Longford v Louth, Navan, 3.45

Despite their respective league positions and recent championship history, these teams should provide an evenly matched start to the football championships. Louth have been very competitive against serious teams like Meath and Kildare without making a breakthrough, whereas Longford have struggled in the preliminary categories. Last year promised better after a wildly received O'Byrne Cup victory and a solid league campaign but, maybe complacent, they were ambushed by an underestimated Wexford in the first pool match and never recovered. Again this year they performed creditably in the league and were only just touched off by Kildare in the promotion race in Division Two B. With some quality forwards in Paul Barden and Padraig Davis, they have a good chance against a Louth team starved of competitive action by the Foot-and-mouth restrictions in the county - which helped ruin the anticipated benefits of a season in Division One. An inkling, based on Paddy Clarke's ability to get them right for the championship, says that Louth can survive the challenge.