Compiled by SEAN MORANand GAVIN CUMMISKEY
TOMORROW
Leinster SFC quarter-finals
Wexford v Longford, Croke Park, 2pm – The two defeats by Longford already this season could conceivably be dismissed by Wexford on the grounds that there was nothing major at stake – promotion having been secured by the time both were played – but the more wary will remember that two defeats last year by Limerick proved an accurate indicator of what would happen when the counties met in last summer’s controversial qualifier.
Complicating Jason Ryan’s task is a lack of options in defence. Captain David Murphy is believed to be out of tomorrow’s match with illness and the most likely remedy would be to switch Brian Malone to centre back and bring Lee Chin in at wing back.
Longford may also be showing a change with centrefielder John Keegan’s fitness in doubt. Glenn Ryan’s side are however a team with momentum and a talented attack.
Wexford may have ended the league as the competition’s highest scorers – outside the target-rich environments of Division Four – but were exposed at the back in the Division Three final. Nonetheless they will be more focused tomorrow and are likely to have an edge at centrefield, which can be exploited by their forwards.
They are also have greater championship pedigree at Croke Park, having contested two Leinster finals and reached an All-Ireland semi-final.
Previously: The counties haven’t met in Leinster since 2000 when they were both in the round-robin preliminary round, eventually won by Carlow. Current trainer John Hegarty scored two goals, as Wexford saw off a late rally by Longford to win 3-9 to 0-12.
You bet: Maybe surprisingly, after losing the two previous matches this season, Wexford are 4-6 favourites, Longford 13-8 and 15-2 the draw.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets €25, Terrace €15, €10 (stand) and €5 (terrace). Refund (€10) for OAPs and students in Cusack Stand. Juveniles (16 and under) €5 (limited to two per accompanying adult).
Crystal gazing: Longford have had an excellent season to date but Wexford’s greater experience at Croke Park can swing this their way.
Referee: M Collins (Cork).
Dublin v Louth, Croke Park, 4.30pm – It’s not unreasonable that Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick has been so bullish about this match. Whatever about his team being put to the pin of their collective collar to get past a battling Westmeath, and needing an injury-time goal to do so, as a championship outing it was a serious jump start.
Dublin on the other hand have been idling – well, metaphorically – since their last league match two months ago. They haven’t had their best team out since last September and are bound to be ring rusty.
Louth are a side that has the potential to rattle higher-ranked teams and should have been rewarded for that with a Leinster title in 2010 and they’re facing a team whose manager was been like a stuck record during the league lamenting their more than occasional lack of intensity.
This is Dublin’s first championship outing as All-Ireland champions in 16 years and in the interim the mechanics and challenges of both winning and defending the title have changed beyond recognition.
Both Jack O’Connor and Mickey Harte, who have won more All-Irelands than any other managers in the past 20 years have done so more often through the qualifiers.
Louth have the ability to improve at centrefield where Paddy Keenan and Ronan Carroll were not at their best the last day and that can pressurise a Dublin defence short arguably their best defender, Cian O’Sullivan, so any slackening in the champions’ work rate and tracking back will be costly.
But fired by their new-found status, Dublin have the power to squeeze Louth around the field and even if Bernard and Alan Brogan are only getting back into the swing of things they also have serious conversion capacity.
Previously: Within two weeks of the great 2010 Leinster final heist, a disorientated Louth were well beaten, 2-14 to 0-13, by Dublin in the final qualifier round with Eoghan O’Gara getting two goals.
You bet: Dublin 1-16, Louth 9-1 and 16-1 the draw.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets €25, Terrace €15, €10 (stand) and €5 (terrace). Refund (€10) for OAPs and students in Cusack Stand. Juveniles (16 and under) €5 (limited to two per accompanying adult).
Crystal gazing: Dublin may not be in top gear but they have too much strength around the field and too many options on the bench.
Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Fermanagh v Down, Enniskillen, 3.30pm – The gloss on a fine league campaign for Fermanagh was somewhat scuffed by losing the Division Four final to Wicklow, just as Down’s achievement in reaching the Division One play-offs was compromised by again taking a heavy beating from eventual winners Cork.
Yet even if Down are missing – amongst an extensive injury list – two significant influences in Benny Coulter and Dan Gordon, James McCartan will feel his panel should be strong enough to cope.
Despite rumours that he was to be dropped for disciplinary reasons, Fermanagh’s powerful full forward Séamus Quigley starts and poses a formidable challenge to whoever starts at full back for Down.
Not in the mood, they’re vulnerable to a lot of teams but on their game Down are capable of penetrative running and pose a varied scoring threat, which will be necessary given the absence of a number of strike forwards.
Previously: Down arrived in Enniskillen favourites to win but were outlasted by a more industrious Fermanagh side, who pulled away in the last 10 minutes. The selection of a less than fully fit Benny Coulter backfired, as the winners used their advantages of mobility to pressurise Down until they cracked
You bet: Fermanagh are 5-2, Down 4-9 and 15-2 the draw.
Just the ticket: Stand/unreserved seating tickets (€25/£20, €15/£12 for OAPs and €5/£4 (free in unreserved seats) for under-16s). Terrace (adults €15/£12, OAP/Student €10/£9 and under-16s free).
Crystal gazing: Fermanagh have home advantage and the confidence of a good league but Down were operating three divisions higher and should make that status gap count.
Referee: S Doyle (Wexford)
Connacht SFC quarter-final
London v Leitrim, Rusilip, 3pm – Despite London’s impressive showings last year against Mayo, losing in extra-time, and beating a disjointed Fermanagh, Leitrim should have enough quality to escape the English capital without too much embarrassment.
Leitrim: C McCrann; J Glancy, C Egan, P Maguire; C Clarke, F McMorrow, W McKeon; D Sweeney, D Lowe; P McGowan, E Mulligan, P Brennan; R Cox, J Glancy, A Croal.
London: TBA
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
Verdict: Leitrim.
