Weekend previews

Compiled by SEAN MORAN

TODAY

Waterford Crystal Cup (Munster SH) – Preliminary round:

Cork v UCC, The Mardyke, 12.0

THE first staging of the Canon Michael O’Brien Cup is a bit of a county trial with so many Cork players featuring in the college’s ranks. Cork, despite all of the traffic out of their defence in recent weeks, had a big win over Galway and Connacht champions St Thomas’s last week and will expect to win this.

Limerick v MICE, Kilmallock, 11.30: Despite missing half a panel with college commitments, Limerick manage to name 11 of the players who saw action in last July’s All-Ireland quarter-final against eventual champions Kilkenny. It should be enough against Eamonn Cregan’s Mary I, who have made the step up to the Fitzgibbon this year.

TOMORROW

O’BYRNE CUP (Leinster SF)

Semi-finals (Extra-time if necessary)

Louth v Dublin, Drogheda, 2.0: Jim Gavin didn’t appear entirely disposed to writing down last week’s defeat by Wicklow to the experimental line-up he fielded but makes nine changes anyway for the trip to Drogheda. Louth manager Aidan O’Rourke picks a slightly stronger team than the visitors with eight of the players that featured in the championship last June against five for Dublin.

Should still be an away win.

Offaly v Kildare, Tullamore, 2.0: Offaly have put in a good shift to date beating local rivals Laois and Westmeath along the way and name 12 of their most recent championship line-up but they’ll be up against it facing a very strong Kildare team.

FBD LEAGUE (Connacht SF)

Third round: (All matches at 2.0)

Sligo v Galway, Enniscrone: A chilly revisiting of one of last summer’s shockers for Galway but Alan Mulholland’s side have been ticking over well with an impressive range of scorers (averaging eight per match) and should have enough in hand here to prevent the home side beating them to the final spot.

NUIG v Sligo IT COE, Ballyhaunis: Whatever about Enniscrone, Galway should definitely win this battle of the counties’ third-level institutions.

Leitrim v GMIT, Ballinamore: Having done the hard work against Roscommon and Mayo, Leitrim should tidy up the pool campaign with a 100 per cent record against the struggling students.

Mayo v Roscommon, Ballyhaunis: Mayo continue the road back after returning last week from the team holiday while Roscommon experiment in the absence of a large college-tied contingent. Home win.

McGRATH CUP (Munster SF)

Semi-finals (Matches at 2.0)

Kerry v Limerick, Fitzgerald Stadium: Big wins over IT Tralee and UCC bring Kerry in Eamon Fitzmaurice’s first campaign rumbling into the last four where they should keep going against Limerick who pulled it out of the fire in extra time against Mick O’Dwyer’s Clare.