Today

Munster SH first round

Blackrock (Cork) v Causeway (Kerry), 2.30, Blackrock - Causeway won their first county title in 11 years by surviving a late burst from Crotta O'Neill's. Blackrock couldn't quite muster one against Imokilly and compete without their county title. Any ennui over their status shouldn't count against them today.

Tomorrow

Connacht SF semi-final

Roscommon Gaels (Roscommon) v Melvin Gaels (Leitrim), 2.45, Dr Hyde Park - Daunting task for the newly-crowned Leitrim champions, several of whom featured in last week's inglorious NFL tilt with Galway. A nimble, fast-moving collective with some bulk at centrefield and full forward, Melvin Gaels nonetheless look too inexperienced and lightweight to cope with the more rugged Roscommon champions.

Leinster SF quarter-finals

Dunboyne (Meath) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), 3.00, Pairc Tailteann, Navan - Four years ago, Kilmacud and Dunboyne's predecessors Seneschalstown produced a gripping Leinster club final, decided in the last minute by Mick Dillon as the Dubliners made their way towards an All-Ireland title. Their formula is similar even if the personnel has changed. Solid teamwork and a lack of reliance on established stars (Dublin won the All-Ireland six months later with no Kilmacud players) have been the features of a hugely successful season to date - although Down's Conor Deegan is an All-Ireland medalist and forwards Mick O'Keeffe and Ray Cosgrove made an impact for Dublin in last week's NFL win over Tyrone.

Dunboyne were unexpected victors in Meath but came through a tough draw including recent predecessors, O'Mahony's and Skryne. Their scoring returns haven't been hectic and even with the venue advantage and the inter-county experience of Enda McManus and Brendan Reilly, they don't look to possess the Dubliners' strength-in-depth.

Clanna Gael (Louth) v Eire Og (Carlow), 3.00, Dundalk - Eire Og are back on the treadmill with nine All-Ireland finalists and whereas they are unlikely to be able to scale the peaks again, the evidence of the win over Rathnew is that they have enough craft and firepower to overcome the home side.

Ulster SF semi-finals

Bellaghy (Derry) v Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh), Healy Park Omagh, 2.30 (nb change of venue) - Bellaghy have evolved since reaching the 1995 All-Ireland and Danny Quinn, their experienced centrefielder, believes they are stronger in attack than four years ago. "The style has changed and no offence to the six who were on the scene then, but we tended to rely on Damien Cassidy for scores. Now we have Joe Cassidy, Gavin Diamond, and Eunan Cassidy. We're still solid at the back and when you concede few goals, it always gives you a chance."

Enniskillen field five current minors and have been playing fairly well but captain Raymie Curran is doubtful with injury. Quinn doesn't agree that Fermanagh teams have struggled in this championship. "In '96 when we got to the final and lost to Crossmaglen, we beat Devenish in the first round and they were as good a team as we played that year." Nonetheless, Bellaghy to win.

St John's (Antrim) v Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) - Surprise packets St John's have been demonstrating a useful knack of late scoring to win the Antrim final and to eliminate emphatically Mullahoran of Cavan. Injury concerns centre on experienced defender Locky McCurdy and despite their achievement in reaching the last four, the skill and athleticism of the 1997 All-Ireland champions, now three-in-a-row Armagh champions, should be too much for St John's.

Railway Cup

SH semi-finals

Ulster v Connacht, Casement Park, 1.30 - Mattie Murphy has broken the long-standing Connacht tradition of freezing out the neighbours and Dom Greally of Mayo and Roscommon pair Adrian Kelly and Micky Cunniffe are included. It's a strong enough looking side but will have it tough against the motivated home side whose manager Sean McGuinness has never had any problem about recognising the talent in Derry and both Oliver Collins and Geoffrey McGonigle start. Narrow away win.

Leinster v Munster, Nowlan Park, 2.30 - The Railway Cup can't even generate great controversies any more. Despite the upheavals in the Munster management team, the competition still attracted little attention. Ger Loughnane told the Irish In- dependent that the club championships had taken over from the Railway Cup and proves the point by attending the Clare semi-final 24 hours earlier. Clare trainer Michael McNamara, who managed Munster to the title last year, again takes charge and with Leinster short the Offaly county finalists, the southern province probably have the edge to chase a fourth successive title.