Weekend GAA previews

Saturday(Extra time if necessary in all games)

Kehoe Cup (SH): Kildare v DIT, Newbridge, 2.15, B Kelly (Westmeath).

Connacht League (SF): Galway v Leitrim, Ballinasloe, 2.0, M Duffy (Sligo), (Note: 30 minutes a half).

Sunday

O'Byrne Cup quarter-finals

Dublin v Wicklow,

Parnell Park, 2.0, C Reilly (Meath).

Pat Gilroy is expected to be present but there is no sign of the frontline players as a second management team, under Jim Gavin, faces Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow, who should prove too strong for this development/under-21 team. The same was said about Offaly last week. Dean Rock, the son of former Dublin great Barney Rock, makes his intercounty debut at full forward.

DUBLIN: D McDonnell; C Moore, G O'Connell, D Daly; J Cooper, C Deasy, D Lally; J Sheanon, D O'Mahony; D Kelly, C Morley, J O'Brien; C Carthy, D Rock, T Furman.

Kildare v Meath,

Newbridge, 2.0, G McCormack (Dublin).

Still too early in the season to get any genuine indication of how these sleeping giants will fare but the winner will at least be provided with a decent boost of a competitive extra game or two. Judging by their display in beating Westmeath last week, Meath's forward line, led by Joe Sheridan, may prove too strong here.

Longford v Louth,

Pearse Park, Longford, 2.15, P Fox (Westmeath).

Longford are expected to struggle without team captain Liam Keenan who has been placed on the long-term injury list.

DCU v DIT,

DCU sports ground, Ballymun Road, 2.0, P Kneel (Louth).

Mark Vaughan lines out for DIT and his scoring prowess is expected to see off DCU in an ideal warm-up for the upcoming Sigerson Cup.

Dr McKenna Cup (SF): Section A

Derry v UUJ,

Ballinascreen, 2.0, R O'Donnell (Donegal).

Derry drew with Fermanagh last week while the Sigerson Cup champions lost heavily in Donegal so the smart money is on Damien Cassidy racking up his first win as manager of the 2008 National League champions.

Donegal v Fermanagh, Ballyshannon, S McNamee (Tyrone).

New Donegal manager John Joe Doherty can turn to the St Eunan's trio of Rory Kavanagh, Conall Dunne and Damien McClafferty after a host of under-21s featured last weekend.

McKenna Cup: Section B

Monaghan v St Mary's,

Emyvale, 2.0, F Cleary (Fermanagh).

Down v Tyrone,

Páirc Esler, Newry, 2.0, P Hughes (Armagh).

A significantly understrength All-Ireland champions may need to unearth a few new regulars this season if the likes of captain Brian Dooher and Brian McGuigan continue to struggle with injury.

McKenna Cup: Section C

Antrim v Cavan,

Casement Park, 2.0, C Branagan (Down).

Armagh v Queen's,

Lurgan, 2.0, D McQuillan (Monaghan).

Shaun O'Neill from Tyrone will require some minding if Armagh are to overcome the students under the guidance of former Armagh player Aidan O'Rourke.

Munster Cup (SH) quarter-finals

Cork v Waterford IT,

Páirc Uí Rinn, 2.0, G Hoey (Clare).

With the ongoing dispute between Cork's 2008 panel, county board and manager Gerald McCarthy yet to even reach the negotiation table, this may yet be an indication of what they have to offer this season. Johnny Keane is due to be named as McCarthy fifth selector.

Clare v Limerick IT,

Meelick, 2.0, D Copps (Cork).

Cork IT v University of Limerick,

Newtownshandrum, 2.0, M Wadding (Waterford).

Connacht League (SF)

Sligo IT v Mayo,

Ballinode, 2.0, F Flynn (Leitrim), (Note: 30 minutes a half)

Mayo manager John O'Mahony has already stated the irrelevancy of this competition due to his panel members being involved with at least 10 other teams this January.

GMIT v Sligo,

Dunmore, 2.0, M Daly (Mayo).

Roscommon v NUIG,

Kiltoom, 2.0, E O Grady (Leitrim).

Other fixtures

McGrath Cup (SF) quarter-finals: Tipperary v UCC, Seán Tracey Park, Tipperary town, 2.0, M Condon (Waterford); Clare v Cork, Cooraclare, 2.0, M Meade (Limerick); Waterford v Limerick IT, Leamybrien, 2.0, M Collins (Cork).

O'Byrne Shield (SF) quarter-finals: Athlone IT v UCD, Athlone IT grounds, 2.0, J Bannon (Longford); Offaly v Carlow, Tullamore, 2.0, S Carroll (Westmeath); Wexford v Westmeath, Monamolin, 2.0, E Craul (Wicklow); Laois v Kilkenny, Portarlington, 2.0, D Brazil (Offaly).

Kehoe Cup (SH): Wicklow v Trinity College, Bray Emmetts, 2.0, E Morris (Dublin); Fingal v Louth, Fingallians, 2.0, F Smith (Meath); Meath v Down, Navan, 12.45, T Carroll (Offaly); DCU v Mayo, DCU sports grounds, Ballymun Road, 1.0, D O'Donovan (Dublin); Longford v Roscommon, Pearse Park, Longford, 12.30, C Groome (Offaly).