The weekend matches previewed

SATURDAY

ALL-IRELAND CLUB HURLING FINAL FINAL

Coolderry (Offaly) v Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim), Croke Park 2.0 – Given Loughgiel’s abundant disappointments in Antrim in recent years, they’ll be amused at the idea that fate has been kind in the All-Ireland series. But they emerged from Ulster for the first time in over 20 years to find themselves the only club in the semi-finals who’d actually won an All-Ireland before.

The performance against Na Piarsaigh was dominated by Liam Watson’s massive 16 points, six from play, but it was also a gritty and committed team display. Better than the Limerick side, they had to go to extra time when their opponents unleashed a scoring burst just before the end to level the match. Loughgiel cleverly exploited tactical naivete on the part of an inexperienced half-back line to drag them deep and leave the full forwards with acres of space.

With the platform created in defence, Loughgiel went to town and put some distance between the teams. Coolderry will hardly get caught like that.

But the real difficulty for the Ulster champions will be in keeping out their opponents. With four county players in their attack, the Offaly side pose a varied scoring threat and a fifth forward, Eoin Ryan has hit seven goals in the campaign to date and is clearly thriving in the pressure exerted by his colleagues. All six of the starting attackers scored from play in the hugely impressive job done on Gort in the semi-final. Loughgiel can counter that five of their forwards also scored from play in their semi but the space of Croke Park, you suspect, is going to benefit the Coolderry players in their quest to score goals – they managed three against Gort.

Loughgiel on the other hand, although a fine point-scoring unit, don’t present the same goal threat. Overall the title looks Offaly-bound for the first time in nine years.

ALL-IRELAND CLUB FOOTBALL FINAL

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Garrycastle (Westmeath), 3.45 – Teams who have achieved a great deal by reaching finals are always going to be at a disadvantage compared to those for whom anything except winning constitutes a bit of a disaster.

Certainly the pressure is on Cross in their pursuit of a sixth All-Ireland but there are a couple of reasons why complacency is unlikely to be a factor. The loss of captain Stephen Kernan to suspension – it was confirmed yesterday his challenge to the ban before the DRA had been unsuccessful – will be a sizeable motivation. It’s also worth bearing in mind Crossmaglen have experienced their fair share of disappointment in losing to Dublin clubs St Vincent’s and Kilmacud Crokes in recent years and consequently they shouldn’t harbour notions of invincibility.

On paper the champions look too strong. Garrycastle sprang a great surprise on their trans-Shannon neighbours St Brigid’s in the semi-final. Des Dolan makes things happen for them up front but it was at centrefield that they dismantled the Connacht champions, who never fully came to grips with the problem. Seán O’Donoghue’s industry and relentlessly accurate kick passing kept Dolan well supplied and Brigid’s buckled. Crossmaglen were under early pressure at centrefield against Dr Crokes in the semi-final but David McKenna’s arrival helped to address that imbalance and space contracted alarmingly for the Kerry champions.

In attack they have such intuitive understanding and patience that they can clinically create and execute killer scores, such as Oisín McConville’s lay-off for Michael McNamee’s goal and the build-up to Stephen Kernan’s just after half-time the last day.

Because if there’s one overriding quality or asset the Armagh champions bring to big matches it’s not the unusual (for a club team) quality of their panel strength but the disinclination to panic. The tighter things get the better able they are to respond whether through McConville’s guile or the floating orchestrations of Jamie Clarke or the gradual erosion of opposition forwards.

All of which points one way.

SUNDAY

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE [Matches at 2.30 unless stated]

DIVISION ONE:

Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.45 – It’s been an interesting league so far for the two eternal Munster rivals. Kerry, partly because of club commitments and suspension, have given plenty of opportunity to aspiring panellists whereas Cork appear to have prioritised game time for their established defence with a bit more innovation up front.

Kerry are looking the more dynamic outfit at present with just one black mark – the listless and at times cranky display against Armagh when losing in Tralee – but Cork rebounded from a poor afternoon in Donegal to trim Laois last week.

The experiment of playing Aidan Walsh at full forward with Fintan Goold slotting into centrefield worked well when Conor Counihan’s side were actually pursuing the match – they effectively “declared” at half-time – but with Pearse O’Neill’s red card forcing Walsh’s return to more familiar surroundings much of the second half was more of a holding pattern.

Kerry’s attack is looking very sprightly in the absence of Colm Cooper and that could be the determining factor when all the customarily edgy confrontations have been played out

Donegal v Mayo, Ballyshannon –

Mayo have a surprisingly poor record against Donegal with just one win in more than 30 years but more urgently, fell to a disappointing defeat at home to Down last week.

Donegal for their part were on the unpleasant end of a hiding in Kerry but the fixtures schedule at least allows them the chance to get the setback out of their system as quickly as possible. They’ll be more at home here in all senses. Both teams won provincial titles last summer, as new managers reined in their more flamboyant instincts and demanded big increases in work rate. This is a pivotal match for both teams in determining whether they’re in relegation or play-off battles by the end of the league. Aidan O’Shea’s early red card played its part in last week’s defeat but there’s a fitfulness about the team that needs to be ironed out and this has the look of a home win.

Down v Dublin, Newry – Good results for both teams last week, as Down recovered from the beatings by Cork and Kerry and Dublin steamrolled a hapless Armagh. Bernard Brogan is still awaiting his first league start after undergoing keyhole surgery yesterday morning but the Dublin forwards have been delivering impressively in his absence with Diarmuid Connolly’s 3-3 six days ago following on Eoghan O’Gara’s 1-5 a week previously.

Down exploited the sending-off of Aidan O’Shea with a good display from Ambrose Rogers and Kalum King at centrefield and Benny Coulter was sprung from the bench to great effect.

Dublin’s latest promising newcomer is Johnny Cooper who gets his first league start in a defence whose strength in depth has greatly benefited from the trialling of the league campaign. The team has struggled at centrefield at times but Michael Dara Macauley was at his best last week and those improved levels will be needed tomorrow. This has an awkward look to it from the visitors’ perspective but their upwards trajectory suggests a third win.

Laois v Armagh, O’Moore Park – Horror-show stuff from both counties last week and the pressure is on Laois to take advantage of home venue and Armagh’s shipwrecked fortunes to boost their two-point status.

It’s easier to see how Armagh might respond to their lack of intensity in Croke Park by giving a tighter display than how Laois can solve their difficulties in sustaining periods of superiority for sufficiently long to create a winning platform.

Brendan Quigley’s back on the team after suspension and that should improve the team’s prospects. The visitors, whose accuracy from play even when being overrun in last week’s early stages was peripherally impressive, can however pull out of their freefall and get something here.

DIVISION TWO

Louth v Kildare, Drogheda – Kildare kept their show back on the road with last week’s win against Derry and although Louth have sprung unpleasant surprises on them in modern times, the visitors can push to challenge for the second promotion spot after Tyrone.

Galway v Tyrone, Tuam Stadium – Last week’s much improved display and outcome for Galway was vital in what’s looking like a very open division. Tyrone have been the stand-out side so far, not having conceded a goal and scoring fluently themselves. Seán Cavanagh makes his return for the visitors, who can extend their 100 per cent run.

Meath v Derry, Páirc Tailteann – John Brennan must feel like Job, sitting there reflecting on the loss of players. Enda Muldoon’s retirement wasn’t a sensation given his age and difficulties with injury but it was another man down for Derry. Meath’s loss of Joe Sheridan, who departed to the US, was unexpected and is a big setback for the team but they haven’t been easily beaten so far and should be able for the depleted visitors.

Westmeath v Monaghan, Mullingar – Only two points separate the counties but Monaghan’s season has been a lot more buoyant with two good home wins. Westmeath responded well to the abject performance against Meath by turning over Galway in their last home match. Monaghan don’t look as co-operative.

DIVISION THREE

Longford v Antrim, Pearse Park, 2.30; Longford boast the enviable record of being one of only three teams with full points across all four divisions. Home advantage should be enough to help ensure a fifth successive win and put them one step into Division Two – especially as Antrim looked shaky against Roscommon last Sunday.

Wexford v Roscommon, Wexford Park, 12.45; This could well decide who follows Longford into Division Two, and Wexford have to fancy their chances. They put 1-21 past Offaly last weekend, and have accumulated 8-67 in total, but Roscommon hit 10 wides in their four-point win over Antrim last weekend, and are playing well, even in the absence of Donie Shine.

Sligo v Tipperary, Markievicz Park, 2.30; Tipperary have struggled and their mood wasn’t helped by the heavy midweek under-21 defeat to Kerry. A fifth successive defeat here looks likely because Sligo are always hard to beat at Markievicz Park.

Cavan v Offaly, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2.30; Reports that Gerry Cooney was poised to vacate the Offaly manager’s position after last Sunday’s loss to Wexford proved exaggerated but the pressure continues to mount. Cavan appear to have found some form, albeit against Tipperary, and they will hardly fear the Offaly men.

DIVISION FOUR –

Waterford v Fermanagh, Fraher Field, 1.0; Fermanagh have been transformed under Peter Canavan, they have won four from four, and collected 11-60 in the process. They travel to Waterford with justifiable confidence.

Clare v Leitrim, Cusack Park, 2.30; This is what you call a mid-table battle with victory keeping the door open on promotion, and defeat shutting it closed. Clare have been the more consistent, marginally, but Leitrim can make it a close contest.

Wicklow v Limerick, Aughrim, 12.45; John Galvin makes his first start for Limerick since last May when he partners midfielder Paul Kinnerk, and they certainly appear to finding form again. Wicklow have inevitably lost some spark since Mick O’Dwyer moved on but Limerick won’t need any reminding about Fortress Aughrim.

Kilkenny v Carlow, Freshford, 12.45: What is there left to say about lowly Kilkenny? Four games, four defeats; 1-08 for, 13-99 against. Good luck, is all we can say.

SEÁN MORAN AND IAN O’RIORDAN