NHL Previews

Seán Moran looks at the weekend's action

Saturday

Division One A
Clare v Laois - Cusack Park, 3.15pm

This was one of the summer's low-lights with Laois disintegrating in a qualifier against Clare. Both teams have lost important personalities to retirement but managers Anthony Daly and Paudie Butler face divergent agendas.

After the Waterford nightmare Clare showed that when fully turned on they could compete with the best but equally need to uncover new players to improve their scoring potential. Laois have been competitive in the league but haven't made any significant championship inroads. Whatever the result here it's unlikely to have anything other than short-term consequences but Clare should win.

Sunday

Division One A
Galway v Dublin - Pearse Stadium, 1pm

Two counties with much to do this season. Dublin have shed quality players as disaffection in the camp rumbles on, but gave a heartening display against Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup. That, however, hasn't led anywhere in the past. Galway followed up their championship horror show with an appointment fracas and some disaffection of their own.

Conor Hayes's priority will be to establish a spine for the team and work at ensuring that the gap between league and championship doesn't again become a chasm. Last year's experiences mean that any gains in the campaign ahead will remain hidden until the summer.

Waterford v Kilkenny - Walsh Park, 2.30pm

This has become a popular opening fixture with tomorrow's meeting the fourth season running these counties have begun the league in each other's company. Both have obvious agendas after championships that ended in disappointment.

Waterford try out a new goalkeeper, Clinton Hennessy, but the rest of the moves are a bit retro with Tom Feeney and Fergal Hartley, returned from retirement, back-boning the defence that last season fluctuated between magnificent and porous. It will be interesting to see how Hartley re-adapts and where he ultimately fits in given the at times inspired championship Ken McGrath had at centre back.

Kilkenny's choice of centre back proved the main talking point of their selection. It's a new position even for someone as versatile as Tommy Walsh and if he stays there for the match it's likely to be experimental until Peter Barry returns from club action with James Stephens.

This will be a hard season for Kilkenny as they absorb the lost opportunity of the three-in-a-row, but it may also be a very rewarding one. The conveyor belt within the county is in good working order and a few of the recent under-21s will have the chance to press a claim this season.

Brian Cody restructured an All-Ireland winning team three years ago by throwing places up for grabs in the league and persevering with the players who came through. The Kilkenny manager's appetite for the fray in his seventh year can't be doubted; twice already he has bounced back off All-Ireland final defeats to sweep the following year's championship. He has brought in the successful under-21 management duo of Martin Fogarty and Michael Dempsey to vary the training regime to accommodate modern "less is more" techniques and with personnel, desire and a fresh approach in place the future looks positive.

There are questions of deployment for a number of players, eg Walsh, Henry Shefflin and Eddie Brennan. But with the modern game so fluid, fixed positions are no longer a big deal. Anyway, recent match practice in the Walsh Cup can give Kilkenny an edge in this.

Division One B
Antrim v Wexford - Loughgiel, 1.30pm

Wexford are unhappy at being moved out of Casement Park at short notice to accommodate the Ulster Council's McKenna Cup final and even unhappier at making the extra trek to the Glens. The counties met only recently in a Walsh Cup semi-final with Wexford winning well.

New manager Séamus Murphy has a lot on his plate if Wexford are to maintain recent improvements. Establishing some consistency of performance in the league would be a good start. Des Mythen gets his first competitive start after impressing for Oulart and bagging two goals against Antrim two weeks ago. Reservations about him concern size, particularly in an attack that struggles to impose itself physically. Antrim are missing key attackers and, although they have venue advantage, will struggle to bridge the recent gap between the teams.

Tipperary v Down - Semple Stadium, 1.30pm

This will be an arduous season for Down and no bed of roses for Tipp either. David Kennedy's at centre back, despite Declan Fanning having been groomed for it last year and having done alright until Niall McCarthy went to town on him in Killarney. The need for a bit of heft in the forwards is also still there, but all such considerations will be academic tomorrow.

Cork v Limerick - Páirc Uí Chaoimh - The history of promoted selectors isn't always a happy one and John Allen's role with the All-Ireland champions will be a lot different now that he's become manager. Added to the difficulty of defending an All-Ireland, this change at the top makes the year even more of a challenge.

It's a strong Cork selection with Neil Ronan recalled at full forward, but it's also worth recalling that the team which often lined out during last year's league reverted to more familiar lines for the championship so places won't be won easily.

Limerick have been going well in training and are naturally more advanced in their preparations than the All-Ireland champions. Mark Keane is back from his footballing sabbatical to play the county against whom he gave his best championship display three years ago. Like Kilkenny and Waterford, these counties are frequent opening-day rivals. The matches have been hard fought affairs and this should be no different. Limerick might, however, have too much done at this stage.

Division Two A
Kildare v Westmeath - Newbridge, 2.30pm

Westmeath were close to winning promotion last year, but with Offaly around are unlikely to go any closer this year. They'll win this though.

Offaly v Derry - Birr, 2.30pm

An All-Ireland quarter-final a few years back, this fixture has fallen from grace. Offaly were very unfortunate to get relegated last season and it's impossible not to see them bouncing back. Starting today.

Division Two B
Sligo v Wicklow - Markievicz Park, 2.30pm

Wicklow should be able to put close-season difficulties behind them and win this.

Carlow v Kerry - Dr Cullen Park, 2.30pm

Carlow have superior fitness from the Kehoe Cup and can get off to a winning start.

Meath v London - Páirc Tailteann, 2.30pm

Home win.

Division Three A
Leitrim v Mayo, Carrick-on-Shannon; Armagh v Donegal, Killeavey.

Division Three B
Tyrone v Monaghan, Carrickmore; Cavan v Louth, Ballyconnell;

Fermanagh, bye.

National Football League

Division Two A
Longford v Fermanagh - Pearse Park, 2.30pm

Postponed from the opening day of the season because of bereavement, this now has some context. Fermanagh struggled to put Leitrim away, which might be better preparation than Longford's, who had it mostly their own way in London.