The weekend's matches previewed

Today

Dr McKenna Cup (SF)

Fermanagh v UUJ, Brewster Park, 7pm –John O'Neill is still waiting to make his debut as Fermanagh manager. Last weekend's tie against Tyrone was rescheduled, so O'Neill attended the Donegal-UJJ game, where the students were mostly out-classed. Fermanagh look capable of doing likewise.

Queen's v Cavan, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7pm– Cavan lost out narrowly to Derry last Sunday and managers Val Andrews and Terry Hyland need the win here to keep alive their chances of making the semi-finals.

Down v St Mary's, Páirc Esler, 7pm– Down allowed Armagh stage a brilliant comeback last Saturday, and likewise allowed Antrim to snatch a draw during the week. However, the beaten All-Ireland finalists should gain their first points this evening.

Waterford Crystal Cup (SH) Quarter-finals

Clare v Limerick IT, Sixmilebridge, 1pm –It took a late rally – and a brilliant 1-5 from substitute Caimin Morey – for Clare to overcome Tralee IT last weekend, and manager Ger O'Loughlin will want a little more consistency from his men here.

Waterford IT v University of Limerick, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm –Waterford IT had the satisfaction of beating All-Ireland champions in Tipperary last Sunday. With that momentum behind them they should also get past Limerick IT.

O’Byrne Shield (SF) Semi-finals

Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 2.30pm(note change of time) The Meath-Laois semi-final has been postponed until Tuesday evening in Navan at 7pm.

Walsh Shield (SH)

Westmeath v Carlow, Mullingar, 7pm; Offaly v UCD, Banagher, 1pm.

All-Ireland JHC Quarter-final

Fullen Gaels (Lancashire) v Meelin (Cork), Páirc na hÉireann Birmingham, 1pm.

Tomorrow

Leinster Club SFC Final

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Rhode (Offaly), O'Moore Park, 2.30pm –How time flies. It doesn't feel like weeks since this fixture was being scheduled and re-scheduled.

Kilmacud’s injury-list hasn’t noticeably improved, with the long-term injury absentees – Paul Griffin, Mark Davoren and Darren Magee – still out and a couple more added to their number.

It’s not certain Rory O’Carroll won’t play, although his absence in Paris as well as an injury isn’t helping; Niall Corkery though also in exile, in London, still hasn’t recovered from a knee injury.

Rhode won’t lack motivation here, having blown the final two seasons ago against the same opponents despite having led by six at half-time.

Niall McNamee remains as central to their prospects as previously and delivered confident against the Meath champions. At times in the final two years ago he looked like he would dismantle Paul Griffin, but eventually the game drifted away from him.

Griffin’s not there tomorrow and neither is Darren Magee, whose work and unsparing effort at centrefield was also a significant influence on the comeback – nor Davoren, scorer of an important goal. There is also a question mark over how much farther Crokes can travel when so bedevilled by injuries.

McNamee’s brother Alan is in resurgent form at centrefield for the Offaly champions and in the absence of Magee and Corkery, that will be another challenge for the favourites, although Paddy Duggan and Craig Dias have coped well in the middle against Garrycastle.

As well as McNamee’s scoring power, Rhode can boast a near-inter-county attack, but if he is held it is doubtful whether the team can win.

Rhode look a better prospect than their 2/1 odds suggest, but Crokes’ facility in surviving tight finishes justifies their favouritism.

O’Byrne Cup (SF) Semi-finals

Westmeath v Kildare, Mullingar, 2.15pm– Impressive performances from both counties against Sigerson front runners DIT and DCU last week.

Kildare’s fitness levels and focus impressed at this time of the year and they look more formidable at present.

Louth v UCD, Drogheda, 2.15pm –Louth should have been completely out of reach by half-time last week against Wicklow, but effectively had to win the match again in the second half. UCD have staged dramatic comebacks in both the wins over Meath and Carlow, but will have their work cut out here.

Connacht (SF) League

Sligo v NUIG, Tourlestrane, 2pm –Sligo drew last week with the local IT and Kevin Walsh makes eight changes for the visit of the Galway students, who will feature Stephen Gilmartin taking on his own county.

Galway v IT Sligo, Tuam, 2pm– Basing too much on form lines at this time of the year isn't exactly reliable, but Tomás Ó Flatharta's team can bounce back from last defeat when under-strength to take the points against the competitive Sligo college,

Leitrim v GMIT, Cloone, 2pm– Currently rebuilding in the absence of a number of last year's players, Mickey Moran's Leitrim may struggle to emulate last year's share of the spoils against the visitors.

Mayo v Roscommon, Ballyhaunis, 2pm –James Horan empties the bench for this, changing all 15 players who started last week's defeat of NUIG.

Roscommon maintain a more modest experimental trajectory after doing enough to beat Leitrim.

Walsh Cup (SH) Quarter-finals

Kilkenny v NUI Galway, Ballyraggett, noon– Kilkenny fielded a strong team for a recent challenge and appear determined to hit the ground running as Brian Cody rejuvenates the panel. This will be a tussle against a good NUIG, who beat Offaly last week.

Dublin v Antrim, Parnell Park, 2pm –Dublin will be looking for a measure of revenge for last summer's shock championship defeat but Antrim, fired on by PJ O'Connell, made a good start in Westmeath.

Galway v Dublin IT, Ballinasloe, 2pm– John McIntyre will be trawling for new talent given the large number of injuries in the panel and this will be a good test against DIT, for whom Ballyboden's Paul Ryan hit 1-12 against Carlow.

Laois v Wexford, Rathdowney, 2pm –Laois' high-scoring defeat of UCD was a promising start to Brendan Fennelly's managerial career and they can maintain progress against a Wexford side, short several players.

Kehoe Cup (SH) Quarter-finals: Wicklow v Kildare, Avondale Grounds Rathdrum, 2pm; DCU v Down, DCU, 2pm; Meath v Roscommon, Trim, 2pm; Armagh v GMIT, St Paul’s Lurgan, 2pm.

Kehoe Shield (SH)

Fingal v Louth, Fr Lawless Park Swords, 2pm; Trinity v Carlow IT, Clanna nGael Ringsend, 2pm.

All-Ireland Women’s JFC Final (rep)

Caltra Cuans (Galway ) v Omagh St Enda’s (Tyrone), Mullahoran, Cavan, 2pm.

Dr McKenna Cup (SF)

Tyrone v Donegal, Healy Park, 2pm –So, after three postponements already – two due to the weather and another due to the tragic killing of Michaela Harte – Tyrone's will finally get their season underway.

It will be an emotional occasion, with Tyrone manager Mickey Harte to attend the game. Assistant manager Tony Donnelly has gone with a team which includes 10 of the players who featured in the All-Ireland quarter- final defeat to Dublin last August.

Derry v Monaghan, Celtic Park, 2pm –Monaghan, naturally, are in highly experimental mode, and they'll do well to come away with anything here against a Derry team that has won two games from two.

Armagh v Antrim, Athletic Grounds, 2pm– There was a definite bite to Armagh's performance against Down last Saturday night.

Antrim currently top section C and certainly have the incentive to press for a place in the semi-finals.

McGrath Cup (SF) Semi-finals

Kerry v Cork, Tralee, 2pm –A tasty little appetiser for the main courses expected to follow this summer.

Does the result matter? No. Would Jack O’Connor like to send Cork home with a defeat? Yes.

Waterford v Clare, Dungarvan, 2pm – Waterford matched Tipperary last weekend, before three big points from Patrick Hurney set them up for the victory. It was a morale-boosting win and they can build on that again against a Clare team who just about got past Cork IT, thanks, yet again, to the boot of David Tubridy.

Waterford Crystal Cup (SH) Quarter-finals

Waterford v Cork IT, Walsh Park, 2pm– News that Tony Browne has committed to Waterford for another year can only be a boost to Davy Fitzgerald as he rallies his troops for another shot at an elusive All-Ireland.

Cork v UCC, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2pm –So the post-Seán Óg Ó hAilpín era gets underway. Denis Walsh has named an almost entirely new team, with Martin Coleman in goal, Paul O'Leary, Cian Fogarty in defence, and Graham Callanan and Brian Lawton at midfield. The new forwards include Bill Cooper, Jamie Coughlan, Séamus Harnedy and Brian Hartnett.

Seán Moranand Ian O'Riordan