given that Jack O’Connor is hell-bent on putting his best foot forward with Kerry, Donegal cannot afford the loss of their talisman.
VERDICT: Kerry Tyrone v Kildare, Healy Park, 3.45pm
Barring some last-minute intervention, the All-Ireland champions will start without the suspended Pádraig Hampsey,
Kieran McGeary, Peter Harte and Michael McKernan, which is the kind of hit that should be fatal.
But, despite the best efforts of Jimmy Hyland, Kildare lack the cutting edge to take advantage, and Tyrone can record their first win of the season.
VERDICT: Tyrone DIVISION 2
Derry v Cork, Owenbeg, 1pm
Cork needed a dollop of good fortune to avoid losing to Clare, but it will feel more like a lottery win if they can get anything out of this. It promises to be an education for Keith Ricken’s young team, who will discover the challenge of playing one of the most structured teams in the game.
VERDICT: Derry Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
It is already evident that neither of these teams belong in this tier and another big Galway win should ensure that neither will be here next year, although there is less comfort in that for Offaly.
VERDICT: Galway Meath v Down, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm
Thirty-one years after they faced off against each other in an All-Ireland final, these two know that the price for the losing team here could mean that they may not even play in the senior championship later this summer. However, that is a far more realistic proposition for Down than it is for the Royals.
VERDICT: Meath Roscommon v Clare, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
As regularly as they have dropped out of the top tier, it would appear that Roscommon’s enthusiasm to get back there is as keen as ever, and that amounts to bad news for Colm Collins’ Clare side.
VERDICT: Roscommon DIVISION 3
Limerick v Louth, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
Billy Lee may not be able to compete with opposite number Mickey Harte’s CV but, in transforming the fortunes of a Limerick team he inherited at the basement of Division 4, his currency is a lot higher right now.
VERDICT: Limerick Westmeath v Longford, Cusack Park, 2pm
Since the League was streamlined into four divisions, no county has changed their divisional status as regularly as Westmeath. And they are likely to take another step in continuing the trend here.
VERDICT: Westmeath DIVISION 4
Leitrim v London, Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, 1pm London’s perfect start is set for a brutal end if Andy Moran’s team repeats the form they showed when beating Tipperary last time out.
VERDICT: Leitrim Sligo v Cavan, Markievicz Park, 2pm
The game of the day in the bottom tier but Sligo, after a blistering start, might just get something of a reality check from a Cavan side determined to make their stay in the basement as painless as possible.
VERDICT: Cavan Wexford v Tipperary, Wexford Park, 2pm
Tipperary’s slump has been one of the biggest surprises so far this term and there is no evidence that they can get out of it.
Verdict: Wexford LIDL NFL DIVISION 1A
Galway v Mayo, Tuam Stadium, 2pm
The counties meet for the first time since the 2021 All-Ireland quarterfinal, which Mayo won by four points. Mayo will start as favourites to claim a second successive win but form is often cast to one side in a Connacht derby.
VERDICT: Mayo Westmeath v Donegal, St Loman’s (3G), Mullingar, 2.0
Westmeath were 2021 All-Ireland Intermediate Champions but they’ve flirted with league relegation in recent times. They could have another battle on their hands after losing heavily to Mayo last Saturday as they take on a Donegal side that had a winning start against Galway.
VERDICT: Donegal DIVISION 1B
Waterford v Meath; Fraher Field, 2.0
Waterford are up against it in a group this year that contains league champions Dublin, All-Ireland champions Meath and Cork, who have won the Lidl National League Division 1 title 12 times. The Royals got their Division 1 campaign off to a flyer against Cork last week, while Waterford lost to Dublin.
VERDICT: Meath CAMOGIE
Littlewoods League Division 1: Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, Ennis,
2.0
2021 AIB Senior All-Ireland club semi-final: Oulart The Ballagh v Scariff Ogonolloe, Clonmel Commercials, 1.30.
2021 AIB Intermediate
All-Ireland club semi-final: Portaferry v Salthill Knocknacarra, NGDC Abbottstown, 2.30.
2021 AIB Junior All-Ireland club semi-final: Clanmaurice v Raharney, St Rynagh’s Banagher, 2.0.
MORE FIXTURES: Sport in Brief, P59