Football '99 Previews

Munster SFC Semi-final

Kerry v Clare

Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, Sunday (3.30)

Although this is on paper a step up for Kerry after their opening defence against Tipperary, Clare's extensive catalogue of unavailable players makes them less formidable. Paidi O Se has been careful to talk up Clare's credentials and in Kerry, doubts have been cast on the bona fides of some of the Clare injuries. Kerry's win over Tipperary was dominated by the invalid goal and its aftermath, but when the match was on the line, Kerry responded and killed off Tipperary. Clare may be more combative but don't look to have the same quality up front as Tipperary did. Kerry will be happier if Clare can pose some sort of a threat in attack as the defence would welcome another workout after conceding quite a few (untaken) chances the last day.

Team News

Kerry welcome back Eamonn Breen, who looked to have emigrated but returned after a week. John Crowley is an addition to an attack which looked blunt for long periods of the Tipperary game. Billy O'Shea is back in form and on the bench from where he was sprung to make an influential contribution in that game. Clare have lost their first-choice midfield and await fitness tests on forwards Ger Keane and Odran O'Dwyer. Brian McMahon and Mark O'Connell are considered the most likely replacements. Corner back Alan Malone has been replaced by debutant Conor Whelan.

Key Confrontation

One of the pivotal considerations will be how the Kerry midfield of Dara O Se and Donal Daly are dealt with by Denis Russell and Brian Considine. In the absence of Donal O'Sullivan and Joe Considine and with Francis McInerney now retired, Clare are improvising in the middle. The inability to make inroads in this sector cost Tipperary in the first round and unless Russell and Considine can be competitive, the strain on the half lines will be intolerable. O Se's strength was vital to Kerry's getting a grip on the last game and that will again be a factor.

View From The Camps

"We're quite satisfied with the run-in we've had but Clare have the advantage of having played in Division One during the year."

- Paidi O Se (Kerry manager). "We came through a crunch game against Monaghan at the end of the season to retain our Division One status so there has been a very positive buzz at training."

- Tommy Curtin (Clare manager).

KERRY: D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, B O'Shea, K Burns; T O Se, S Moynihan, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; J McGlynn, N Kennelly, D O Cinneide; J Crowley, A MacGearailt, M Fitzgerald.

CLARE: J Hanrahan; C Whelan, N Hawes, J Enright; P Gallagher, B Rouine, B Keating; D Russell, B Considine; A N Other, P McMahon, D O'Driscoll; C Mullen, A N Other, M Daly.

Verdict: KERRY.

Munster SFC Semi-final

Cork v Limerick

Pairc Ui Rinn, Saturday (8.0)

Cork may be slightly uneasy about getting the handier, less competitive side of the draw, but the draw has hardly done Limerick many favours either. After a couple of years of good performances against Tipperary and some reasonable showings in the McGrath Cup, there is more optimism in the camp than at any stage since the heyday of the early 1990s. That's not to say they fancy themselves in tonight's contest but with a very young side, they at least believe that progress is being made. They have also reached the last two Munster minor finals.

Team News

Limerick bring in four debutants, Jason Stokes at left wing back, John Galvin, midfield, Pat Aherne, centre forward, and Noel Mulvihill at full forward. There are two vacancies, at wing back and corner forward, because of injuries. Cork have one major problem, the shoulder injury to Michael O'Donovan, who had been having a terrific year, but is replaced by the capable Ronan McCarthy. The ploy of using Damien O'Neill as a full forward continues.

Key Confrontation

Limerick's best player, John Quane, who made his name at midfield, is now centre back. He faces Joe Kavanagh, whose return to form has been a key element in Cork's success this year so far. Quane is big and physical but will need his football to cope with Kavanagh - but he does have it.

View From The Camps

"We played them in the McGrath Cup and they got a flukey penalty which changed the match. Suddenly they threw caution to the wind and we were under pressure. If you start throwing the ball around and slow play down, you're in trouble. The only certainty in sport is the uncertainty."

- Paddy Sheahan (Cork selector).

"This is a very young team. Obviously I'm hoping to win but the main thing is to put up a good performance and build on that for the future,"

- John Quane (Limerick centre back).

CORK: K O'Dwyer; R McCarthy, S O hAilpin, A Lynch; C O'Sullivan, O Sexton, M Cronin; N Murphy, Michael O'Sullivan; A Dorgan, J Kavanagh, P O'Mahony; Mark O'Sullivan, D O'Neill, A O'Regan.

LIMERICK: E Scollard; M Dineen, D Sheehy, G O'Connor; J Stokes, J Quane, AN Other; J Galvin, T McGarry; F Finnan, P Aherne, M O'Doherty; M Reidy, N Mulvihill, AN Other.

Verdict: CORK.

Ulster SFC First round replay

Cavan v Derry

Breffni Park, Sunday (3.30)

After the drama of the drawn match, Breffni Park will swell with partisan home fans tomorrow and Cavan folk are always ready to believe that a new revival is on the horizon. They still have a class midfielder in Dermot McCabe and a few sharp forwards but they won't be able to rely on a flood of goals tomorrow.

Team News

Derry are delaying their team selection until the weekend. Cavan have named an unchanged team but bring Jamie Coffey into midfield. Dermot McCabe, selected at midfield last week despite lining out at full-forward, has been officially named in the attack. They have also opted for a series of defensive positional switches.

Key Confrontation

If Derry select a line-up similar to that of last week, Cavan are going to have to find a way to disrupt their strong central alliance. The dismissal of Ronan Rocks in the draw has already disrupted that quartet but Eamonn Coleman has myriad options at midfield and Anthony Tohill, Henry Downey and Dermot Dougan still have enough to squeeze Cavan of possession.

View From The Camps

"What happened in the drawn game is history. We got out of jail and we are looking forward to the replay now."

- Val Andrews (Cavan manager).

"He dived. His dive would have done justice to Greg Louganis."

- Gerry Donnelly (Derry PRO) on the penalty awarded to Larry Reilly.

CAVAN: D McCarthy; A Forde, C Brady, G Harten; B Morris, P Reilly, P Shiels; J Coffey, P Smith; L Reilly, J Crowe, R Carolan; J Reilly, D McCabe, M Graham.

DERRY: To be selected.

Verdict: DERRY.

Ulster SFC First round

Down v Antrim

Newry, Sunday (3.30)

The perennial whipping boys of Ulster football against a team apparently waning after a number of golden years. The Down panel still contains many big names, but there is a perception that all has not been well in the camp. The loss of Greg McCartan leaves Down without their most important player but they still looked competitive at times in the league. Antrim, in contrast, endured another bleak winter and have been hit by late injury problems.

Team News

Antrim have been hit by the loss of midfielder James Murphy, who tore knee ligaments and half-back Terry McCrudden, who is out with a damaged hamstring. Paul Logan comes in at wing-forward. Down have gambled on Brian Burns at midfield despite his recent injury problems and Sean Ward and Ciaran Byrne have also both been selected after shaking off recent injuries. Aidan Farrell, who has also struggled with injury, has made the substitutes bench.

Key Confrontation

Antrim simply don't have enough depth throughout the lines and Down should comfortably dominate in all the key areas. The performance of the Down forwards will be of relevance to Pete McGrath as his teams have not posted great totals in recent times.

View From The Camps

"Our biggest obstacle is that we haven't won a championship game for 17 years and that's a weight around the neck of a drowning man - but it has to end some time."

- Aidan Thornberry (Antrim comanager).

"There was a time five or six weeks ago when on a particular night only nine or 10 players showed up for training. At that stage, coming so close to championship it didn't bode very well. But this is a young team and it was all hyped up a bit."

- Shane Mulholland (Down player).

ANTRIM: D Shannon; M Mulholland, C McKearney, A Finnegan; G Adams, C O'Neill, P McCann; J Quinn, P McErlean; K Brady, P Logan, A Donnelly; D Gallagher, R Hamill, K Madden.

DOWN: M McVeigh; F Caulfield, C Byrne, P Matthews; J Higgins, M Magill, S Poland; B Burns, Sean Ward; G Deegan, S Mullholland, J McCartan; M Linden, C McCabe, Shane Ward.

Verdict: DOWN.