Weekend Previews

A preview of this weekend's National League matches, compiled by  Seán Moran.

Saturday

National Football League

Division One A

Cork v Fermanagh, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30 p.m. - Good away results for both sides in their penultimate fixtures have left them at the mercy of unlikely results. Cork manager Billy Morgan has already accepted that his team can't realistically qualify for the semi-finals unless there are disproportionate wins here and in Omagh. Fermanagh's concerns aren't at quite as lengthy a set of odds.

Relegation will be their fate should Longford do three points better against Dublin than Charlie Mulgrew's team manage tonight. Cork are disrupted by injuries and unavailability, but have developed well during the league and will take the points here.

Sunday

National Football League

(3.30 p.m. unless stated)

Division One A

Dublin v Longford, Parnell Park - Dublin's league form has been so patchy, Longford might fancy their chances of getting something here especially with Fermanagh's match tonight setting a target. Certainly, the Dubs' failure to protect a lead against Fermanagh has undermined Longford's campaign to stay up, albeit not as grievously as the midlanders' similar inability last week.

In a way, Dublin will be glad to go off and prepare for the summer in peace, although not being able to give the first-choice team a competitive run isn't ideal. Although you never know with Dublin, this looks destined to be a home win.

Tyrone v Kerry, Omagh (Live TG4) - This was the pivotal match of last year. A year ago in Killarney, Tyrone showed that they could counter all of Kerry's strengths even in such daunting areas as centrefield and still win. Kerry had no answer to Seán Kavanagh's non-stop performance in the middle.

Then, in the most talked-about fixture of the championship, the teams served up a widely reviled encounter, its impact exacerbated by the romantic expectations encouraged by the teams' then reputations as the two best attacking units in the game.

Meanwhile, Kerry have begun to rehabilitate under Jack O'Connor's management and the careful restoration of team morale has progressed nicely. With both teams in the semi-finals (or as good as in Tyrone's case) this fixture loses some of its, ummm, bite. But the legacy of last August ought to redress any tendency to lassitude. Tyrone, like all first-time top dogs, won't have grown tired of asserting themselves, whereas Kerry players have fresh memories of the humiliation. The feeling here is that the latter will be a stronger motivation and the visitors will win.

Westmeath v Mayo, Mullingar - The game's not quite up for Westmeath if they can win this and judging by Mayo's recent form (if not their own) that's not impossible. But to be fair to John Maughan's team, although after three straight wins they have been becalmed, this has been because of coming up short against the three best teams in the division.

Westmeath, however, don't come into that category and with confidence evaporating this looks beyond them.

Division One B

Sligo v Meath, Markievicz Park - Either team could reach the semi-finals or be relegated so it's all to play for - in theory; in fact nothing might happen to them. The most keenly contested of the NFL divisions has left all of its teams, with the exception of Cavan, with something to play for.

Meath have played better than their six points suggest, as the fixture list capriciously threw them up against teams enjoying good form at the time. There are still problems to be solved and it looks as if Trevor Giles may finally be slotted into what many see as his destiny, centre back, on a regular basis. Sligo have been sticky throughout the campaign, but the preference is for Meath.

Limerick v Armagh, Gaelic Grounds - An interesting benchmark for Liam Kearns. Last summer's meeting between the teams couldn't have come at a worse time for Limerick - demoralised after letting the Munster final slip away - or at a better time for Armagh, who had kick-started their season by beating Dublin.

This has been an exceptionally good campaign for Limerick who started out primarily hoping to maintain first division status. Reaching the semi-finals would ice the cake, but not reaching them wouldn't have any correspondingly damaging impact. Just as well, because Armagh deserve to be slight favourites.

Laois v Wexford, Portlaoise - Another rerun of a championship encounter, but one that has been overtaken by recent events. Wexford's blitzing of Galway dominated the spotlight two weeks ago. Like their fellow Division One debutants Limerick they will be happy to have maintained their status.

There is the added incentive of maybe reaching the semi-finals, but Laois have more pressing reasons for wanting to win - to banish the ghost of relegation that hangs over the Leinster champions - and they have the form and urgency to take the points.

Cavan v Galway, Kingspan Breffni Park - Galway's incursion into the Twilight Zone may have undone their (realistic) chances of reaching the play-offs, but it also put them, however marginally, into the relegation firing line. Cavan have done better than their unwanted distinction as the first county relegated from Division One might indicate. The suspicion is that Galway will lash back.

Division Two A

Clare v London, Cusack Park, 1 p.m. - Great result for London against a reasonable Carlow outfit a fortnight ago. Theoretically, this is just as attainable, but chances are that it won't work out that way.

Donegal v Carlow, Ballyshannon - Embarrassment at losing to London won't improve Carlow's chances of spoiling Donegal's 100 per cent record.

Roscommon v Leitrim, Hyde Park - Leitrim's resilience won't be enough as the home side chase the forlorn chance of promotion.

Offaly v Monaghan, Tullamore - Offaly to ensure their top-two finish.

Division Two B

Louth v Waterford, Drogheda, 2.30 p.m. - The only pointless teams in the NFL meet to determine who will have exclusive rights to the distinction. Smart money says Waterford.

Down v Kildare, Newcastle - Kildare are guaranteed to win the division whereas Down need to win to make sure of promotion. Even so, it's hard to imagine Kildare letting up.

Antrim v Wicklow, Casement Park - In a season of genuine achievements by improving counties, Hugh Kenny's feat of turning Wicklow into promotion contenders is probably the most startling. They can move to the verge of completion tomorrow.

Tipperary v Derry, Thurles, 2 p.m. - Another season of crushing disappointment for Derry, again losing out in a head-to-head battle with less fancied promotion rivals. Not much consolation but they should win this.

National Hurling League

Division Three B

Fermanagh v Tyrone, Enniskillen, 3.30.

Schools

All-Ireland VS Inter-county football semi-final

Cork v Tyrone, Portarlington, 2 p.m. - Cork to emulate St Brogan's win over St Ciarán's, Ballgawley in the schools competition.

All-Ireland VS Inter-county hurling semi-final

Galway v Tipperary, Borrisokane, 2.00 - Galway to maintain their awesome record at this level.

All-Ireland Senior 'A' hurling semi-final

St Kieran's (Kilkenny) v St Flannan's (Ennis), The Ragg, 2 p.m. - St Kieran's three-in-a-row in Leinster was achieved without too much complication and the team has experienced players, including Kilkenny minor Richie Power who has been posting big scores. Flannan's rate of improvement this season accelerated in the lead-up to the Munster final where the team gave its most complete performance in demolishing the Waterford Colleges. The emergence of scoring potential to complement a solid defence can give the Munster champions an edge.