A no-win situation for Tommy Lyons. Dublin can beat London any way they want and it will prove nothing. Last Sunday's defeat to Westmeath won't be forgotten no matter what happens this afternoon and Lyons knows all the pressure will continue until Dublin face more testing opposition.
(Matches at 4.30 unless stated)
Dublin v London
Parnell Park
It's a cosmetic exercise, and no Dublin player can expect to gain any more or less confidence about the rest of the summer. Once again only Lyons knows who will start where, but Colin Moran and Darren Homan appear likely to miss out through injury. Expect Tomás Quinn to come in and take his share of the frees, but against a team that lost to Galway by 30 points even the free-taking will be a wholly different experience.
Carlow v Down
Dr Cullen Park
Two teams with an equal share of regret from the provincial championship, and the same ambition to advance into round two. Carlow had Laois under pressure for much of their Leinster quarter-final before poor shooting finished them off, but Luke Dempsey will ensure the refocusing has been swift.
Down had Cavan on the way out before a second-half goal spree turned that situation around, and if that traumatic experience can be overcome then they should have the physical and mental firepower to get past Carlow.
Clare v Sligo
Ennis
They'd rather not be known as the qualifier specialists, but Sligo find themselves setting out on a familiar path once more, the result of the desperately close affair with Roscommon.
Manager James Kearins was as deflated as any of the players after that experience but he knows the team can still have a say in the latter stages of this year's championship.
For Clare, the Munster quarter-final against Kerry showed some signs of encouragement but ultimately the challenge of the Connacht team will be beyond them. Sligo to progress, Clare to stay rebuilding for another year.
Kildare v Offaly
Newbridge, 2.30 (Live Network 2)
How times change. It's scarcely two months since this pair, twin victims of the Westmeath-Wexford revolution, played out a Division Two semi-final, both assured of promotion and confident for the summer ahead. Now one of them will be gone by mid-June.
Kildare's injury woes hit critical mass last week and they couldn't resist Wexford whereas Offaly compounded a frustrating recent trend to lose narrowly by letting Westmeath off the hook.
Kildare manager Pádraig Nolan has the advantage of a previous spell in charge of Offaly but it's the latter who look better placed, as Kildare once more have to play in a qualifier within six days of championship defeat and Brian Lacey picked up a further injury to complicate matters.
Wicklow v Derry
Aughrim
The gauge of Derry's decline can be seen not only in their ballooning championship odds but also in the potential difficulty of this fixture. During the league they came to Aughrim needing a win to stay in the promotion race and lost. This afternoon Enda Muldoon and Paul McFlynn are missing and morale is on the floor after the trimming by Tyrone. Wicklow gave a feisty account of themselves against Meath and can deepen Derry gloom.
Monaghan v Longford
Clones
Of the two counties Longford were more disappointed by the Carlow defeat but Monaghan were more disappointing, never raising a gallop against Armagh.
The injury concerns about Niall Sheridan are worrying for Longford given the physical focus he gives the attack, and David Barden has picked up a leg injury. But Monaghan aren't in the best of spirits and look vulnerable.
Louth v Antrim
Drogheda
Antrim look stronger and more settled. Their defeat by Donegal was disappointing but more robust than an inexperienced and understrength Louth managed when going down to Wexford. Although recent events have improved that form line, Antrim should advance.
The GAA has announced that tickets are now on sale online at www.gaa.ie for next weekend's Leinster SHC and SFC double bill in Croke Park, Offaly v Dublin or Westmeath (1.45 pm) and Laois v Meath (3.45 pm).
Tickets ordered before 11 am Wednesday, 16th June, will be posted.
