Compiled by SEAN MORANand MALACHY CLERKIN
TODAY
Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal v Tyrone, Clones, 4.30 - Live on RTÉ 2/ BBC 2 NI
Last summer there was an argument that Tyrone had been negligent in losing to Dublin in the 2010 championship: that their eye had been too focused on getting another crack at Cork and their shooting ratios had been abysmal. For all the speculated room for improvement, they instead got an even bigger beating from the eventual All-Ireland winners.
Some similar points could be made about this afternoon's match in Clones. Twelve months ago Tyrone were sloppy and they took just six of 18 scoring chances in the first half whereas Donegal were four from five.
The problem for Mickey Harte's team now is that not all of the other co-ordinates have remained constant. They have lost a lot of what in business is known as institutional memory and, although Brian McGuigan has agreed to suspend his retirement, Tyrone are missing eight of last year's side.
In the meantime Donegal have kicked on. The league wasn't spectacular but Michael Murphy missed a good part of it and when the team needed to dig in to preserve their Division One status, they did so. They are also more familiar with Jim McGuinness's game plan and benefiting from the higher level of residual fitness established last year.
There is speculation that Justin McMahon, who looked out of sorts against Armagh, mightn't be fit to line out and that would require a realignment with the possibility of Peter Harte resuming at centre back where he played to such good effect in a libero role during Tyrone's successful league campaign before the project was precipitously dropped after Kildare cracked the code in the divisional final.
It mightn't be the most obvious match to resume the innovation given that Donegal of all teams are unlikely to allow a free-running centre back too much runway.
Previously: Donegal have won two of the three most recent meetings in the past 10 years and on both occasions Tyrone were the reigning Ulster champions. Last year's win came at the very end courtesy of Dermot Molloy's late goal.
You bet: The champions are favourites at 4-5, Tyrone 11-8 and 15-2 the draw.
Just the ticket: Stand/unreserved seating tickets (€25/£20, €15/£12 for OAPs and €5/£4 (free in unreserved seats) for under-16s). Terrace (adults €15/£12, OAP/Student €10/£9 and under-16s free). From county board offices and online.
Crystal gazing:Between Tyrone's departures and injuries and Donegal's progress, the gap between the counties has expanded in the past 12 months, as the champions should demonstrate.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; E McGee, K Lacey, A Thompson; R Bradley, N Gallagher; D Walsh, L McLoone, M McHugh; R Bradley; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden.
TYRONE: P McConnell; A McCrory, Justin McMahon, D Carlin; C McCarron, C Gormley, Seán O'Neill; Joe McMahon, C Cavanagh; R McNabb, M Donnelly, P Harte; M Penrose, Stephen O'Neill, O Mulligan.
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
All-Ireland SFC qualifiers
London v Antrim, Ruislip, 1pm -Most teams head to Ruislip forearmed these days after Fermanagh tripped and fell there last summer. They've undergone massive change ever since though, with only 10 of that squad still involved. Antrim had Monaghan in serious trouble five weeks ago before Tommy Freeman was sprung from the bench to reel them in. That form looks a level or two above London's best.
Wicklow v Waterford, Aughrim, 2.30- A plum draw for Wicklow, whose season could have fizzled out after fluffing their lines against Meath when many predicted an upset. They'll be without Leighton Glynn in a championship game for the first time in over 10 years and will wait until this morning to sign off on Ciarán Hyland's fitness after the defender injured an ankle in Poland while out following the Ireland soccer team. They should still have a fair bit in hand here against a team that got the jump on them in their league encounter in Aughrim back in March.
Westmeath v Louth, Mullingar, 7pm -Both sides are depleted since their first-round game six weeks ago. Westmeath's former All Star goalkeeper Gary Connaughton moved to Boston for the summer after Louth's last-kick winner on 20 May, although his trip was cut short when he broke his ankle. Louth reportedly only had nine for training the week before last and look to have lost all stomach for the season after the Dublin hammering. Westmeath owe them here.
Tipperary v Offaly, Thurles, 7.0- Two teams who have had miserable league campaigns ending in relegation and the resignation of their respective managers meet this evening in order to prolong their season into July. Within that downbeat context Tipperary are in better shape and competed well with Kerry in Thurles last month whereas Offaly were steamrolled by Kildare. The teams met in the league on the last day of the season and Tipp won, this evening's likely outcome as well.
Laois v Carlow, O'Moore Park, 7.0- Carlow are in that position of wondering whether it would have been better to lose narrowly the first day rather than taking Meath to a replay whereas Laois have had over a month to ponder their collapse against Longford. Carlow have a poor record in the qualifiers. It's a local derby but in the circumstances there are limits to the enthusiasm even that can arouse.
Longford v Derry, Pearse Park, 7.0 -This is the most eagerly awaited of the qualifiers. Longford's good league wasn't erased by the replay defeat against Wexford but this is the last chance saloon. Derry had a most dispiriting Ulster exit at the hands of a rampant Donegal and will have it all to do against a well- organised defence and a more than useful attack.
All-Ireland SH qualifiers
Wexford v Carlow, Wexford Park, 2.30 -The peculiar configuration of the hurling qualifiers sees Carlow arriving in Wexford Park a week after Westmeath, the team that progressed a round farther than them into the championship last month and who were annihilated at the same venue. Wexford were pleased with the move of Diarmuid Lyng to full forward and he remains there. Amplifying the visitors' apprehension is the loss of a number of players to injury and wanderlust. Only one outcome here.
Limerick v Antrim, Gaelic Grounds, 3.0 -Limerick dusted themselves down from the narrow defeat by Tipperary and gave Laois a hammering to get themselves back in tune. John Allen names the same team including Brian Geary at centre forward, as a back-up option should it be needed in the future. Antrim are enduring a pantomime season with former manager Jerry Wallace's second resignation in a month but at least it will be over by tea-time.
TOMORROW
Leinster SFC semi-finals: Kildare v Meath, Croke Park, 2.0 - Live on RTÉ 2
Kildare's juggernaut rolled over Offaly without much ado in the quarter-finals whereas Meath, fresh from fending off the much prophesied 'surprise' defeat by Wicklow, ended up being taken to a replay by Carlow.
That's the theoretical gap between the teams and a far cry from the hotly contested league match in March, won by a late Ollie Lyons point, after which the counties set off on divergent trajectories taking Kildare up to Division One and Meath off in the other direction.
The tin hat was placed on an injury-devastated season when Séamus McEnaney announced that Kevin Reilly hadn't been able to shake off an injury from the Carlow match. This not only necessitated a reshuffle in the most fragile sector of the Meath team but also removed one of the most prominent performers in last year's Leinster quarter-final between the counties.
Meath's back nine is the area of greatest concern and they stood up to the mark last year with Reilly doing a fine job on Kildare's potent full forward Tomás O'Connor - a task he repeated in the qualifiers when the teams met.
If Reilly is indeed indisposed it's a major blow for the underdogs.
Emmett Bolton's listing at centrefield is interesting, as Meath have deployed Graham Reilly in the middle with some success and Bolton did a good man-to-man marking on the St Colmcille's man at wing forward last year in the Leinster match. Kildare have added a strong bench to last year's line-up - injuries having cleared up - and with two recent All Stars in their full back line look well equipped to deal with Meath's traditionally strongest suit, their inside forwards.
Previously: The counties meet for the fourth time in two years. It's all of five years since Meath won this championship fixture since when they've taken three defeats of varying levels of severity. Last year's matches were competitive - a six-point win for Kildare followed by a three-point margin in the qualifiers.
You bet:No doubt in the bookies' minds about this one with Kildare 2-7 Meath 7-2 and 9-1 the draw, which hasn't happened since the famous three-match semi-final of 15 years ago.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets €30, Terrace €20 (no concessions). Refund (€15) for OAPs and students in Cusack Stand. Juveniles (16 and under) €5 (limited to two per accompanying adult).
Crystal gazing:Kildare are well tuned up for this whereas Meath are struggling with injuries, leaving just one outcome likely.
KILDARE: S Connolly; H McGrillen, M Foley, P Kelly; E Doyle, M O'Flaherty, O Lyons; E Bolton, R Kelly; J Kavanagh, M Conway, P O'Neill; J Doyle, T O'Connor, E O'Flaherty.
MEATH: Murphy; D Keogan, B Menton, C Lenehan; D Tobin, S McAnarney, M Burke; C Gillespie, B Meade; A Forde, D Carroll, G Reilly; B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward.
Referee: M Collins (Cork).
Dublin v Wexford, Croke Park, 4.0 - Live on TV3
Teams do what they have to do. Despite having a championship outing under their belt, Louth disintegrated in the Dublin quarter-final and the champions put them to the sword. For Pat Gilroy's side it was about hitting the ground running and finding the race over after a couple of strides but today should detain them a bit longer, as the opposition have a decent track record against them and useful Croke Park experience.
But there are no guarantees. Wexford have struggled to find get up the gears in their unscheduled two-legged quarter-final. Allowing that Longford are clearly a useful side, who had twice beaten them already this season, Wexford still took a while to get on top.
The team is strengthened by the return of captain David Murphy at centre back and former All Star nominee Ciarán Lyng in the attack and in all likelihood there will be further changes to the team before throw-in.
Dublin's bench is formidable with the recovery of Michael Darragh Macauley and Cian O'Sullivan from injury and both may be in action sooner rather than later, as Dublin's centrefield lacks a bit of dynamism in the former's absence and Wexford have the forwards in Ben Brosnan, Redmond Barry and Lyng to exert a bit of pressure on the opposition defence.
Key to how the match unfolds will be Dublin's work rate. Jason Ryan's teams are always industrious and if the champions are tempted to coast at stages they'll be in trouble but given Gilroy's zero tolerance for lack of high-tempo effort there'll be changes if there's any repeat of the lassitude of the past two years.
There will of course be pressure on Wexford's defence. Dublin scored well the last day and opened up Louth with ease. Tomorrow's opponents will be tighter and better organised with some pre-match change likely in their defence.
Dublin won't have to be as dominant as they were in the quarter-final but they'll want the same effort and this will be difficult for Wexford.
Previously:Since the sort of outcome the colourful Cavan football manager PJ Carroll used to describe as "a notorious hammering" in the Leinster final of 2008, Wexford have been a stickier proposition for Dublin. Last year's provincial final nearly concluded with purple and gold ribbons on the Delaney Cup and two years ago, Pat Gilroy's side were steeped to make it as far as extra time. But you have to go back to the 1950s for the last Dublin defeat.
You bet:Despite Dublin's difficulties in dealing with Wexford last year, the champions are 1-10, Wexford 8-1 and it's 14-1 the draw.
Just the ticket:As Meath-Kildare above
Crystal gazing: Dublin are in the happy position of being in form as well as on notice after Wexford's good displays in the past two years. The champions should make it a less choppy passage this time.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O'Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan; E Fennell, D Bastick; B Cullen (capt.), A Brogan, P Flynn; D Connolly, K McManamon, B Brogan.
WEXFORD: A Masterson; R Tierney, G Molloy, B Malone; A Flynn, D Murphy, L Chin; D Waters, R Quinlivan; P Byrne, S Roche, B Brosnan; C Lyng, E Bradley, R Barry.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
All-Ireland SFC qualifiers
Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 2.30 -Should be one of the tighter games this weekend, with a pair of sides who both reckon they can beat the other. For all Fermanagh's strides in the league, their Ulster championship opener against Down was a sickener; for all Cavan's travails through the spring, their display against Donegal was actually encouraging in fits and starts. Séamus Quigley has left Peter Canavan's panel since the Down match, although it looked like management weren't overly keen on him anyway. Home advantage might just about swing it.
Roscommon v Armagh, Dr Hyde Park, 2.30 -A season that promised plenty for Roscommon could be in for a grim and swift end. Des Newton's side have had an age to wallow in the shelling they took off Galway and their prospects will hinge on how well Newton has dragged them out of their slough of despond. They will be encouraged by an Armagh teamsheet that doesn't have Aaron Kernan's name on it but it's hard to see them finding a way to keep Jamie Clarke under wraps.
