Weekend previews

A look at this weekend's games.

Today

All-Ireland SHC Qualifier - Round One

Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 7pm

Like last year, Offaly hit the qualifiers on an extreme downswing. The failure to do themselves justice last week when the stakes were so high is bound to affect morale going into this evening's match.

Whereas a year ago John McIntyre's team were under no pressure facing Waterford, this time around they simply have to get the right result against Dublin. Lose this and it won't simply be a question of kissing the last eight goodbye, but also a relegation dogfight.

Dublin were equally disappointing in losing their championship match against Westmeath, but have had time to get over it and the alibi of bad weather - plus they ran the midland side to a point last year.

Still, Dublin's best performances come out of the blue, so to speak, and Offaly are well warned and, with Brian Whelahan in after injury, they will be more settled up front.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; Derek O'Reilly, M Carton, G O'Meara; D Sweeney, AN Other; J McCaffrey, L Ryan, D Curtin; J Kelly, K Flynn, A McCrabbe

OFFALY: B Mullins; B Teehan, P Cleary, D Franks; K Brady, R Hanniffy, G Oakley; D Hoctor, D Tanner; D Hayden, G Hanniffy, B Whelahan; B Carroll, J Bergin, A Egan.

Laois v Galway, Portlaoise, 7pm

Galway have the great advantage starting the qualifiers of not having had to process some dismal defeat before taking to the field. Laois have had a terrible year between relegation in the league and the dismissal by Offaly, albeit in drenched conditions.

Dinny Cahill's preference for summer hurling has its stage now, but against the strongest team in the group at the moment.

While Galway can take a while to hit their stride having been idle since the league, they have too much quality not to take this one.

LAOIS: P Mullaney; B Campion, P Cuddy, M McEvoy; JA Delaney, J Walsh, D Hyland; J Fitzpatrick, J Phelan; J Brophy, J Young, C Healy; Z Keenan, T Fitzgerald, J Hobban.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, T Regan, O Canning; D Hardiman, S Kavanagh, MJ Quinn; F Healy, D Collins; G Farragher, D Forde, A Keary; A Kerins, R Murray, D Hayes.

Christy Ring Cup

Antrim v Roscommon, Casement Park, 2pm

Disastrous opening for Antrim a week ago, but the format means that all's not lost. The reconstruction starts here.

London v Meath, Ruislip, 5pm

Buoyed by the Rackard Cup win last year London are confident, but Meath can curb their enthusiasm.

Tomorrow

All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers - Round One

Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, 4pm

Ten years to the weekend since the counties' most recent summer meeting, the Munster semi-final won by Ciarán Carey's famous point, Clare and Limerick occupy a less prominent spot in All-Ireland calculations, but tomorrow's match has top billing this weekend and with good reason.

Whoever wins will have a great chance of rescuing their season, whereas the losers' horizons will be clouded by the thought of playing either the Leinster or Munster champions in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Clare emerged from their provincial reversal with slightly more credit than Limerick on the grounds Cork looked such a formidable proposition. Word from the county suggests that Anthony Daly will be making minimal changes and, interestingly, that Jonathan Clancy might be kept on the bench, despite a boisterous display when introduced in the Munster semi-final, as spring-heeled cover for Colin Lynch.

Niall Gilligan's injury is a concern, but it's thought he'll likely play. TJ Ryan, on the other hand, was limping as recently as Wednesday night when Limerick went to train in Cusack Park and must be rated more of a doubt.

Joe McKenna has replaced his centrefield, gambling on Séamus Hickey, a talented teenager who's played in defence, and Mike O'Brien, whose graft and ball-winning are irreproachable - his use of the ball less so.

Clare looked better than Limerick in the NHL semi-final two months ago before fatally taking their foot off the pedal. They'll have learned not to make the same mistake.

CLARE: TBA

LIMERICK: B Murray; D Reale, TJ Ryan, M Foley; O Moran, B Geary, M O'Riordan; S Hickey, M O'Brien; C Fitzgerald, S Lucey, D Ryan; A O'Shaughnessy, B Begley, B Foley.

Westmeath v Waterford, Mullingar, 4pm

Aside from Galway, Westmeath are probably the happiest team in the qualifiers. One win and a respectable defeat already under their belt, plus the buzz created by Kilkenny's visit.

Waterford are still under-strength, but John Mullane and Ken McGrath are on the way back - so the test by the home side will be useful, without being a menace.

WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; J Shaw, D McCormack, N Gavin; B Connaughton, E Loughlin; D Devine, B Murtagh, A Mitchell; B Kennedy, D Carty, J Clarke.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; E Murphy, T Feeney, D Coffey; T Browne, J Murray, B Phelan; K McGrath, D Bennett; D Shanahan, S Prendergast, S O'Sullivan; J Mullane, M Walsh, E McGrath.