Today

All-Ireland U-21 Football semi-finals

Cork v Galway, Ennis, 6.30 – Galway would have reasonable levels of confidence in an average year but Cork's annihilation of Kerry in the Munster final suggests John Cleary's team will take a lot of beating in this year's Cadbury All-Ireland under-21 football championship. Galway manager Alan Mulholland's measured view of the match is his team have done what they set out to do this year by winning Connacht. Cork's major assets are physical strength, ball-winning at centrefield and scoring potential. Galway have some quality players but it's hard to see how they can get enough possession to have a chance of breaking down the Munster champions.

Wexford v Cavan, Parnell Park, 7pm – The controversy over the fixing of this match three days after the Ulster final has distracted attention from the achievements of both counties in winning their respective provinces, Wexford for the first time.

Although it was late coming, Wexford’s win was deserved and they are good enough to exploit any fatigue on their opponents’ part. But Cavan have both experience, with many players having played last season, and an edge from a very competitive campaign in Ulster and they can make it to the county’s third All-Ireland final and a first since 1996.

Tomorrow

(Matches at 2.30 unless stated)

Allianz Hurling League, Division One

Cork v Dublin, Páirc Uí Chaoimh – Dublin's calm salvage of the match against Kilkenny two weeks ago was impressive. Regardless of Kilkenny's understrength line-out, it's not often they take the lead with a late goal only to be reeled back in injury-time with three points. On top of that, Dublin are also riddled with injuries and withdrawals and their ability to compete in the campaign to date has been noteworthy. Cork's project in the league has been to sift through the available talent with a view to developing an enhanced championship challenge.

So far the results haven’t been terribly encouraging for Denis Walsh and, after the surprising defeat by Wexford, this will be their last outing before taking on the All-Ireland champions at the end of next month. In those sort of circumstances, a much improved performance has to be expected and with Dublin’s push for the final fatally impeded by failing to beat Galway, a home win is marginally more likely.

Kilkenny v Offaly, Nowlan Park – Offaly won their big match against Wexford but the latter's defeat of Cork leaves Joe Dooley's team still notionally vulnerable heading into the last weekend of the regulation campaign. Nonetheless, their competitiveness has picked up despite a poor start and a bad run of injuries that they haven't been as well-equipped to withstand as other counties.

It says something about Kilkenny or maybe the competitive environment that the Leinster champions, bereft of so many first -choice players and not playing particularly well, still lead the division. An accurate reading on their well-being has to await the return of three missing Hurlers of the Year. But they will breast the tape here ahead and proceed to the final.

Tipperary v Wexford, Semple Stadium – Tipp gave a great display in Salthill – as far as we could tell given Galway's disinclination to get involved – exhibiting for the first time in the campaign the sort of sweep and vision of last year's championship. That the performance came with a number of young players was confirmation the upcoming defence of the All-Ireland will be well-resourced.

Declan Ryan makes a number of changes, bringing in some of the luminaries whose input, scarily, wasn’t needed two weeks ago: Noel McGrath and Brendan Cummins. Wexford manager and Tipperary old boy Colm Bonnar had a terrific result against Cork but, agonisingly, the Offaly defeat leaves them over the precipice. Interestingly, Wexford won the last league meeting here in 2005 but are unlikely to repeat that feat tomorrow.

Waterford v Galway, Walsh Park – One of the day's hinge matches and one Galway could well struggle in, judging by their recent performances. But the landscape here has altered slightly. Waterford are understrength, with their two first-choice free takers, John Mullane (on honeymoon) and Richie Kehoe missing.

Galway, for their part, have ramped up their challenge considerably with the return of Joe Canning and Damien Hayes.

A stronger selection won’t be of any benefit unless John McIntyre’s team can dump the lassitude that saw them blessed to beat Dublin and torn apart by Tipp. The assumption here is that with this improved team personnel, and with the carrot of final qualification dangling in front of them, Galway can take the points.

Allianz Hurling League, Division Two

Antrim v Limerick, Loughgiel – Limerick are already in the final but Antrim's chances are remote. The one-point defeat by Clare is likely to prove fatal even if they can do the trick here. Which on balance, they won't.

Clare v Carlow,Cusack Park Ennis – Clare's campaign has been inconsistent but a win here will see them qualify for the decider. Given that inconsistency this could be tough as Carlow have had a robust league. But the home side should get to the final.

Kerry v Laois, Tralee – Laois will be frustrated at not being more in contention. Kerry will be glad to have retained their status.

Away win.

Westmeath v Down,Cusack Park Mullingar – A dead rubber with Westmeath gone and having parted company with manager Kevin Martin. Not likely to get any better for them here.

Division Three A Final: Derry v Wicklow,Pearse Park, Longford.

Division Three B Final: Mayo v Roscommon, Carrick-on- Shannon.

Division Four Final: South Down v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds.