Weekend Previews

O'Byrne Cup (SF) final: Meath v Westmeath, Cusack Park, 2.0If Páidí Ó Sé wanted a quiet start to his new life as Westmeath football manager then he's already got it all wrong.

Sunday

Tomorrow's O'Byrne Cup final in Mullingar is set to attract a crowd of around 10,000, the majority Westmeath supporters, and all believing the hype.

But no less than Meath manager Seán Boylan, now he's there it would be nice to win it. This competition hasn't been this popular since, well, Westmeath last contested the final four years ago, when they lost to Longford 2-6 to 0-7. Throw in the rivalry that has developed between the counties and clearly the first silverware of the season will be eagerly contested.

Yet neither manager has lost sight of what really matters - the summer months that lie in wait. Both managers will field experimental sides, with Ó Sé introducing the exciting 19-year-old Paul Martin at full forward, and Boylan again making full use of his new attacking force of Brian Farrell and Joe Sheridan.

Ó Sé has rotated players for the fourth successive weekend in this campaign, which has seen him collect wins over Louth, Kildare and Carlow. Meath have done something similar while beating Longford and Offaly, and for tomorrow welcome back Mark O'Reilly to their defence, the sole change from last weekend.

Even at this early stage, however, Meath appear the more balanced team. With Darren Fay at midfield they won't lack heart, and something of the old Meath body language has returned. Westmeath have Dessie Dolan and Martin Flanagan in reserve should the scoreboard stall but the home support might not be enough to carry them through. Meath to edge them out.

McGrath Cup (SF) final: Clare v Limerick, Ennis, 2.0

In Munster, the McGrath Cup final, with Limerick meeting Clare at Ennis, will be a slightly less glamorous affair. With full commitment from his dual players, Limerick manager Liam Kearns will want nothing less than a victory, and has included two of the disputed players - Stephen Lucey and Mark O'Riordan. Clare did well to beat Tipperary in the semi-final, although manager John Kennedy is still without top forwards Odhran O'Dwyer and David Neylon.

Both teams also have their fair share of newcomers, and Limerick are somewhat fortunate to be here having been pressed into injury time before getting past Waterford in their semi-final. Hard to see though how the greater determination won't be with Limerick.

Dr McKenna Cup (SF) semi-final: Donegal v Down, Clones, 2.0

Conflicts with other competitions have denied Donegal several first-choice players, but they're still showing fine form and won't be easily beaten. Down, however, are currently at greater strength and should progress.

Walsh Cup (SH) 2.0

This weekend sees Offaly hurlers playing Laois in Birr, and Wexford meeting defending champions Dublin in Piercetown, Wexford. Dublin's dual players have been in the news this week, and like in Limerick, football won out. So Humphrey Kelleher is without Shane Ryan, and has yet to decide who will take his place at full forward. Wexford are likely to win.

There is also a full fixture list in the Connacht Football league on Sunday, the pick of the matches being the Roscommon-Mayo tie at Ballinlough.