Today: (7.30pm unless stated) NFL Division One - Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Rinn (Live Setanta Ireland) – With Cork experiencing existential angst over the pointlessness of beating Kerry in Munster, Conor Counihan's men could be forgiven for finding it hard to get up for this but there have been some lively NFL exchanges between the counties.
Cork were purposeful in Monaghan a week ago and persevere with much the same team. Kerry continue to acclimatise to the new season.
Paul Galvin was the most competitive – on occasion a little too much so – of the front-line players and there is work to do. With so many first-choice players not back yet and Cork in reasonably punchy form, the holders will struggle.
Dublin v Derry, Parnell Park (Live Setanta Sports 1) – Pat Gilroy's almost pathological restraint after winning in Kerry for the first time in nearly 30 years was understandable. Kerry have a habit of starting the NFL badly and Dublin have a habit of being inconsistent. Derry will be the ideal diagnostic to determine whether the Leinster champions have addressed that failing.
Derry were impressive in defeating Tyrone but league proficiency hasn’t guaranteed anything in the past couple of years.
With Eoin not named because of suspension, both Bradleys will be missing, which removes the sharpest instrument of Dublin’s torture a year ago.
NFL – Division Two
Down v Meath, Páirc Esler – Down hit the ground running and last week's big win in Kildare was further evidence of this. Meath will have been gratified to get the win without shining against Armagh. This will be a higher standard and should be a home win.
Tipperary v Kildare, Thurles – Two disappointed teams after the opening day albeit for different reasons. Kildare may have been in heavy training before the Down match but it can't have been that heavy. Tipp just lost out to Laois after one of their now familiar second-half comebacks came up short. Kildare need to get their promotion campaign back on track and should do so here.
NFL Division Three
Fermanagh v Roscommon, Brewster Park – Roscommon were desperately poor last week and Fergal O'Donnell looks like he has a long road ahead to replicate the underage success. Even with the Gallaghers in dry dock before St Gall's semi-final next weekend, Fermanagh should be too strong.
Cavan v Antrim, Kingspan Breffni Park – Cavan may have been flattered by Roscommon's ineptitude last week but 2-20 is still a good score with Seán Johnston out injured.
Antrim are candidates for a second successive promotion and even without the St Gall’s contingent will be hard to beat.
NFL Division Four
Limerick v Carlow, Kilmallock – Limerick should continue their winning ways despite Carlow's good result last week.
Walsh Shield (Leinster SH) Semi-final – Kilkenny v Laois, Castlecomer, 2pm.
Kehoe Cup (Leinster SH) Final – Kildare v Westmeath, Newbridge, 2pm.
All-Ireland Club IHC Final
St Gall's(Antrim) v St Lachtain's(Kilkenny), Croke Park, 7.45pm – St Lachtain's had a fine win over South Liberties, generated by a more inventive attack. Gall's with the senior footballers in action next week are a busy club but up against it here.
All-Ireland Club JHC Final
Blackrock(Limerick) v Naomh Colum Cille(Tyrone), Croke Park, 6pm – Blackrock upset the odds by beating Kilkenny's Black and Whites and will fancy their chances against the specialist hurling club from Coalisland.
Tomorrow
(2.30pm unless stated)
All-Ireland Club SHC semi-finals
Ballyhale Shamrocks(Kilkenny) v Newtownshandrum(Cork), Semple Stadium, (LIVE TG4)– A potentially riveting championship inches towards its endgame with this face-off to see who's to be entrusted with attempting to foil Portumna's three-in-a-row bid. Newtown have regenerated to some extent in the six years since winning their All-Ireland but the big names remain the same. They have however benefited from Cork's short championship last year and the work of Tipp's trainer Cian O'Neill to the extent the team has recovered the dynamism associated with their best years.
Their performances against the two Sarsfields (in Cork and Thurles) represent the high point but if the Munster final ended in an unexpectedly undignified scramble, the team will have had time to recuperate over the long break.
They have a chance. Ballyhale struggled against Portumna’s pace at Semple Stadium last year and Newtown bring plenty of the same attribute to the venue this weekend. The disparity between Ballyhale’s defence and front eight has been frequently commented on but the same argument could be made about the Cork side, who apart from the veteran Pat Mulcahy – having a very influential season – are equally short of intercounty credentials.
One knowledgeable Cork observer however drew a valid distinction between Newtown and Portumna: the champions’ pace invariably creates goal chances whereas the Cork side generally use it to create a platform for scoring points. Another factor that has changed in the past 12 months is Shamrock’s two most celebrated hurlers, Henry Shefflin and James Fitzpatrick, were not in top form last year – the latter recovering from illness at the time.
All told, Ballyhale, while vulnerable, pack more of a punch up front and that will be decisive.
Portumna(Galway) v Cuchullains Dunloy(Antrim), Parnell Park – Portumna are within two matches of doing what no other club has done and stringing together three All-Irelands in succession. Even complacency shouldn't pose too much of a danger. Six years ago the clubs met and, in the aftermath of a first county title, the Galway side were turned over by Dunloy.
The Antrim club produces its best form in semi-finals and have taken big scalps – Athenry, Glenmore, Mount Sion and Portumna – at this stage before.
But the champions’ A-game, combining pace and firepower, rules out another notch on that stick for the Ulster champions.
NFL Division One
Galway v Monaghan, Pearse Stadium (deferred TG4) – Defeats but contrasting performances for these teams last week. Galway may have been overdoing the stamina stuff but they were plundered by Mayo whereas Monaghan, although losing at home to Cork, deserved the draw and Séamus McEnaney will be happy with the displays of a number of newcomers.
Galway were beaten all around the field but particularly at midfield where the team continues to have difficulty in securing a functional share of possession. Although a Galway backlash is on the cards, there could be another setback in store for Joe Kernan’s side.
Tyrone v Mayo, Omagh – Tyrone have been hit by the likely suspensions of three influential players – Martin Penrose, Justin McMahon and Conor Gormley – after Pat McEnaney reviewed video evidence of the fracas last week against Derry.
Mayo got off to a flyer but reservations persist about their ability to stop opponents at the top level and establish a centrefield platform even though last week they dominated Galway.
Although they may be severely curtailed by suspension, Mickey Harte’s team have home advantage and the urgency that comes from needing to get their campaign off the blocks.
NFL Division Two
Donegal v Laois, Ballyshannon, 2pm – It's been a good few weeks for Donegal and JJ Doherty's team will be expected to maintain that momentum, even as the manager takes a look at more of his options. Laois nearly threw away the win over Tipp, but there were positives with Colm Begley reintegrating and John O'Loughlin back at centre back. The home side will be expected to claim the points.
Armagh v Westmeath, Crossmaglen – Armagh will have been disappointed to shed both points to Meath but will equally expect to pick up a first win against Brendan Hackett's team, which is having difficulty finding its feet.
NFL Division Three
Wexford v Offaly, Wexford Park – Wexford are swaying precariously between losing their burgeoning status and relaunching themselves. Offaly had a good win against Fermanagh and head to Wexford Park in good spirits and may deepen the local gloom.
Sligo v Louth, Markievicz Park – Louth have started well but that's happened before. Although defeated by Antrim, Sligo improved on their January form but the visitors can take the points.
NFL Division Four
Wicklow v Leitrim, Aughrim – Two poor results for these teams last week but Wicklow look more capable of halting the unwanted downward spiral.
Kilkenny v Clare, Nowlan Park – Unbeaten after one series – albeit they didn't play – Kilkenny entertain an improving Clare, who will be prove too strong.
Waterford v London, Fraher Field, 1pm – This went terribly wrong for Waterford last year in Ruislip but the home side can exact full revenge.
Walsh Cup (Leinster SH) final
Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 12.45pm – With Galway short players between injury and club commitments, Dublin can pick up a morale-boosting trophy.
Having beaten Wexford with 13 men for the last 20 minutes, Anthony Daly’s team have the edge, but there won’t be much in it.
Walsh Shield semi-final
Carlow v Antrim, Carlow
Kehoe Shield final
Wicklow v Armagh, Arklow
All-Ireland IFC finals
Cookstown Fr Rocks(Tyrone) v Spa(Kerry), Croke Park, 3.45pm – Conor Gleeson's late goal propelled Spa past Maynooth but they will be outsiders against Owen Mulligan's and Raymond Mulgrew's outfit
All-Ireland JFC final
Castlegregory(Kerry) v Kiltimagh(Mayo), Croke Park, 2pm – Kiltimagh's big second-half recovery against Emyvale pitches them against Kerry's latest dual challenge for these championships but the West Kerry side are clear favourites after crushing Longwood in the semi-final.
