Weekend Previews

Gaelic Games this weekend (Matches at 2.30pm unless stated)

Saturday

Connacht Under-21 Football Final

Sligo v Mayo, Markievicz Park, 5pm – Mayo arrive with two impressive scalps under their belt: the Roscommon side that won the minor All-Ireland three years ago, defeated last week in extra time, and their successors Galway.

Compared to Sligo, who had a comfortable win over Leitrim in their semi-final, Mayo have a greater number of senior panellists, including Ireland player Tom Parsons and last year’s star minor Aidan O’Shea.

They should rack up a fourth consecutive provincial title.

Sunday

NHL – Division One

Galway v Tipperary, Pearse Stadium – Two teams heading in different directions at present. Galway have been able to bring back their Portumna players whereas Tipperary's list of the unavailable continues to grow.

John McIntyre’s side have also been picking up speed on the pitch and have a chance of reaching the final if they can win this. Tipperary looked still in shock from the demolition job inflicted on them by Kilkenny when getting a fright from Dublin last week when the defence shipped another sack of goals.

Rumours that the team wasn’t at full stretch for Kilkenny ring false, as it’s hard to see the benefit of taking a dive against the All-Ireland champions.

Although injury has to an extent forced his hand, Liam Sheedy’s rotation of players is risky given the imperative of establishing a settled format. Tipp have always done better when putting out their best selections in the competition and the previous two occasions on which the Munster title was won were preceded by lifting the league in the spring.

Lar Corbett’s re-emergence is welcome but this weekend’s attack isn’t settled and the defence has been generous so it’s hard to see the home side being upset.

Kilkenny v Cork, Nowlan Park – An intriguing tie not because it's in the balance but it does bring Brian Cody up against the fifth Cork manager he's faced in his 11 years in charge.

Denis Walsh was constrained in his first Cork selection but there will be interest in how Joe Jordan steps up in what has been a great year for the Blarney and UCC player. Kilkenny are well on the way to the final whereas the visitors need another point – or a Clare defeat – to guarantee Division One hurling next year.

Moreover, Walsh needs to cram a lot of learning into two matches with Tipp waiting in the championship in seven weeks’ time.

So far Cork have been feisty in securing the points for survival since normal service was resumed but Kilkenny have been cruising and should continue to do so, particularly with the motivation of facing their one serious competitor this decade.

Dublin v Clare, Parnell Park – Anthony Daly's first season with Dublin has been an emphatic success with top status secured. Ironically Daly is in the position of condemning his own county to the drop, which will become a reality if Clare don't win this.

Oisín Gough comes in for Dublin after a good season with UCD and an impressive outing in this week’s practice match with the under-21s. The only other change sees David Curtin replace the injured Joey Boland. This is a tough task for Dublin.

Clare haven’t been quite as bad as their pointless tally suggests and a few of the matches have been close calls and with their experience of top-level hurling the visitors have the ability to turn the screws and a cast-iron motivation.

Dublin have to get to the stage where they win matches that on paper they should win. And at this stage with rumoured unhappiness in the camp and morale dipping, Clare are vulnerable.

Limerick v Waterford, Gaelic Grounds – A dress rehearsal for what will be one of the big championship days. Limerick have had a quiet campaign, competitive in all matches and compiling a points tally that should be enough given their massive advantage in terms of points difference.

Justin McCarthy has sifted through what’s available and will have a good idea of his best team. His motivation to put one over on his former charges will hardly find full expression before June.

Waterford have been erratic, playing very well to beat Kilkenny but not being particularly impressive in the other matches. David Fitzgerald hasn’t had a full pick at his disposal for most of the campaign but they could still do with a morale boost here. Limerick however look more likely.

NHL – Division Two

Kerry v Westmeath, Tralee – Westmeath should at least preserve their divisional status by winning this and condemning the home team to the drop.

Wexford v Offaly, Wexford Park – Another of the weekend's fixtures to be a prologue for a championship meeting. Wexford's slip-up against Antrim means they need to win this to ensure they stay in one of the top two spots. Offaly have been the most impressive side in the division but their hardest matches (tomorrow and against Antrim) are yet to come. The balance of motivation is however in the home team's favour and they just might get the result they want.

Carlow v Down, Dr Cullen Park – Carlow have had a good league and last week repeated the Christy Ring Cup win over Westmeath.

Down also took the points off Westmeath, but that surprise was their only success and will still have that distinction tomorrow evening.

Laois v Antrim, Portlaoise, 1pm – Both teams have a chance of getting into the top two, but Antrim look more likely. Although last week's thrashing by Offaly was disappointing for Niall Rigney's men, they had been competitive in the first half before buckling. That's less likely to happen tomorrow but Antrim still have the wherewithal to keep their promotion challenge alive until the last day.

NHL – Division Three B

Longford v London, 1pm; Donegal v Fingal, Letterkenny; Roscommon v Louth, Athleague.

Leinster Under-21 Football Final

Laois v Dublin, Portlaoise, 3pm – Ger Reddin is expected to play for Laois despite receiving stitches playing for the seniors last week.

Dublin go into this as underdogs despite a battling progress to the final. The full-forward line of Paddy Andrews, Dean Rock and Barry O’Rorke is impressive but Laois look better served around the field in terms of craft and physique with the likes of Donie Kingston, who terrorised Kildare in the semi-final, John O’Loughlin and Reddin.