Championship previews

Saturday

Leinster SHC

Preliminary Round:

Carlow v Dublin, Dr Cullen Park, 6.00

As the millennium Guinness Leinster hurling championship gets underway, it's only three years since Michael O'Grady estimated that Dublin would win an All-Ireland within eight years.

In the interim, the project has been less than progressive. The 1998 wipe-out by Kilkenny was probably the most damaging blow to the team's morale but the last few weeks haven't been great either.

Between Ger Loughnane's musings on their shortcomings in the NHL, Sean Power's suspension and Shane Ryan withdrawing to concentrate on football, Dublin's build-up to the championship has been less than ideal.

Carlow, on the other hand, have had their best league run in a while and are challenging for promotion from Division Two. Manager Eddie Byrne has been assisted by the experienced Kilkenny hurling missionary George Leahy whose ministry to down-at-heel counties has taken him all around the country.

For all the convergence of recent years, the fact that Dublin have hurled in Division One and Carlow a level lower means that the visitors should pocket the first points of the championship round-robin.

Sunday

Leinster SFC - Preliminary Round

Wicklow v Carlow, Aughrim, 3.30

Wicklow return to the preliminary pool of the Bank of Ireland Leinster football championship after a couple of years' absence and face the county which beat them on their last visit to these environs. Carlow aren't what they were four years ago and even an injury- and retirement-hit Wicklow will fancy their chances with home advantage. Carlow have the added distraction that a couple of their better players Johnny Nevin and John Kavanagh will be playing for the hurlers tonight.

With the usual featureless league campaign behind them, Carlow return to the championship scene which has served them better in recent years. Last year's furore over the sendings-off camouflaged the fact that Carlow were more competitive against Westmeath than had been expected.

For tomorrow, though, the combination of Wicklow's class in certain positions and the forbidding record at Aughrim looks certain to get the home side off the blocks with a win.

Wexford v Longford, New Ross, 3.30

Both counties concluded their NFL campaigns on a down-note. Wexford getting dismembered by Cavan was less foreseeable than Longford's defeat by tabletoppers Laois, but raised question marks over the team which - with the admittedly substantial addition of Leigh O'Brien - will be much the same as takes the field tomorrow. For the last three years, Wexford have drawn their opening championship match before losing the replay.

Longford have been their conquerors on the past two occasions but face into their most demanding championship this year. Now that Westmeath - who defeated them in both of the last two seasons - have been promoted to the senior draw, Longford are now favourites to win this pool.

Like Carlow, Wexford generally play better than expected in the championship but have suffered with the retirement of John Harrington and the withdrawal of Scott Doran. Relocating Leigh O'Brien to attack weakens the defence.

This time, with Longford better tuned, even in the absence of Enda Barden, the home side might find it more difficult to mount a convincing challenge.

Leinster SHC - Preliminary Round

Westmeath v Laois, Mullingar, 3.30

This is Westmeath's first appearance in a championship match since 1997 when Dublin handed them two severe beatings - one in the league and one in the championship. There will be echoes of that sequence this year when they face Carlow in both league and championship within two weeks later this month.

Unfortunately for both the Kehoe Cup qualifiers, the NHL meeting is likely to be the more significant with the possibility of promotion open to both.

Laois are just emerging from the tunnel after recent difficulties and have good reason to be grateful for the new format as it postpones until the end of the month the match against Dublin which is the likely denouement to this preliminary group.

Laois players are aware that, whereas the public might consider the likes of Westmeath and Carlow to put up little resistance, this fixture makes them queasier than perhaps it would have done a few years back.

Nonetheless, with a virtually full-strength team, Laois should be too strong.