Leinster SFC semi-final
Meath v Kildare
Tullamore, 7.00pm
Live, Sky Sports 5, 6.00pm This has all the appearance of a Sliding Doors game for both sides. Any latent optimism in Leinster football will be heaped upon whoever wins here.
It’s not that they will definitely put it up to Dublin in a Leinster final, more that they will feel they’ve put clear water between them and the other most obvious pretender. You eat an elephant one bite at a time, after all. And this looks like a pretty significant mouthful.
Kildare haven't beaten Meath in championship since 2011 – and in fact the last two meetings have ended up being pretty one-sided. That said, Kildare were far and away the better side in their league meeting earlier this year.
Indeed, even though the general consensus has this down as being a close one, the past six championship games between these sides have finished with margins of five, six and six points to Meath and three, six and eight points to Kildare. One of them tends to burn the other off.
As for who would fit that bill here, Kildare look marginally more likely. Niall Kelly is probably the best forward in Leinster outside Dublin, Daniel Flynn is finally hitting his marks after a couple of false starts to his intercounty career, Kevin Feely and Tommy Moolick are a formidable midfield pairing. They also have one of the best goalkeepers in the country in Mark Donnellan, who compares very favourably to the occasionally flighty Paddy O'Rourke between the sticks for Meath.
Meath are certainly improving but the total of 0-27 points they scored against Louth feels like a freak number. To murder a team like that and still concede three goals suggests a certain lack of concentration and against a well-drilled side like Kildare, that could be fatal.
Last meeting: 2014 Leinster semi-final, Croke Park, Meath 2-16 Kildare 0-17.
Odds: Kildare 10/11, Meath 6/5, Draw 15/2.
Just the ticket: Stand €25, terrace €20. Juveniles €5/£5. Concessions available for students, senior citizens and families.
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Verdict: Kildare.
Leinster SFC quarter-final replay
Westmeath v Offaly
Cusack Park, 2pm
[Extra time if necessary]
For all the apparent advantages that Westmeath took into the drawn match, the fixture turned out to be just another in the series of grinding Midland frontier squabbles.
Offaly survived being down to 13 men but couldn't make home advantage or, in the second half, the wind, count.
Having survived through John Heslin’s late free, Westmeath might be more relaxed at home today. And their more menacing attack, assuming Heslin lifts his form back to league levels and Ger Egan can repeat the excellent showing of a week ago, means the home side should again be favourites. Westmeath should have the edge even though Offaly have shown themselves resilient since being humiliated by Armagh in the league and have dug out the required results.
Last meeting: 2017 Leinster quarter-final, O'Connor Park, Westmeath 0-10, Offaly 0-10.
Odds: Westmeath 4/7, Offaly 15/8, Draw 8/1.
Just the ticket: Covered stand €15, Terrace €10. Juveniles €5. Concessions available.
Verdict: Westmeath
All-Ireland SFQ, round 1A
Waterford v Derry
Fraher Field, 3pm
Although Waterford played with great heart in the agonising one-point defeat by Cork, a glance at the latter’s laboured win over a weakened Tipperary last weekend placed it all in context.
Derry were hardly distinguished in the thrashing they got at home from Tyrone and have experienced a major haemorrhage of players this year.
There are still enough good players to survive this, particularly as Waterford haven’t always been able to put performances back to back.
Verdict: Derry
Louth v Longford
Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, 5pm
The big defeat by Laois was a disappointment for Longford but they have established a reputation as a qualifier team and have bagged some decent results over the years.
Louth manager Colin Kelly said after the Meath match that they had decided the sweeper wasn’t working for them – literally in the sense that Derek Maguire had gone to the US for the summer – and a concession of 27 points illustrated the downside of abandoning caution, but they can handle the visitors’ redemptive instincts.
Verdict: Louth
Wicklow v Laois
Joule Park, Aughrim, 5pm
This match awakens memories of the infamous Battle of Aughrim 31 years ago, which was Wicklow’s last win in this fixture.
The home side were competitive against Louth and look a far better prospect of success than odds of 11/2 given their opponents’ demoralising thrashing at the hands of Kildare, notwithstanding a goal within seconds from Donie Kingston.
There were signs that Wicklow’s inexperienced team might be starting to gel, which gives them a shot at an upset here.
Verdict: Wicklow
Sligo v Antrim
Markievicz Park, 5pm
On the evidence of their championship exits, against Mayo and Donegal respectively, Sligo have to be preferred in this but injuries have redressed matters a little.
David Kelly and Cian Breheny are set to miss out for Sligo whereas the visitors have everyone on board after a scare concerning Matthew Fitzpatrick subsided.
Niall Carew will be conscious that his team carelessly lost to Antrim in the league but, equally, the latter looked wide open at times in the championship defeat.
Verdict: Sligo
