National Football League Previews

Semi-Finals

Sunday

Kerry v Meath (Thurles, 3.00)

If this turns into a battle of who's bothered, Kerry should walk it. Even with the championship match against Cork due a month earlier than last year, Kerry can win the League without discommoding their summer plans too much.

Of primary concern for the team is the wellbeing of Seamus Moynihan, who is again missing this weekend, but it will hardly trouble Paidi O Se too much if his captain has to sit out the rest of the League to rehabilitate fully.

Other anxieties will concern Michael McCarthy's ability to provide the answer at full back and the attack's consistency, although Maurice Fitzgerald is close to a return. Meath's arrival at this stage was overshadowed by Sligo's failure to make it and the county didn't realise what had happened until late on Sunday evening. Selector Frank Foley insists that they learned a reasonable amount from last year's dire match against Cork at the same stage of the League.

Again the team will be hoping to reintroduce long-term injury absentees and beyond that, just see what happens. Meath will hardly want to lose this but Kerry may want to win it more.

Derry v Roscommon (Clones, 3.30)

Derry's excellence in the campaign to date has been obscured by the battle for second place in their section, but with Anthony Tohill in excellent form and the rest of the team playing well, the only question surrounding this match concerns the nature of Eamonn Coleman's plans for the League.

With the exception of his first full year when he prioritised winning the League, the Derry manager has preferred an early opt-out at the playoff stages and some staggeringly bad performances have realised this preference.

Roscommon are the main success story of the season to date. After the awful championship defeat last June, they have regrouped and played well in a competitive section. This represents a no-lose situation for Gay Sheerin's team.

If Derry are serious, it will be an excellent test of the team and if not, there's the prospect of a first national final in 20 years and the spin-off in terms of confidence which that would bring. The latter option looks on the cards for the Connacht side.

Division Two

Semi-Finals

Laois v Louth (Mullingar, 2.00)

Laois lorded it in Division Two B while Louth had to puff a bit to get the runners-up spot. At present, Laois look the more potent force and can look forward to further strengthening in the weeks ahead as the likes of Tony Maher migrate back to the panel.

Louth will be happy to secure a return to Division One given that the advantage of their last promotion three years ago dissolved into changed League structures after a season which they ended up back in the lower division. Laois should advance.

Offaly v Cavan (Mullingar, 3.45)

Strange to think that this pair were provincial champions less than two years ago. Offaly have recorded a very successful 100 per cent campaign, whereas it took a late charge and scoring averages to squeeze Cavan through.

Yet the northerners have established a good momentum and may surprise Offaly; a few of their wins have been a bit laboured.