Weekend Previews

The hurlers got Rome, the footballers get Enniskillen.This year's Railway Cup rounds off an eventful and painful year for Leinster manager Luke Dempsey.

Today

Railway Cup SF semi-finals

Connacht v Munster, Enniskillen, 1.00

Ulster v Leinster, Enniskillen, 2.30

Replaced as Westmeath manager by Páidí Ó Sé, Dempsey made no secret at the time of his unhappiness at Westmeath's demand that he re-submit for interview if he wished to remain on in the post. He doesn't feel the freedom from intercounty allegiance has liberated him in respect of his provincial duties in this, his third year with Leinster.

"I'd much prefer to still be Westmeath manager," he said. "My first interest in sport is in team management and it won't be long before I'm back on the intercounty scene. But the Railway Cup is a marvellous experience and for me winning it has given me two of my best weekends on the circuit and I've got a broader perspective.

"Sometimes managers are very focused on the one group. Mixing with players from other counties can counter that. I have been hugely impressed with the professionalism of Gaelic players and their approach to these weekends. From turning up on time to taking instruction, their attitude has been exemplary."

This weekend Dempsey has to cope without Meath and Laois players, the former distracted by Trevor Giles's wedding and the latter by the county final. As usual Ulster, Leinster's opponents this afternoon, have a strong hand and manager Brian McEniff to play it shrewdly.

The ultimate winners are likely to come from this semi-final, although Connacht, with Galway manager John O'Mahony in charge, will raise a challenge.

Tomorrow

Connacht SHC final

Portumna (Galway) v Athleague (Roscommon), Athleague, 2.15

The Roscommon champions will have the advantage of experience against first-time Galway winners Portumna. Damien Hayes is missing with injury but that's about the extent of the comfort Athleague can take. Driven by Ollie Canning, Portumna are anxious to give the All-Ireland a rattle and that ambition will survive tomorrow.

Leinster SHC semi-finals

Birr (Offaly) v Castletown (Laois),

Nowlan Park, 2.30

The All-Ireland champions take the field amidst the usual plethora of injury stories, but the word seems to be there is more substance to them than usual.

The likelihood of Birr lining out without Barry and Simon Whelahan has fuelled hopes in Castletown that the champions may be ripe for the plucking. Having won half of the last 10 Leinster titles and racked up a record four All-Irelands in that time the sense that Birr can't go on forever grows. But that same sense has attended a couple of their recent successful campaigns.

Castletown have generally given their Offaly counterparts a hard time with only a late turn by Johnny Pilkington at full forward pulling it out of the fire for the champions last year. So there is substance to the optimism in Laois.

But Birr's unprecedented success has been built on a production line of upcoming talent so nothing's guaranteed and caution suggests sticking with the holders.

Rathnure (Wexford) v O'Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny), Dr Cullen Park, 2.30

There's anxiety in Rathnure over the fitness of Paul Codd on whom the club rely for scores even more than the county. Troubled by hamstring and shoulder injuries, Codd will probably take the field but with what capacity?

Joe Mooney, over whom there was also doubt, has recovered from an eye injury.

The Wexford side will need all hands on deck for this. A year ago they disintegrated against O'Loughlin Gaels' predecessors, Gowran.

The Kilkenny champions haven't been scoring freely but have survived some hair-raisingly close calls. Built from the back where Andy Comerford has been excellent at centre back, they have a Wexford presence with Colm Furlong - who lifted a quiet performance in the county final by laying off three balls for 2-1 - in attack and former county dual player Jason Lawlor on the bench.

A week after their first county title two years ago O'Loughlin Gaels were beaten by Birr. This time they have the experience to go with their potential and will make it count.

Leinster SFC quarter-final

O'Hanrahans (Carlow) v Stradbally/Arles Kilcruise (Laois), Dr Cullen Park, 1.00

Strange decision to cut up the pitch with a football match before the hurling, particularly as whoever wins the Laois title this afternoon could do with every extra hour's rest.

Stradbally are firm favourites to beat Arles, in their first final, and although the outsiders have enough quality footballers to give them a chance, neither side looks likely to overcome the disadvantages of a late-running championship when they come up against O'Hanrahans, provincial champions three years ago and well poised to repeat the achievement.

Munster SHC semi-final

Patrickswell (Limerick) v Mount Sion (Waterford), Gaelic Grounds, 2.30

There are two ways of looking at this. Either Patrickswell have the physique and experience to make the most of what are likely to be very heavy conditions or they are over the hill and too old to trouble the champions.

The Limerick champions weren't generally expected to defeat Clarecastle but the Clare side are in transition and fielded a large number of under-age players (six of this year's under-21s and three minors).

Patrickswell, for their part, lined out in 11 positions identically to the side that played Clarecastle in the Munster final of six years ago.

Mount Sion have spent the past two weekends grappling with Ballygunner in a replayed Waterford final and should be the sharper for it. Their big guns are firing reasonably well with Tony Browne playing well at centre back and Ken McGrath managing to stave off the effects of a niggling, long-term knee injury and Eoin Kelly was comparatively quiet in the county final.

The Gaelic Grounds and its surface is seen as an advantage to Patrickswell but Mount Sion played well in vile weather last year and showed they can master all conditions.

That should be enough to see them into the final.

Munster SFC semi-final

Cahir (Tipperary) v St Senan's (Clare), Cahir, 2.30

Cahir were first-time winners against an experienced and useful Kilkee outfit. Not long out of intermediate, the Tipperary champions will be outsiders in this.

St Senan's had a good win over a fancied Drom-Broadford side in the last round and have had a rigorous programme of matches over the past two months. That should stand to them, as they have no injury worries and although Cahir are a nice footballing side, the Clare champions have too much clout.