GAA Sidelines
TODAY
O’Byrne Cup
Carlow v Offaly
(Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm)
WITH a play-off spot beyond them, Carlow will be hoping to grab a morale-boosting win to carry into their Division Three opener with Sligo. Turlough O’Brien may opt to leave out sharp-shooter Paul Broderick as he attempts to recover from a knock. Offaly have added Kilmacud Croke’s forward Shane Horan to their panel.
Odds: H: 11/10 D: 7/1 A: 10/11
Verdict: Carlow
Longford v Louth
(Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm)
WINS over Wicklow and Louth mean that a home victory would take Longford into the O’Byrne Cup semi-finals although manager Padraic Davis is expected to experiment. Louth boss Wayne Kierans has indicated that he will field a strong side as they too chase a last-four spot. They will be without the suspended Andy McDonnell following his early dismissal in the impressive win over Wicklow last time out.
Odds: H: 4/5 D: 7/1 A: 5/4
Verdict: Longford
Wexford v Meath
(Enniscorthy, 2pm)
WEXFORD have won two from two in the O’Byrne Cup and the Model county have received another boost with the news that Brian Malone has recently returned to the panel. Malone has been included amongst the substitutes despite only training for the first time on Tuesday. Meath lost to Longford by a point before Christmas but they can get back to winning ways here.
Odds: H: 5/2 D: 15/2 A: 2/5
Verdict: Meath
Wicklow v Laois
(Bray, 6pm)
PORTLAOISE pair David Seale and Conor Boyle will make their first appearances for Laois since returning to the county panel while Donie Kingston is also set to make his first start of the season against Wicklow. The Garden County put in a very poor performance against Louth last weekend as they lost 1-17 to 1-9 – Gearoid Murphy with their goal – despite playing the majority of the match with an extra man.
Odds: H: 9/4 D: 15/2 A: 4/9
Verdict: Laois
Munster Senior Hurling League
Tipperary v Kerry
(Nenagh, 2pm)
KERRY started their group campaign with a heavy 15-point loss to Limerick and they should expect a similarly difficult day’s work against Tipperary. Having already defeated Limerick, Tipp are basically guaranteed to top the group. Seamus Callanan top-scored with 2-8 against the Treaty county.
Odds: H: 1/100 D: 33/1 A: 12/1
Verdict: Tipperary
Kehoe Shield
Longford v Louth
(Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 12 noon)
Derek Frehill’s Longford were pegged back by DCU/St Patrick’s in their opening fixture but they could still have a shot at the final if they secure a win here. They were too dependent on Cathal Mullane for scores against the student amalgamation and Frehill will be hoping for a better spread today. Louth did manage to beat DCU/St Patrick’s and they’ll be aiming to make it two wins from two under new manager Paul McCormack.
Verdict: Longford
TOMORROW
McGrath Cup semi-finals
Waterford v Clare
(Ballinacourty, 1pm)
CLARE will be aiming to reach their third McGrath Cup final in four years when they come up against Waterford but they will be without Eoin Cleary who is set to miss a few months as he recovers from hand surgery. Waterford made good strides in 2018 and will hope to add to that under new boss Benji Whelan.
Odds: H: 5/2 D: 15/2 A: 2/5
Verdict: Clare
Limerick v Cork
(Rathkeale, 2pm)
WITH no Kerry involved Cork will be expected to retain the McGrath Cup although Ronan McCarthy has named an experimental side that contains just eight of the players that lost to Tyrone in last year’s Qualifiers. Talented Limerick underage hurler Ronan Lynch has opted to focus on football this season, but he is not in the panel for tomorrow’s game.
Odds: H: 5/1 D: 14/1 A: 1/7
Verdict: Cork
Connacht Senior Football League
Leitrim v Mayo
(Páirc Sean MacDiarmada, 1.30pm)
JAMES Horan begins his second spell in charge of Mayo with a trip to Leitrim but they will be without Cillian O’Connor for the foreseeable future as he has recently had knee surgery. Terry Hyland is in charge of Leitrim this season and he will be hoping to start with a shock win that would set up a date with Galway.
Odds: H: 4/1 D: 10/1 A: 1/5
Verdict: Mayo
O’Byrne Cup
Westmeath v Kildare
(The Downs, 2pm)
KILDARE have started the season well with two wins from two and Lilywhite fans are starting to get very excited by last year’s U20 star Jimmy Hyland. Westmeath are yet to taste defeat this season but they were lucky to secure a draw with Offaly last time out with Paddy Fagan’s late, late score securing a share of the spoils.
Odds: H: 5/1 D: 12/1 A: 1/7
Verdict: Kildare
Dr McKenna Cup
Down v Donegal
(Páirc Esler, 1.30pm)
DOWN played fairly well against Cavan last weekend but poor shooting cost them dearly in the one-point loss at Kingspan Breffni. Donegal had a comfortable opener against Queen’s and Declan Bonner was able to give Jason McGee and Eoin McHugh game-time following their return to the panel.
Odds: H: 9/4 D: 15/2 A: 4/9
Verdict: Donegal
Cavan v Queen’s University
(Ballyconnell, 1.30pm)
CAVAN manager Mickey Graham has said that he will continue to rotate as the new manager tries to see as many players as possible ahead of the start of the National League. Queen’s were well beaten by Donegal last weekend but their attack did show some glimpses of class and manager Shane Mulholland will want to see more of that.
Odds: H: 1/8 D: 14/1 A: 11/2
Verdict: Cavan
Monaghan v St Mary's
(Clones, 1.30pm)
MONAGHAN racked up an impressive 1-21 against Antrim last weekend and Malachy O’Rourke should give opportunities to players like James Mealiff and Micheál Bannigan to catch the eye once again. St Mary’s are aiming to bounce back from a 25-point hammering at the hands of Armagh. Gavin McGilly is without the injured Oisin O’Neill and Conn Kilpatrick.
Odds: H: 1/33 D: 20/1 A: 9/1
Verdict: Monaghan
Antrim v Armagh
(Glenavy, 1.30pm)
ANTRIM showed good glimpses in the early stages against Monaghan last weekend but they were eventually overpowered. The odds have them as very big underdogs but this could prove tighter than expected given that Armagh have been inactive for three weeks. Jamie Clarke could make his first Orchard appearance since the 2017 All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Tyrone.
Odds: H: 4/1 D: 11/1 A: 1/5
Verdict: Armagh
Fermanagh v Derry
(Brewster Park, 1.30pm)
RORY Gallagher has confirmed that Seamus Quigley has left the Fermanagh panel so the manager will be on the hunt for new attacking quality. Derry fell away in the second half of their opening fixture against Tyrone but there were a few good performances from the likes of Gareth McKinless and Ryan Bell.
Odds: H: EVS D: 7/1 A: 11/10
Verdict: Fermanagh
Tyrone v Ulster University
(Healy Park, 1.30pm)
DARRAGH Canavan is set to make his first Tyrone start after his scoring cameo off the bench against Derry. Matthew Murnaghan is also set to make his first start. Ulster University earned a good point away to Fermanagh in their first game with Lee Brennan going on a late scoring spree to reel in the Erne county.
Odds: H: 1/10 D: 16/1 A: 13/2
Verdict: Tyrone
Walsh Cup
Laois v Dublin
(Portlaoise, 2pm)
LAOIS tired in the final quarter of their previous game against Carlow as they allowed their opponents to earn an eight-point win. Eddie Brennan would have taken the positives from the encounter as they prepare for a meeting with a Dublin side that has already beaten Carlow and Offaly.
Odds: H: 5/1 D: 14/1 A: 1/7
Verdict: Dublin
Carlow v Offaly
(Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm)
CARLOW lost to Dublin in their first game but Colm Bonnar’s side were much better as they responded with a fine 2-23 to 1-18 win over Laois. Carlow have moved up to the Leinster Championship this year while Offaly drop down to the Joe McDonagh Cup – so the Faithful County may have a point to prove.
Odds: H: 11/8 D: 8/1 A: 8/11
Verdict: Offaly
Munster Senior Hurling League
Waterford v Clare
(Fraher Field, 2pm)
WATERFORD and Clare have both beaten Cork in the group so the winner here will claim top spot. A draw will also do for Waterford as they adapt to life under new manager Paraic Fanning. Home advantage could be decisive here.
Odds: H: 5/6 D: 8/1 A: 6/5
Verdict: Waterford
Kehoe Cup
Kildare v Wicklow
(Newbridge, 2pm)
KILDARE manager David Herity has said that the enthusiasm of his squad in the early stages of the season has been first class but they still lost to Meath in a penalty shoot-out in their first game. Wicklow were comprehensively defeated by Westmeath.
Verdict: Kildare
