The weekend football matches previewed
Saturday
(7.30pm unless stated)
National Football League
Division One A
Kerry v Tyrone, Tralee- League meetings between this pair have been significant in the past few years. Tyrone's exuberant win in Killarney three years ago was an early demonstration of the havoc Seán Cavanagh's mobility could wreak on top-class centrefields.
A year later, Tyrone's point five minutes into injury-time averted the seven-point win that would have put Kerry into the play-offs, a failure which Jack O'Connor acknowledged handicapped his team's All-Ireland defence. Twelve months ago in Omagh, reliance on Colm Cooper up front was making O'Connor anxious, as Tyrone won comfortably.
This evening there is as much urgency as ever, because the losers can't qualify for the play-offs, which have been a necessary part of the preparation process for the past four All-Irelands that the counties have divided equally between themselves.
Kerry look in better shape. Although Donegal ran them off in the closing minutes it was nowhere near the disintegration experienced by Tyrone against the leaders. Pat O'Shea's team is still getting back to full strength. Mickey Harte got the show back on the road in Limerick, not to standing ovations but Limerick have been fiercely competitive this season.
Tyrone's injury rehabilitation has been knocked by complications to Brian McGuigan's recovery. It goes against the grain, but Tyrone may have to let the league go before they are back in business.
Division One B
Laois v Armagh, Portlaoise- Two points cover the middle six teams in the division. Both sides need a win - Laois to maintain the push for the play-offs, Armagh to keep alive the ambition of staying in Division One.
Last week's win over Down was eked out, but vital, whereas Laois were unlucky not to take both points in Derry where Paul Lawlor was in productive form - as he was when the teams met last year.
Armagh won a dazzling match two years ago at this venue, but three of the six scorers were from Crossmaglen, who go for a fourth All-Ireland here tomorrow and one of the others was long-term injury absentee Ronan Clarke. Joe Kernan has had further ill-fortune with injuries during the week and Andy Mallon is now out for a month. Home win.
Division Two B
Meath v Waterford, Páirc Tailteann, 5.45pm- Waterford famously put a stop to Cavan's promotion gallop last year, but, after a promising start, the season has gone flat for John Kiely's men. Meath are poised to go up and that won't change by tonight.
Under-21 Football
Connacht Semi-finals
Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, 2.30pm- The big clash in the province with the All-Ireland champions preferred despite the home team's match practice in beating Leitrim.
Sligo v Roscommon, Markievicz Park, 2.30pm- Roscommon have the double advantage of a more experienced team and a sprinkling of minor stardust from last year.
Ulster Quarter-final
Fermanagh v Monaghan, Lisnaskea, 3.30pm- The province is still vibrating from last week's defeat of Tyrone and Down. The latter lost to Fermanagh who can add to the achievement.
Sunday
(3.30pm unless stated)
All-Ireland Club SFC Final Replay
Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Dr Crokes (Kerry), Portlaoise, 2pm- All sorts of things point to Crossmaglen tomorrow. They cheated death at the end of the draw with a bravura, if dubious, point by Oisín McConville, who wasn't slow to claim the consequent psychological advantage.
Both teams will have learned a good deal from the experience of playing each other, but on the basis of what we've seen to date, Cross have the greater room for improvement.
On the downside, replacement Tony Kernan did his medial ligaments in the big under-21 win over Tyrone last week. For their part, Dr Crokes welcome back with some relief Brian McMahon and Eoin Brosnan.
One of the principal areas of improvement for the Ulster champions would simply be concentration. Another area would be use of the ball. Distribution wasn't hectic and shot selection was at times daft.
Colm Cooper's input was significant in the first match, but you can't help feeling he needs to be cloned in order to finish the chances he creates out the field. The other problem Crokes have is their tendency to tune out of matches, which wasn't as noticeable in the drawn match as it had become earlier in the championship, but equally it was evident in allowing the opposition salvage a match that should have been gone. It might have been their best chance.
National Football League
Division One A
Fermanagh v Cork, Clones -Yet another catastrophe for Cork last week. Six points up at half-time and having apparently discovered their own Kieran Donaghy in the imposing figure of Michael Cussen, Billy Morgan's side managed to blow the match in the second half by letting Mayo back into it.
Morgan is, however, accentuating the positive aspects of the display by retaining the team and the good news for Cork is that Fermanagh are at a low point after getting eviscerated by Dublin and facing into their final "home" match in Clones are unlikely to be able to cope with Cork's now pressingly urgent need for points.
Mayo v Dublin, Castlebar- Like tonight's Kerry v Tyrone encounter, tomorrow's re-run of last August's All-Ireland semi-final has a bit of history. Mayo will recall that, after a positive win over then All-Ireland champions Tyrone, Dublin came to Castlebar three years ago and slumped to the extent that they scored just one point from play all afternoon and supplemented it with two frees.
In last year's league, Mayo were on a 100 per cent high going into the Dublin match, but lost their record in Parnell Park. Both teams had satisfying wins last week - Mayo pulling it out of the fire against Cork and Dublin running up a scoring difference worth an extra point to them in the table. The Leinster champions' form has stepped up over the past two matches and their play-off destiny is in their own hands. But questions remain, such as their record in must-win league matches and the lack of serious testing for Ross McConnell at full back.
Despite the absence of the first-choice centrefield, Mayo coped well in Cork with David Heaney and Pat Harte performing solidly. Mayo are second in the table, unbeaten by anyone except Donegal and for all their improvising can take the points here.
Limerick v Donegal, Gaelic Grounds, 1.45pm -Two promoted teams experiencing different seasons. For all Limerick's gritty displays, they remain rooted in the Division Three slot.
Donegal, however, have been the story of the league, blazing a 100 per cent trail through all of the top teams. They finish their regulation fixtures with the bottom two and are on course to become the first county to score a maximum 14 points in the NFL since they did it themselves in Division Two A three years ago.
Division One B
Down v Derry, Newcastle -The stunning '94 Celtic Park championship match between these counties was on TG4 during the week. It wasn't one of Ross Carr's happier outings in that he was uncharacteristically replaced and this certainly hasn't been one of his happiest leagues.
Last week saw a better performance from a strengthened selection, leading to the suspicion that they can exploit home advantage with a surprise win.
Louth v Galway, Dowdallshill, 2pm- Since Galway turned around the match against Armagh their season has taken off, whereas Louth's has cooled a bit, leaving them still within range of a Division Three finish.
Nonetheless, they created good chances in the narrow defeat by Kildare. Galway's momentum to carry them through.
Westmeath v Kildare, Cusack Park- Like Louth, Westmeath have faded in the past two matches, toppling from play-off contenders to candidates for Division Two if not possibilities for the big drop. Kildare top the table, but for the second match running played well for only one half. That tendency to live dangerously may undo them here.
Division Two A
Monaghan v Offaly, Clones, 1.45pm -A year ago, Monaghan drew this and dragged Offaly down the relegation chute with them. Since then, Séamus McEnaney's team have moved smoothly through their fixtures. A win would promote the home side, but for Offaly it's an imperative if their outside chances are to stay alive. Monaghan's better form makes them more likely.
Roscommon v Leitrim, Hyde Park - John Maughan's side came up quickly on the outside to move into second place. Leitrim need the points, but are likely to remain wanting.
Clare v London, Cusack Park, 1.30pm- Clare to leave themselves still in with a chance of a top-four finish.
Carlow v Longford, Dr Cullen Park, 1.45pm- Longford will strengthen their play-off prospects against almost destitute opponents.
Division Two B
Sligo v Antrim, Markievicz Park- Another "close but not quite" finish for Antrim last week, but Sligo are a more plausible bet to survive the Division Four cull and the scramble starts here.
Cavan v Wexford, Kingspan Breffni Park- Crucial match with Wexford bitterly regretting the aberration against Waterford without which they'd be topping the table. Looks like an unproductive trip.
Tipperary v Wicklow, Ardfinnan- Equally crucial for these teams in the desperate rush for the top four places. On balance, the visitors look better.
