Gaelic Games/Club championships: This weekend's Ulster club football championship features two very high-profile matches at the early quarter-finals stage tomorrow.
All-Ireland champions Ballinderry renew acquaintances with Mayobridge of Down (Newry, 3.0) whom they defeated in last year's Ulster final.
For defending champions even to retain their county title is a bit of an achievement and although opinion is divided within Derry as to whether the champions have improved dramatically or the competition has declined, Ballinderry look in robust shape for this encounter after an impressive run through the county.
It took a spectacular goal from Enda Muldoon to separate the teams last year and there are indications that Mayobridge have raised their aim this time around.
Jackie McManus, who took Burren to their first All-Ireland title in 1986, has been installed as manager. As ever with defending champions, Ballinderry's question marks will be over appetite, particularly as this is a young team with Declan Bateson, at 31, their oldest player. Nonetheless, they get the vote to repeat last year's success.
Appetite is also central to the other big match, Crossmaglen Rangers and Errigal Ciarain (Omagh, 3.0).
Now on their seventh successive circuit as Armagh champions, Cross have to rev themselves up despite having three All-Irelands on the mantelpiece.
The most recent was three years ago, but the team is still largely intact. Of the central influences on those successes, Jim McConville is slowly taking his leave, starting more often on the bench these times, and, of course, manager Joe Kernan has moved to a bigger stage.
Whereas winning the county's first All-Ireland won't have sharpened any gnawing hunger within Crossmaglen's seven-strong county contingent, their confidence will be sky high.
The Tyrone champions unhorsed Cross in the midst of what would have been four successive All-Irelands five years ago, but the Armagh side get the nod.
The club who have lost the past two All-Ireland finals, Nemo Rangers, are back on the road again and face Clare's Kilmurray-Ibrickane (Quilty, 2.30) in tomorrow's Munster first round.
Chasing a provincial three-in-a-row, Nemo - to judge by the Cork final against Bishopstown - are still largely dependant on Colin Corkery for scores, but have sufficient back-up around the field to overcome their opponents.
Conditions won't suit Nemo, as even if the rain stays off, the seaside field in Quilty will gust up a fair old wind, and the home side will have pondered long the tactics of springing a surprise.
Veteran captain Aidan Moloney may be dispatched to sit in front of Corkery, but manager Pat O'Dwyer may have more unconventional strategies up his sleeve.
"His gimmicks are unreal," according to one long-time observer. "You could write a book on the stunts O'Dwyer comes up with."
These include a five-man centrefield against Kilkee in the county championship to counteract the wind. Nemo are warned.
The hurling schedules aren't as busy, but there is one stand-out fixture in Munster with Mount Sion taking on Adare. This game has been switched to Monday at the same venue, Walsh Park (2.30).
The Waterford champions will be highly motivated given that their great rivals Ballygunner finally won the province last year.
There is the additional motivation that in their last outing in this competition, two years ago, Mount Sion gave a wretched account of themselves losing the final to Sixmilebridge.
Opponents Adare have just retained the Limerick title but have the added complication of chasing a county double with 11 of the hurlers involved in next week's football final replay. They lack the experience of their opponents and that might swing it.
In Nowlan Park tomorrow (3.0) the Kilkenny final takes place after its postponement last week.
The worsening weather won't suit either team, but is likely to militate against Young Irelands' sharper looking strikeforce of DJ Carey and Charlie Carter.
Dunamaggin aren't too badly off up front with Seán Ryan and Ken O'Shea who have played at the highest level.However, Gowran have enough to win.
Finally, those enduring flag bearers of Ulster hurling Dunloy are back in tomorrow's provincial final. Opposition is provided by Portaferry (Casement Park, 3.0), but although Down clubs get the occasional crack at contesting the All-Ireland, Dunloy look too strong on this occasion.
