Weekend Previews

SATURDAY:  ALL-IRELAND UNDER- 21 HC SEMI-FINALS:  Galway v KilkennyTullamore, 6.30:  John Tennyson's injury impacts as much - if not more - on Kilkenny's under-21s as potentially on the seniors for this evening's Erin All-Ireland semi-final against Galway.

The Leinster champions will be sore after getting their pockets picked in last year's final by the same opponents and have Richie Power back in action.

Galway emerge for their first competitive fixture with an impressive full-forward line, including last year's medallists Niall Healy and Kerril Wade, despite having to leave Joe Canning concentrate on the minor although he is named on the bench.

Kilkenny have more survivors from last year as well as better match practice, which gives them a slight edge.

KILKENNY: L Tierney; C Joyce, D Cody, S Cummins; P Hartley, J Dalton, D Fogarty; J Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly; TJ Reid, A Murphy, P Hogan; R Power, M Nolan, D McCormack.

GALWAY: A Ryan; T Linane, P Loughnane, P Holland; A Carey, J Lee, G Mahon; N Callanan, D Kelly; C Donnellan, F Coone, S Glynn; D Kelly, N Healy, K Wade.

Antrim v Tipperary, Parnell Park, 6.30

After a morale-boosting win over Cork in the Munster final, Tipperary are strong favourites against an Antrim side for whom hopes - unlike in the case of the county's minors - aren't particularly high.

TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; P Stapleton, A Burns, C O'Brien; K Lanigan, D Young, S Horan; J Woodlock, S Lillis; R O'Dwyer, N Teehan, D Hickey; R Ruth, D Egan, R McLougney.

ANTRIM: TBA.

ALL-IRELAND WOMEN'S SFC QUARTER-FINALS

Cork v Mayo, Portlaoise, 3.0

Re-run of last year's semi-final, which Mayo blew by losing a four-point lead in the final minutes.

There is a distinct changing of the guard feel to this as the formerly invincible Connacht side come face to face with the current TG4 All-Ireland champions, unbeaten this year.

Maybe Mayo can turn back the clock but form and scoring options suggest otherwise.

MAYO: D Devine; S McGing, H Lohan, C McGing; C O'Hara, N O'Shea, A Loftus; C Egan, J Moran; E Mullin, C Heffernan, M Heffernan; C McDermott, C Staunton, T McNicholas.

CORK: C O'Donoghue; R Buckley, A Walsh, L Power; G O'Flynn, B Stack, S O'Reilly; J Murphy, N Kelly; N Cleary, D O'Reilly, A Murphy; V Mulcahy, M O'Connor, C Creedon.

Galway v Meath, Portlaoise, 4.45pm.

Galway, anxious to make amends for losing their All-Ireland title in a subdued display against Cork in last year's final, take on Meath whose form is receding after a good early season saw them reach the League and Leinster finals.

Galway are picking up momentum and will be expected to progress.

GALWAY: U Carroll; M O'Donnell, E Flaherty, M Glynn; C Cormican, A Daly, AM McDonagh; P Gleeson, C Molloy; E Concannon, A Clarke, N Duggan; G Conneally, N Fahey, L Joyce.

MEATH: I Munnelly; S Dooley, J Burke, S McCormack; J Rispin, L McKeever, C McAuley; C O'Shaughnessy, E Lynch; K O'Brien, G Nulty, G Doherty; G Bennett, S Bennett, C Griffin.

... - Seán Moran

SUNDAY

ALL-IRELAND MINOR FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL

Kerry v Donegal, Croke Park, 12.30

If you think this must be a novel pairing for an All-Ireland minor semi-final then you're right. Although Kerry haven't won an All-Ireland minor title since 1994, they've won seven of the last 10 Munster titles - including this year - and just like the Kerry seniors, traditionally produce one of the strongest teams in the country, year after year.

Donegal, in contrast, have only previously collected four Ulster minor titles, the last being 1996, and, harder to believe, have never made the All-Ireland decider.

All this gives some idea of what's at stake in Croke Park tomorrow afternoon.

Kerry have been typically impressive in getting this far, especially in their four-point win over Mayo in the quarter-final.

They have real class and talent throughout the field, and none more than midfielder Tommy Walsh. They boast a range of scoring forwards from captain Paddy Curran to David Moran, while Eoin Kennedy - son of manager John Kennedy - is called into the starting line-up after his telling goal against Mayo when introduced as a substitute.

Proof of Kerry's scoring ability is they've totalled 9-41 in their four competitive games this season.

Clearly Donegal have a difficult task, but they appear well up for it - with the advantage of having had a test run in Croke Park last month when securing the Ulster title over Antrim.

This is also the finest Donegal minor side in a long time (they also won the Ulster minor league), so they haven't got this far by accident.

Manager Seán Clerkin has assembled a fine array of talent, including forwards Dualtach Molloy and defender Paul McGinley, and they've an obvious competitive edge too, proven with earlier wins in Ulster over Cavan and Tyrone.

The one question mark over Donegal, however, is the form showed in their quarter-final - where they needed extra-time to get past Offaly. They were the better team, but can't afford to be any way under par against Kerry.

There is one change from that game, with James Carroll coming into the attack in place of Brendan Faherty, and if Donegal can raise their game again - and Kerry have some target problems - then they can make that historic All-Ireland final. Otherwise the tradition will win.

KERRY: T Mac an tSaoir; B Russell, M Moloney, D Ó Sé; S Enright, A Greaney, B Costello; T Walsh, G O'Driscoll; P Curtin, D O'Shea, D Moran; G Sayers, P Curran, E Kennedy.

DONEGAL: L McFadden; D Walsh, S Boyle, M McGowan; P McGinley, P Thornton, L McLoone; R Wherity, M Murphy; E Wade, D Molloy, M McElhinney; D Gallagher, G Ward, J Carroll.

- Ian O'Riordan