Football

GAA Matchbox - previews of this weekend's games

With forwards of the calibre of Ciaran Lyng, it would be unwise to write the Wexford footballers off this weekend  
With forwards of the calibre of Ciaran Lyng, it would be unwise to write the Wexford footballers off this weekend   With forwards of the calibre of Ciaran Lyng, it would be unwise to write the Wexford footballers off this weekend  

Leinster SFC quarter-final


Wexford v Kildare (Saturday, Croke Park, 5.15pm)


KILDARE had the Division Three title in their grasp before Clare wrenched it out of their grip with a late rally.

New manager Cian O’Neill will expect better on Saturday afternoon and he’ll also expect Wexford to be fired up for this one. He has described them as “a dangerous team” and Down, beaten in last season’s Qualifiers, could confirm that.

David Power’s side will be underdogs. They finished third in Division Four and narrowly missed out on promotion but, with forwards of the calibre of Ben Brosnan and Ciaran Lyng, they cannot be written off.

Odds: H: 2/9 D: 12/1 A: 4/1


Verdict: Kildare

Leinster SHC quarter-final


Dublin v Wexford (Saturday, Croke Park, 7.15pm)


DUBLIN impressed in the National League, finishing third before surprisingly losing to Limerick in the quarter-final.

Even without the retired Conal Keaney, Ger Cunningham’s men will be favourites to account for Wexford, but this game could go either way after the Slaneysiders showed a welcome return to form in their narrow league quarter-final loss to Waterford.

Odds: H: 1/3 D: 10/1 A: 3/1


Verdict: Dublin

Christy Ring Cup semi-final


Antrim v Down (Saturday, Loughgiel, 3.30pm)


WHOEVER wins on Saturday, the Johnston family will be represented in the final - Down boss Mickey is up against his native county and his sons Ciaran and Conor, who are both fit to take their places in the Antrim team.

The Glens men will also have Tony McCloskey, Sean McAfee, Paddy Burke and Conor McKinley available. Down are without Aaron O’Prey, the suspended Caolan Bailie and Steven Dineen too, but Michael McCullagh and Paul Sheehan are available.

The gap between the counties has narrowed dramatically over recent years and Antrim were one-point winners when the sides met in last season’s Ulster final.

Odds: H: 1/5 D: 11/1 A: 4/1


Verdict: Antrim

Christy Ring Cup relegation play-off


Derry v Wicklow (Saturday, Pairc Esler, 3.30pm)


LAST year, Derry were Christy Ring Cup finalists. On Saturday, they have to beat Wicklow to ensure a place in the competition next year.

The Oak Leafers lost to Roscommon and Down in the early rounds, while Wicklow were well beaten by Meath and Kildare.

Odds: H: 2/7 D: 11/1 A: 11/4


Verdict: Derry

Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final


Donegal v Mayo (Saturday, Letterkenny, 3.30pm)


DONEGAL have hit the net 10 times in three Nicky Rackard games so far and will hope for a few more to book a place in the final.

The Tir Chonaill men registered 3-13 in a losing cause against Armagh, but rallied to see off Ulster rivals Fermanagh (3-15 to 3-11) and Monaghan (4-14 to 3-14).

Meanwhile, Mayo - who had the better of the Division 2B encounter between the sides - have already taken two Ulster scalps. The westerners had too much firepower for Tyrone and then claimed an impressive win over Armagh.

Odds: H: 9/2 D: 14/1 A: 1/7


Verdict: Mayo

Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final


Fingal v Armagh (Saturday, Naomh Barrog, 3.30pm)


DIVISION 2B champions Armagh recovered from losing to Mayo in Ballina to see off Longford 3-15 to 2-11 at the quarter-final stage, with Ryan Gaffney and Declan Coulter leading the way.

Sylvester McConnell’s Orchard men also saw off a determined challenge from Donegal in round one. Meanwhile, Fingal have also beaten Longford, 3-21 to 3-15 in the first round, and went on to edge out Monaghan 2-19 to 3-14 last time out.

Odds: H: 11/4 D: 10/1 A: 3/10


Verdict: Armagh

Nicky Rackard Cup relegation play-off


Tyrone v Fermanagh (Saturday, Carrickmore, 7pm)


THE losers will be back out again on June 11 to face the Lory Meagher Cup champs, with the winner of that game keeping their Nicky Rackard status for 2017 and the loser dropping to Lory Meagher Cup level.

Last season, Fermanagh won the Lory Meagher competition before defeating Louth in the promotion/relegation game.

Verdict: Tyrone

Lory Meagher Cup round five


Sligo v Leitrim (Sunday, Markievicz Park, 2.30pm)


AFTER losing their opener against Louth, Sligo have beaten Warwickshire and Lancashire.

Leitrim lost to Warwickshire and Louth, but were 3-15 to 2-13 winners when the sides met in Division 3B.

Verdict: Leitrim

Lory Meagher Cup round five


Warwickshire v Lancashire (Sunday, Pairc na hEireann, 2.30pm)


LANCASHIRE have been well beaten in all three outings so far, while Warwickshire beat Leitrim in their opener before going down fighting against Louth and Sligo.

Verdict: Warwickshire

Ulster SFC quarter-final


Derry v Tyrone (Sunday, Celtic Park, 2pm)


DERRY have home field advantage, but Tyrone, the form team in Ulster, are firm favourites.

They picked up the O Fiaich Cup in late 2015 and, since the turn of the year, they’ve added the Dr McKenna Cup and the Division Two title - beating Derry four times in the process. Niall Sludden and Peter Harte replace the injured Rory Brennan and Justin McMahon.

Meanwhile, Derry should have Sean Leo McGoldrick fit and Kilrea defender Charlie Kielt has returned to the panel, but Barry McGoldrick, Benny Heron and goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl have all opted out.

Odds: H: 9/4 D: 15/2 A: 1/2


Verdict: Tyrone

Connacht SFC quarter-final


Leitrim v Roscommon (Sunday, Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, 3.30pm)


LEITRIM have named former Cavan U21 star Nevin O'Donnell at corner-forward and he is one of three Championship debutants, along with goalkeeper Brendan Flynn and wing-forward James Rooney.

Meanwhile, Cathal Cregg says the Rossies need to lift their game after scraping past New York in the preliminary round: “We need to put in a performance against Leitrim to give the supporters something to shout about,” he said.

Odds: H: 15/2 D: 16/1 A: 1/12


Verdict: Roscommon

Munster SHC quarter-final


Tipperary v Cork (Sunday, Semple Stadium, 4pm)


MARK ELLIS and William Egan are expected to be included for Cork, at corner-back and midfield respectively.

Ellis, who missed a big chunk of the Allianz National League through injury, is set to replace team captain Stephen McDonnell, who is ruled out with a broken elbow. Egan, meanwhile, is expected to make his first Championship start since the 2013 All-Ireland SHC final replay alongside Daniel Kearney in the middle of the park, meaning former dual star Aidan Walsh will have be content with a place on the subs bench.

Tipp have edged the rivalry between these two counties in recent times, winning six of their last seven meetings. The most recent meeting, back in March, saw the Premier men stroll to a 2-27 to 2-15 victory.

Odds: H: 4/11 D: 10/1 A: 11/4


Verdict: Tipperary

Leinster SHC round three


Carlow v Westmeath (Sunday, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm)


WINS against Kerry and Offaly mean Westmeath have booked a place in the Leinster quarter-finals, so Sunday’s meeting at Netwatch Cullen Park is a dead rubber.

They’ll be keen to continue their winning run though and should have enough to win this against a Carlow outfit that lost to Kerry and Offaly.

Verdict: Westmeath

Leinster SHC round three


Offaly v Kerry (Sunday, O’Connor Park, 3pm)


IT'S winner-takes-all at Tullamore, with a place in the Leinster Championship up for grabs.

Both sides are on two points each after losing to Westmeath and defeating Carlow and home advantage on Sunday sees the Faithful county favourites with the bookies.

When these two teams met in the league in March, it was Ciaran Carey’s side who edged a 2-18 to 2-17 win in Birr - Kerry’s first over Offaly since 1957.

Odds: H: 8/15 D: 9/1 A: 7/4


Verdict: Offaly

Offaly: TBC


Kerry: A McCabe; J Diggins, P Kelly, B Murphy; D Collins, T Murnane, K Carmody; D Dineen, J Griffin; J Goulding, S Nolan, J Conway; J Egan, B Barrett, P Lucid

Christy Ring Cup semi-final


Kildare v Meath (Sunday, Newbridge, 2.30pm)


DIVISION 2A outfit Kildare lost to Antrim in their opener, but bounced back to beat London by five points last time out.

Meath (Division 2B) also beat the Exiles (by four points) after seeing off Wicklow in round one.

Odds: H: 4/5 D: 8/1 A: 5/4


Verdict: Kildare