Division 1A
Donegal v Galway, Ballybofey (2.0)
Two Sundays ago, Donegal went into the lion's den, aka Armagh's Athletic Grounds, and escaped with the points. That was a fair old performance and indicative of how seriously Donegal teams traditionally take the league campaign. They may be playing on their home patch this time, but again there are likely to be plenty of questions asked of Declan Bonner's evolving team. Martin Coll returns after injury to fit in at centrefield and Shane Carr switches to attack to replace Brian Roper but those moves won't upset the balance. Galway claimed a fair scalp in their opening game with Roscommon but are without the suspended Tommie Joyce who is replaced by Enda Daly. So, all in all, both teams are showing a fair degree of loyalty to the players who kick-started their respective campaigns. Should be close, but home advantage might be enough to swing things Donegal's way.
Prediction: Donegal.
Dublin v Armagh, Parnell Park
Not exactly a local derby, but these teams have seen quite a lot of each other over the past 12 months. They met three times in last season's league series - the Dubs beating Armagh in a semi-final replay on the last occasion - but both stumbled in their opening matches of the new campaign.
Paul Curran has been brought back to add some verve and substance to a Dublin defence that was as leaky as a sieve in the defeat to Tyrone and Jonathon McGee has been moved forward some 15 yards to form a new-look midfield partnership with Ciaran Whelan. And the selectors have also tinkered with the full-back line with Martin Cahill drafted in for his league debut in one corner and Tommo Lynch recalled in the other corner.
Will it be enough to fix a broken machine? It's doubtful, although Dublin couldn't be as bad again as they were in Omagh. Armagh have made three changes from the side that lost to Donegal - probably the most notable being Kieran Hughes replacing fractured jaw victim John Toal - and also include Kieran McGeeney and Des Mackin who won Dublin county medals with Na Fianna. Even without their Crossmaglen contingent, Armagh should still have sufficient firepower to make a winning raid.
Prediction: Armagh.
Kerry v Tyrone, Tralee (1.0)
Has the potential to be a pre-dinner treat, this one. Kerry were impressive and stylish in beating Cork in the first match; a day later Tyrone were equally masterful in domineering Dublin. Not surprisingly, Tyrone have stuck with the same 15 starters for the long trip south and, as so often, much will depend on how the Canavan brothers, team captain Pascal and elder sibling Peter, perform. Invariably, they tend to be up to the task.
Kerry have some worries. Seamus Moynihan is troubled by a hamstring strain and won't make a decision on his fitness until shortly before the throw-in. "There's no tear," he says, "but if it's not right, I won't play." If fit, he'll again play in midfield - and that would be a huge spur to the home side. Eamon Fitzmaurice has been released to assist UCC in the replay of the Cork football final which means a call-up for Stephen O'Sullivan in the half-back line. Has the makings of a good game, but the home side could have most to cheer by the end.
Prediction: Kerry.
Roscommon v Cork, Hyde Park
You'd almost feel sorry for these teams, weakened by absentees. A goodly portion of the Roscommon Gaels contingent are being wrapped in cotton wool for the Connacht club final and manager Gay Sheerin has made five changes from the side that lost so tamely to Galway in an effort to put some extra steel into the team.
Cork, naturally enough, are without the Nemo Rangers players who are involved in the county final replay and it is a fair assumption to think that there is probably more interest in that club rematch by Leeside. Nevertheless, Cork have made four chances from the side that flopped to Kerry in the opening match of the defence of their league crown and should be suitably embarrassed by the size of that defeat to make some amends in this outing.
Prediction: Cork.
Division 1B
Sligo v Meath, Markievicz Park
Another moment of truth for Sligo, facing the All-Ireland champions on home turf. That prospect alone is sure to give a surge of adrenalin to the Sligo players as they adjust to life with the big boys of Gaelic football - and the return of Eamon O'Hara and Gerry McGowan certainly strenghtens the team after their disappointing defeat to Fermanagh. Meath may be just a pale imitation of the team that lifted the Sam Maguire in September with a combination of injuries and club commitments reducing manager Sean Boylan's options. But one thing we have learned from Meath teams down the years is that those selected to replace some of the star names manage to fit into the set-up in the sort of seamless way that makes other counties green with envy.
Prediction: Meath.
Mayo v Fermanagh, Crossmolina
Pat Holmes wouldn't mind at all if his first match at home resulted in his first league win. After falling to Derry away in their opening match, there is a bit of pressure to get a result out of this one. The irony is that the match takes place on the home ground of the club who contest next week's Connacht club final and, consequently, a number of those players are unavailable to the manager. Fermanagh had a nice introduction to the league big time when beating Sligo and, again, a lot will depend on how their star forwards Raymond Gallagher and Shane King perform - not to mention big full forward Sean Quinn. Still, Mayo, with home advantage and sufficient strength-in-depth to compensate for the absence of more established personnel, should forage out a win.
Prediction: Mayo.
Clare v Down, Kilmihil (2.0)
Peter McGrath makes the point that Clare are "stubborn opposition," which is his way of acknowledging that his side face a tough assignment. He has made five changes from the team that fell to Kildare - perhaps the most significant being the recall of Finbar Caulfield - and there is no way that they will want to suffer their second defeat in as many starts. Indeed, the same could be said for Clare. However, the absence of the Doonbeg players could again militate against the county team's chances of success.
Prediction: Down.
Kildare v Derry, Newbridge
Yet more reams of cotton wool in use here. With the Sarsfields players excused from county duty, there is an unfamiliar look to the Kildare team and a number of newcomers to inter-county fare. One of them, Ivan Keatly, will form a new midfield partnership with Pat Winders where, ironically enough, he will come faceto-face with another league debutant, Derry's Michael McIvor.
Although Derry have made four changes from the team that defeated Mayo in the first series of matches, there are a number of significant returns. Henry Downey, Kieran McKeever and Stephen McLarnon are back and, all in all, there appears to be a nice mix of experience and youth through the Derry team.
Prediction: Derry.
Division 2A
Louth v Antrim, Drogheda
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim
Leitrim v Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon (2.0)
Westmeath v London, Mullingar (1.15)
It seems quite harsh that no-one from this sector can actually win the National League title because it has all the ingredients to be a highly competitive little group. Offaly, for example, won't particularly relish the trip to Aughrim to face Wicklow who are notoriously difficult to beat at that ground while Antrim, for so long the whipping boys of Ulster, have started to show signs of improvement and will look on the trip to Drogheda as another examination. Still, wins for Louth, Offaly, Leitrim and Westmeath appear to be the order of the day.
Division 2B
Monaghan v Laois, Scotstown
Waterford v Cavan, Dungarvan (2.0)
Tipperary v Carlow, Ardfinnan
Longford v Wexford Pearse Park
Monaghan made a successful raid across the county border to beat Cavan in their first match of the campaign and should be in buoyant mood for the visit of Laois, a game which has the makings to be as good as any in any division tomorrow. In fact, Monaghan's young team can strengthen their divisional claims by taking victory while elsewhere Cavan, Tipperary and Wexford can prevail.
