National Football League previews

A look ahead to all this weekend's action:

Saturday (7pm)

Division One

Tyrone v Kildare, Omagh

Two teams with a lot to do in terms of rebuilding. The eventual confirmation of Stephen O'Neill's early retirement is, if not reversed, a major long-term blow to the team's attacking potential. Mickey Harte will be hoping to see significant progress in the development of Raymond Mulgrew, Colm Cavanagh and Tommy McGuigan up front.

Shaun O'Neill did enough in Dromore's county title triumph to merit a run in the forwards. With so many players out through injury the ongoing uncertainty at full is addressed by Conor Gormley, who holds together a line with two league rookies in the corners.

The evidence to date is that Kieran McGeeney is working on fundamentally altering Kildare's short-ball preference and his towering full-forward line confirms as much. Luckless Michael Foley is again injured, which won't help the cause of winning primary possession. Home win.

Donegal v Kerry, Ballybofey

An attractive opening match, which could have been the centrepiece of a promotional campaign but for the uncertainty surrounding Cork's status. This meeting of the All-Ireland champions and National League holders revives memories of one of last season's better league matches. Kerry name a strong 15 with Micheál Quirke, like Kieran Donaghy fresh from his basketball exertions, coming into the middle for the yet-to-be-activated Darragh Ó Sé.

Donegal are missing a number of the players - principally Brendan Devenney - who did the damage in Letterkenny last season once their game picked up after Donaghy's enforced departure. The home side have nonetheless an advantage in match fitness with the McKenna Cup campaign behind them.

Derry v Mayo, Celtic Park

There was a setback for Derry in last Saturday's McKenna Cup final while Mayo rattled off a handy six-point challenge win over Westmeath. Both sides are short players but Mayo's absentee list of many of the older contingent plus the Ballina players, preparing for the All-Ireland semi-final, looks more daunting. Austin O'Malley gets another run at full forward where Barry Moran hadn't been thriving - coincidentally his most effective display there was in last year's qualifier defeat here in July. Peadar Gardiner's placing at centrefield looks a stop-gap until David Brady and Ronan McGarrity return. On the basis that Down's form contributed to making Derry look worse than they were a week ago this should be a good start to the league for the home side.

Division Two

Dublin v Westmeath, Parnell Park

Dublin breezed the O'Byrne Cup encounter three weeks ago but this evening sees a stronger travelling selection with Martin Flanagan, Michael Ennis, Damian Healy and David Duffy all back on board. They weren't especially impressive in last week's challenge against Mayo but an improvement is expected. The home team is also stronger and uses the first match of the campaign to give debuts to some of the players who have done well in January, Philip McMahon at the back, midfielder Eamonn Fennell and John O'Brien at centre forward.

Although it's an opening fixture Dublin really have to win this and anything for Westmeath would be a pleasant surprise for Tomás Ó Flatharta's team.

Dublin's form to date has been mixed but they should deliver on expectations.

Division Three

Down v Sligo, Newry

Two of the top ranking teams in the division get the campaign off to a significant start. Down were very good in the McKenna Cup, their fitness looking pretty advanced for this time of the year and the support play particularly effective.

Connacht champions Sligo have had a low-key pre-season with new manager Tommy Jordan assessing what's on offer in the county. The team for this evening is experienced and settled but at the moment Ross Carr's side look too hot.

Sunday

Walsh Cup SH final

Antrim v Offaly, Casement Park, 1.0

A fine tournament for Antrim is rewarded with a home venue for the final against Offaly - presumably a first for the Leinster competition. Terence McNaughton's and Dominic McKinley's team have played well in defeating two of the competition's strongest outfits, Kilkenny and UCD. That form would suggest a historic victory.

Sunday (2.30)

Division One

Galway v Laois, Tuam

Testing times for both teams with new manager Liam Sammon trying to rebuild Galway and Liam Kearns trying to cope without three of Laois's biggest names, the retired Fergal Byron and defenders Tom Kelly and Joe Higgins who withdrew from the panel last month. Laois have had a good league record in recent years but there is a sense of momentum draining after another heavy championship defeat by Dublin. Kearns still has promising talents from last year's under-21s coming through. Galway will be short the injured Michael Comer and Barry Cullinane and the suspended Pádraic Joyce but Sammon has had a good workout in the Connacht League and can cap his first league outing with a win.

Division Two

Armagh v Cavan, Crossmaglen

At the start of a new era in Armagh Pater McDonnell has, partly out of necessity with Crossmaglen back on the All-Ireland highway, considerably freshened up his panel. Paul McGrane succeeds the retired Kieran McGeeney as captain and will face an experimental Cavan centrefield tomorrow. But in general Donal Keoghan's team will be happy enough with their McKenna Cup campaign which saw the return of the previously banished Seánie Johnston. Armagh's defence is experimental but the attack has a very familiar look with Ronan Clarke back in harness after long-term injury. Cavan could however benefit from greater match practice.

Monaghan v Roscommon, Clones

John Maughan's team had a quiet Connacht League and will have their work cut out against a close-knit team with an established style of play and plenty of confidence after last year. This could be a battle of the forwards and it depends on how sharp the sides are. Raymond Ronaghan's back on the team after a good McKenna Cup but Monaghan aren't quite at full strength. They should still come through.

Division Three

Limerick v Louth, Gaelic Grounds

Limerick were very unlucky last week to lose the McGrath Cup to an injury-time penalty. They have had a good run out in January though and will be anxious for revenge after last season's defeat. Louth have had a steady pre-season and recorded a morale boosting challenge win over Armagh last week. Tight match with the home side favoured.

Leitrim v Fermanagh, Carrick-on-Shannon

Neighbouring clash with both sides coming off satisfactory January tournaments. Leitrim beat Connacht champions Sligo and Fermanagh reached the McKenna Cup semi-final. The Ulster county will be hoping to restake their claim to the top half of the league, where they were very competitive but this could be a unyielding start.

Wexford v Longford, Wexford Park

Wexford's manager Jason Ryan, the youngest in the league, made a good point about this division: that any of the eight teams will harbour realistic notions of beating any of the others. He concedes that the lack of time he's had with the team makes his debut season as a manager particularly challenging. Longford have had a brisk January reaching the O'Byrne Cup final.

Division Four

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Freshford

Good to see Kilkenny back in league action even if they will struggle all the more for their absence in recent years. Tipperary will be difficult opposition even allowing for the McGrath Cup mishap, as new manager John Evans will add urgency. Away win.

Wicklow v Antrim, Aughrim

A re-run of last summer's greatly entertaining Murphy Cup final. Wicklow gave a good account of themselves last week against Laois, taking them to extra time and can repeat the summer victory against Jody Gormley's improving Antrim.

Offaly v London, Tullamore

Offaly are back where Tommy Lyons found them 11 seasons ago and will hope to make quicker work of escaping from this division than they did in the 1990s. Tomorrow should be a formality and the team needs to motor to ensure promotion.

Clare v Carlow, Cusack Park

Two counties with good January performances behind them. Clare battled well to sneak the McGrath Cup away from Limerick whereas Paul Bealin's Carlow gave Dublin plenty of everything in the replayed O'Byrne Cup final. Maybe an away win.

Waterford: bye.