Division 1A
Limerick v Tipperary
(tonight, Gaelic Grounds, 7pm)
THERE’S a big Saturday night clash at the Gaelic Grounds as All-Ireland holders Limerick welcome a Tipperary side that has looked sharp in the early part of the season. That was particularly evident last week against Clare as they strolled to a 2-16 to 1-11 win over the Banner with new captain Seamus Callanan grabbing both goals. John Kiely has drafted Kevin Downes, Conor Boylan, Darragh O'Donovan and Graeme Mulcahy into the Limerick side as they try to build on last week’s win over Wexford.
Odds: H: 11/10 D: 8/1 A: 1/1
Verdict: Tipperary
Clare v Kilkenny
(tomorrow, Cusack Park, 2pm)
TONY Kelly’s appeal against his controversial sending off last week was unsuccessful so he will miss Clare’s clash with Kilkenny. The general consensus was that it was a very harsh call, but he will have to watch from the sidelines as the Banner try to make up for last weekend’s eight-point loss to Tipperary. Kilkenny started with a win over Cork but there were concerns following Richie Hogan’s late withdrawal from the starting side. Brian Cody said that it was a precautionary decision and that he wasn’t set for another spell on the sidelines.
Odds: H: 4/7 D: 9/1 A: 7/4
Verdict: Kilkenny
Cork v Wexford
(tomorrow, Páirc Ui Chaoimh, 3pm)
CORK and Wexford are both chasing their first points after opening-round defeats and the loser here will already be under serious pressure to avoid a relegation play-off. Rebel captain Séamus Harnedy has said that they need to make making Páirc Uí Chaoimh a fortress again and they should get the points they desire here anyway. Wexford put in a good performance against Limerick last week before losing by three points. Full-back Liam Ryan will miss out after he was sent off in the first half.
Odds: H: 4/9 D: 10/1 A: 9/4
Verdict: Cork
Division 1B
Carlow v Galway
(tomorrow, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm)
THIS will be the first National League meeting between these counties since 1961, a game the Tribesmen won by 14 points. It would be surprising if they didn’t record another double-digit victory against the Barrowsiders. They were 14 points up on Laois last week but took their foot off the gas late on before eventually winning by nine. Carlow gave Dublin a real fright but even with Martin Kavanagh landing a dozen points, they still lost by six points.
Odds: H: 11/1 D: 28/1 A: 1/33
Verdict: Galway
Laois v Waterford
(tomorrow, O'Moore Park, 2pm)
THIS could be a real tactical battle with both sides expected to play with designated sweepers. Paddy Purcell operated in that role for Laois last week against Galway but the Tribesmen simply bypassed him as they eased to a nine-point win. Waterford hammered an inexperienced Offaly by 27 points with Shane Bennett amassing an incredible 0-16 tally, more than double what the Offaly team managed between them. Another big win awaits Paraic Fanning’s side.
Odds: H: 9/1 D: 22/1 A: 1/20
Verdict: Waterford
Offaly v Dublin
(tomorrow, O'Connor Park, 2pm)
DUBLIN surprisingly trailed Carlow by two points at half-time last week but the introduction of youngster Donal Burke sparked them into life and they won by six points. Offaly, by contrast, lost to Waterford on a 2-28 to 0-7 scoreline. It’s a very young and, unsurprisingly, inexperienced Offaly side and they’re likely to suffer more pain before the League wraps up, Another defeat looks al almost certainty here despite home advantage.
Odds: H: 10/1 D: 25/1 A:1/25
Verdict: Dublin
Division 2A
London v Mayo
(tomorrow, McGovern Park, 12.30pm)
MAYO had an encouraging start as they drew with Meath and they could spring a surprise in Ruislip. They trailed by five points in the second half last week but Shane Boland drove them on before Cathal Freeman grabbed a late equaliser. London will be without the suspended Conor Kennedy who was sent off in last week’s eight-point loss to Westmeath.
Odds: H: 8/15 D: 9/1 A: 7/4
Verdict: Mayo
Kerry v Westmeath
(tomorrow, Austin Stack Park, 2pm)
IT’S early doors in Division 2A but these two sides already look like they could be battling it out for the promotion spot after overcoming difficult first assignments. Kerry had to withstand an Antrim fightback to win at Corrigan Park while goals from Allan Devine and Niall Mitchell saw Westmeath past London. This looks set to be a close encounter but Westmeath look very sharp and can pick up another vital win.
Odds: H: 6/5 D: 8/1 A: 4/5
Verdict: Westmeath
Meath v Antrim
(tomorrow, St Loman’s, 2pm)
N Preview P50
Odds: H: 2/10 D: 10/1 A: 4/9
Verdict: Antrim
Division 2B
Kildare v Warwickshire
(today, Newbridge, 1.30pm)
KILDARE didn’t get it all their own way against Donegal last week and actually trailed at half-time. Still they managed to turn things around in the second half and they should be much stronger this week with Brian Waters, Cathal Dowling, John Gorman, Mark Delaney and Jack Travers all set to return. Warwickshire trailed Wicklow by a single point at the break in Birmingham last weekend but they were 15 points behind by the end. Emmet McCabe grabbed nine of their 11 points.
Odds: H: 1/20 D: 20/1 A: 9/1
Verdict: Kildare
Wicklow v Down
(tomorrow, Aughrim, 12.30pm)
DOWN boss Ronan Sheehan said that Mark Patterson’s dismissal against Derry last week was wrong as his first yellow card had been a case of mistaken identity. The Bredagh man will be available here but the damage may have already have been done in what was a tight game until his sending off. Wicklow put in a super second half to comfortably beat Warwickshire in Birmingham last week.
Odds: H: 4/7 D: 9/1 A: 13/8
Verdict: Wicklow
Derry v Donegal
(tomorrow, Ballinascreen, 2.30pm)
DONEGAL defeated Derry quite easily last year but it should be a tougher ask this time around with the Oakleafers looking decent against Down last time out. Alan Grant grabbed the crucial goal and they’ll be confident of another win here. Donegal performed admirably against Kildare and led at the break, but they were pegged back in the second half.
Odds: H: 2/9 D: 11/1 A: 7/2
Verdict: Derry
Division 3A
Roscommon v Monaghan
(tomorrow, Dr Hyde Park, 12.30pm)
MONAGHAN were well beaten by Armagh last weekend and manager Trevor Hilliard will expect a much better scoring threat this week as they only managed five points. Roscommon had a 3-18 to 1-11 win over Louth - Gearoid Egan (2) and Conor Mulry with their goals.
Verdict: Roscommon
Tyrone v Louth
(tomorrow, Healy Park, 12.30pm)
TYRONE lost their first two games last year but should be sitting on four points by the close of play tomorrow. Red Hand boss Mattie Lennon has named an unchanged side. Paul McCormack’s Louth lost heavily to Roscommon in round one.
Verdict: Tyrone
Armagh v Lancashire
(Tomorrow, Crossmaglen, 2.30pm)
AFTER a slow start Armagh stormed past Monaghan last weekend with Dylan McKenna (2), Eoin McGuinness and Stephen Reneghan all raising green flags. Lancashire should offer little resistance although the pitch could slow play down a tad.
Verdict: Armagh
Division 3B
Fermanagh v Longford
(tomorrow, Brewster Park, 2pm)
FERMANAGH were gutted to lose to Sligo by a point last weekend, especially after Declan McGarry’s goal had appeared to have rescued a point. Longford were not in action last weekend.
Verdict: Fermanagh
Leitrim v Sligo
(tomorrow, Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm)
SLIGO will be buoyed by last week’s late win against Fermanagh and they should make it two wins from two. Their opponents were on the wrong end of a one-point game as they went down to Cavan.
Verdict: Sligo
