Leinster SFC: Preliminary round

Saturday

Wicklow v Wexford, Aughrim, 7.00 - There is a growing sense of inevitability about the likelihood of play-offs being required to sort out the pool. Even within Wexford there is fatalism. There needn't be. Even though Aughrim is a forbidding venue, Wicklow have struggled through their matches to date. They can argue that they were unlucky against Longford but their attack hasn't been clicking to date. Whereas Wexford were poor enough against Carlow last week, they had to dig in to get the result. Their attack has been strengthened by Scott Doran's return and with a winning momentum there is reason to believe that they can cause a bit of an upset in fortress Aughrim. Ironically for a county which has lost replays in each of the last three seasons, a draw will do Wexford.

Carlow v Longford, Dr Cullen Park, 7.00 - Longford must be out on the edge about this evening's matches. Their predicament arises from a poor performance in Wexford and if Wicklow do them a favour, they will be firm favourites to win out in any play-off series. As for their own match, it won't be a stroll. They actually lost the league meeting in Carlow but since then have improved considerably. With contrasting incentive compared to the already eliminated Carlow, they should win this, although but for goalkeeper Gavin Tonra saving two penalties last week, their situation would be no different to their opponents'.