TAILTEANN CUP ROUND THREE
SATURDAY
GROUP 1 (3pm)
Cavan v Offaly (Glennon Bros Pearse Park)
Odds Cavan 2/7 D 8/1 Offaly 7/2
Verdict Cavan
Laois v London (Parnell Park)
LAOIS have slowly got the show back on the road after a disappointing relegation to Division Four in 2022. Their Tailteann Cup campaign to date has been much more promising.
An impressive draw with Midlands rivals Offaly has put them in the mix for second place in Group 1, although they will be relying on Cavan to beat the Faithful and aid an 18-point swing to finish second.
After a bright 2022 and a more sustainable focus from manager Michael Maher on homegrown players, London appeared to be making progress. That progress undoubtedly has stalled as they prop up the group, but a win would still secure progression to a preliminary quarter. It will be tighter than some expect, but Laois should pull away.
Odds Laois: 1/10 D: 14/1 London: 13/2
Verdict Laois
GROUP 2
Meath v Down (Parnell Park, 1pm, live on GAAGO)
Odds Down 4/7 D 15/2 Meath 7/4
Verdict Down
Tipperary v Waterford (Páirc Ui Chaoimh, 1pm)
THE Munster title success of 2020 is now a distant memory in the Premier county. And the man who held that particular piece of silverware aloft, Conor Sweeney, is a huge miss having torn his cruciate in January.
Waterford, by contrast, have shown signs of improvement. Both sides would have been expected to be the whipping boys of a group containing the Mournemen and Meath, and that has proven to be the case to an extent. Waterford, however, notched a decent 1-14 against Meath, which has helped them send Tipp to the basement of Group 2.
And they could well spring a surprise to further David Power’s misery.
Odds Tipperary 8/11 D 13/2 Waterford 6/4
Verdict Waterford
TOMORROW
GROUP 3 (Laois Hire O’Moore Park)
Limerick v Wicklow (1pm)
THE wheels have fallen off Oisín McConville’s Wicklow in recent weeks, with Carlow gaining revenge for this year’s Leinster Championship defeat in round one of the group phase.
Full-forward Kevin Quinn has ratched up some impressive scores, but 2021 Wicklow player of the year Andy Maher remains a doubt with a cursed hamstring.
Long-serving Limerick manager Billy Lee stood aside last year having won promotion to Division Two, and has since taken over Austin Stacks in Kerry.
Mayo native Ray Dempsey is now at the reins, and his charges were unfortunate in their Munster defeat to Clare. An eight-point victory away to Carlow in round Two was particularly eye-catching, and they should win with a few to spare.
Odds Limerick 1/6 D 12/1 Wicklow 9/2
Verdict Limerick
Longford v Carlow (3pm)
WITH both sides deadlocked on two points and both having already lost to Limerick, this game is effectively a straight shoot-out for second spot, with the loser still having another crack at the quarter-finals next week.
Having drawn with the Garden county in the League, Carlow would have been disappointed with an eight-point Leinster defeat to the same opposition. Their return to Aughrim was somewhat rosier however, with a crucial victory in round one.
In the event of a draw, Longford hold the edge on scoring difference, and that is not an altogether fanciful outcome. Paddy Christie’s men should have a little too much firepower however, and expect full-forward Dylan Farrell to add to his 1-9 in the Tailteann Cup so far.
Odds Longford 2/7 D 8/1 Carlow 10/3
Verdict Longford
GROUP 4 (3pm)
Fermanagh v Antrim (the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds)
Odds Fermanagh: 8/11 D: 13/2 Antrim: 6/4
Verdict Fermanagh
Wexford v Leitrim (Parnell Park)
A DRAMATIC, last-gasp loss to Sligo in Division Four derailed Leitrim’s charge for promotion, which would have been one of the top, if not the top ambitions of Andy Moran’s. Since then however, two nine-point defeats to Ulster opposition have put the pin in the balloon.
In Keith Beirne, they have a forward who could genuinely make hay for any county in the country, and when you have that, you always have a chance.
Wexford will quietly fancy this, with their opening round draw with Fermanagh one of the surprises of the tournament so far. They are hefty favourites, but it would be a surprise if Leitrim don’t have a sting in the tail.
Odds Wexford 4/11 D 15/2 Leitrim 11/4
Verdict Leitrim
