Previews

Sunday (3.0 unless stated)

Division One A

Armagh v Offaly Crossmaglen, 3.15

Offaly's prolonged hangover after winning the competition last year had better come to an end if morale isn't to be fatally damaged. No one expected them to make a big effort to retain the National League but three matches without a win is taking an understandable lack of ambition to extremes. There's a vibrancy about Armagh at the moment. Home win.

Cork v Galway Pairc Ui Rinn

Larry Tompkins's search for a settled line-up proceeds in its inscrutable fashion with the dropping of former captain Steven O'Brien whose Nemo clubmate Colin Corkery swelters in solitary confinement with his own personal gym instructor. Before Christmas, the team assembled an unbeaten run which will be tested during this half of the programme. The All-Ireland champions were cruising until Armagh surprised them and will have to come to terms with re-establishing momentum.

Tyrone v Donegal Omagh

Tyrone's scalded response - only two positions left unchanged - to drawing with Leitrim in the last match before the break encapsulates the difficulties besetting Danny Ball as he tries to blend in new talent. Under Declan Bonner, Donegal have rehabilitated impressively in an unostentatious manner and are as good a team as is in the - albeit diminished - province. They look to have too much cohesion for the home side.

Dublin v Leitrim Parnell Park, 3.15

Tougher tests await Dublin but Leitrim's determined recovery from the grim extremes of their demolition by Galway on the first day of the season has been admirable. Although Peter McGinnity's men are odds-on for relegation, continued improvement will leave them in better shape for the summer. Tom Carr's sifting through the playing reserves will begin in earnest now with both of tomorrow's call-ups, Liam Walsh and Niall O'Donoghue in with excellent chances of making the championship XV.

Division One B

Laois v Kildare Portlaoise

Laois can't be as bad as some of the pre-Christmas results suggest but Tom Cribbin will still have his work cut out to keep them afloat. His management role is going to be crucial if structures appropriate to the emerging talent are to established. Tomorrow they entertain Kildare whose championship improvement is dated back by many to their 13-man defeat of Laois in June 1997. The Leinster champions have acquired a new consistency in the NFL and with most of their All-Ireland crew on board should be too strong for their neighbours.

Down v Meath Newcastle, 2.30

Meath's awesome statistics to date which give them the highest scoring average in the NFL (3.818) were considerably helped by the pitiful performances of two of their opponents, Monaghan and Laois in November. Nonetheless, an injury-free Meath will be major contenders this year. Down's prospects have suffered early blight with the long-term injury to Greg McCartan.

Derry v Monaghan Celtic Park

Familiarity hasn't doesn't a lot for matches between these teams. Two unpleasant and one-sided affairs within the last 12 months both went Derry's way. With the much-hyped "dream team" of Eamonn Coleman and Adrian McGuckin in charge, Derry were too injury-afflicted to take much from the first matches and already Henry Downey is doubtful in the long-term. Monaghan wait on a Joe Coyle fitness test.

Mayo v Clare Ballina

John Maughan's pressing need for a convincing attack hasn't been helped by the mysterious disappearance of Kieran McDonald whose widely-forecast return for the NFL hasn't materialised. James Nallen continues at centre forward. Just as Mayo will be missing Liam McHale and David Brady - resting before the All-Ireland club semi-final next week - Clare are short the Doonbeg contingent.#

Division Two A

Limerick v Kilkenny Gaelic Grounds

Fresh from their mauling by Kerry, Kilkenny travel to a more manageable assignment. Despite a spirited showing against the Munster champions, Kilkenny may not do much better here in terms of points.

London v Westmeath Ruislip

This has been a good campaign for Westmeath with only one defeat against Kerry blotting their record. All the hard stuff is coming, however, with fellow promotion challengers Wicklow, Roscommon and Louth giving Brendan Lowry's men a rough run-in. No real doubts about this one, however.

Wicklow v Antrim Aughrim, 1.30

A good win for Wicklow in Drogheda last week sets up the county for a realistic crack at promotion. With their rest-date behind them and the best scoring average in the division Wicklow's chances hinge on the match with Westmeath in a fortnight's time. They should come through this with a bit to spare, judging by the amount of trouble London gave Antrim last week.

Roscommon v Louth Hyde Park

Roscommon emerge from hibernation for an important meeting with Louth whose own prospects of getting out of the division were dented probably beyond repair by Wicklow. The Connacht finalists may well end up cursing their similar result against Wicklow as it may edge them out of contention, albeit on scoring average. Nonetheless, they should maintain momentum tomorrow.

Division Two B

Cavan v Longford Breffni Park

Since the break, Cavan have commanded more column inches than any other county. New manager Val Andrews makes small-scale changes from the side which slipped up against Fermanagh with disastrous consequences for his predecessor Liam Austin. Properly motivated, they should have too much for Longford.

Carlow v Fermanagh Dr Cullen Park

A familiar situation for Carlow who have hardly ever had the Eire Og contingent available for League matches since their durable county champions took a grip on the Leinster club championship (the one year EO lost in Leinster, the beefed-up Carlow won the B All-Ireland). Fermanagh's loss of Rory Gallagher is a big loss but the team still have the wherewithal to make this a successful trip.

Wexford v Sligo Gorey

JJ Barrett's stewardship in Wexford produced a 100 per cent run before Christmas but the harder part of the programme is yet to come. Starting tomorrow with the visit of a Sligo team desperately trying to arrest a drift in their fortunes since narrowly missing out on Division One football nearly a year ago. Sligo's Paul Taylor has been passed fit to play at full-forward.

Waterford v Tipperary Dungarvan

Basement stuff which belies Tipperary's recent championship pedigree. For whatever reason, the county never gets going over the winter although the absence of the Moyle Rovers players until December wasn't helpful. No such worries tomorrow.