A look at the weekend's matches

O’Byrne Cup SF – Tomorrow: Carlow v Dublin, Carlow, 2pm.

It will be just a shadow of the team that won the All-Ireland last September, but that won’t leave Dublin short of incentive to give 2012 a winning start – especially with long-term panel positions up for contention. Among the players Pat Gilroy is without due to college commitments, injuries, etc, are Darragh Nelson, Nick Devereux, Colm Murphy, Craig Dias, Rory O’Carroll, Phillip McMahon, James McCarthy, Paul Flynn and Eoghan O’Gara, while Bernard Brogan and Denis Bastick are away.

Gilroy has actually deferred naming a team until just prior to throw-in as he awaits further updates on availability, although among those listed on the travelling panel are All-Ireland winners Mick Fitzsimons, Ger Brennan, Bryan Cullen, Alan Brogan and Barry Cahill.

Carlow will at least hope to be competitive, but are without midfielder Thomas Walsh, who has emigrated to Boston.

Also: Meath v Wexford, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm; Wicklow v DCU, Baltinglass, 2pm; Longford v Athlone IT, Longford, 2pm; Kildare v DIT, Newbridge, 2pm; Offaly v Westmeath, Tullamore, 2pm; Laois v UCD, Crettyard, 2pm.

Dr McKenna Cup SF – Tomorrow: Tyrone v Queen’s University Belfast, Healy Park, Omagh, 2pm.

This time last year the last thing Tyrone manager Mickey Harte could have had any appetite for was the Dr McKenna Cup, given the tragic death of his daughter Michaela, while on honeymoon in Mauritius. To his and his team’s credit they played on, in naturally difficult circumstances.

Harte had always given the Dr McKenna Cup fair attention, and has reiterated his desire to win it back this year, although circumstances are not ideal given the absence of some high-profile retirements, including long-serving captain Brian Dooher, plus injury to Seán Cavanagh. However Jonathan Lafferty is the sole newcomer for tomorrow’s clash with Queen’s. Peter Harte, who made such an impression last year in the half-forward line, is at centre back, with Kyle Coney on the bench, and Stephen O’Neill unavailable due to a thumb injury and isn’t available to take part.

Also: Down v Armagh, Páirc Esler, 2pm; Monaghan v St Mary’s University, Clones, 2pm; Derry v Cavan, Celtic Park, 2pm; Donegal v University of Ulster Jordanstown, Letterkenny, 2pm.

FBD Connacht SF League – Today: Sligo IT v London, IT Sligo, 7.30pm Tomorrow: Galway v NUI Galway, Tuam Stadium, 2pm

Alan Mulholland got his reign as Galway manager off to a winning start last Wednesday night with a hard-fought win over Sligo IT, played in in gale-force conditions at the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis.

Among those to impress were Shane Maughan and later on Niall Coleman and Paul Conroy, who landed the last two winning scores. Mulholland will be looking for more of the same against NUIG students. Also: Sligo v London, Kent Park, 1pm; Mayo v Leitrim, Ballyhaunis, 2pm; GMIT v Roscommon, Ballyforan, 2pm

McGrath Cup SF – Tomorrow: Clare v University of Limerick, Doonbeg, 2pm

Clare will be fancied to get the better of their student opposition but there is an interesting subplot in that UL are managed by former Kerry All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Declan O’Keeffe, who now plays his club football in Clare, and last season helped St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in their surprise run to the Clare final.

Also: Waterford v IT Tralee, WIT Sportsgrounds, 2pm; Tipperary v Limerick Institute of Technology, Clonmel Sportsfield, 2pm.

Ian O’Riordan