This weekend's games previewed
Today
All-Ireland Colleges SH A Semi-Finals
Dublin Colleges v Thurles CBS, Nowlan Park, 1pm- A great chance for the combined city side to achieve something memorable before they are split into north/south teams next year.
David Treacy was on fire when they destroyed Kilkenny CBS last time out. Thurles have looked strong in Munster, but make it here via the back door. The metropolitan renaissance can continue.
De La Salle Waterford v Gort CC, Templemore, 4pm - The reigning Harty Cup and defending Croke Cup champions will be confident of returning to the final. They are a serious college team under Derek McGrath and make up most of the Waterford minor team's defensive unit. Gort come in with the benefit of mystery, but are facing a school in rampant form.
National Football League
(7pm unless stated)
Division One
Tyrone v Donegal, Omagh- Donegal have become masters of the one-point spread in this competition, but their recent scraps against Tyrone tend to be high-scoring and combustible.
Mickey Harte's men have served Donegal some spectacular trimmings and also registered a couple of big losses in the past few years. This is a significant match for the Tyrone men, who are beginning to motor again and welcomed their talismanic centre forward Brian McGuigan back last time out. They are without Kevin Hughes and Eoin Mulligan here, but will see this as a useful opportunity to clip Donegal wings - as well as securing their divisional status.
But Donegal may, at last, be developing a fighter's stomach and they seem to enjoy playing under lights. It may be a one-point spread yet again, with a home win the likelier bet.
Laois v Kerry, Portlaoise- This season, Kerry have been varying the high ball to Kieran Donaghy tactic that has transformed Gaelic football thinking since Jack O'Connor introduced it two years ago. Against Laois, they will have to abandon it altogether, with the rangy attacker suspended for this match.
It is striking how odd the Kerry line-up now looks without the big Tralee forward. Pat O'Shea continues to try new players, with Tommy Walsh the latest debut player, in at full forward. Even without the likes of Colm Cooper and Paul Galvin, the Kerry attack is filled with fine ball players, but so far that unit has lacked its familiar sting.
The O'Moore county men have been competitive in each of their games, but their two-point loss against Tyrone leaves them in a real dogfight for survival. Brendan Quigley will test the Kerry back line, but Ross Munnelly is out through injury. This becomes a must win match for Laois, but the Kingdom have a settled defence and should win.
Division Two
Cavan v Cork, Breffni Park- The Cork men will be lucky it they even turn on the hot water immersion in Breffni Park tonight. Cavan are the latest county unhappy with the Rebel County's late inclusion to this competition and must win this match if they are to have any hope of avoiding relegation.
Not much that Conor Counihan can do about any of that, though.
They rode their luck against Westmeath and a win here would do nicely. The mercurial Fintan Gould comes into the Cork attack, with Ballingcollig's Stephen O'Donoghue selected at wing forward. Cavan have been good enough to compete well, but have faded in the last quarter against better teams in this notoriously tough division.
Cork looked vulnerable against Westmeath, but they won and are getting stronger each week. They could get a huge win on the road here and if so, they will happily hit the cold showers.
Division Three
Down v Limerick, Newry- Big Dan Gordon comes back for the Ulstermen. This is a pivotal game for Limerick, who have endured a stormy few weeks.
Down have shipped goals, but are winning. Could get worse for Limerick before it gets better.
Tomorrow
National Football League
(2.30pm unless stated)
Division One
Kildare v Mayo, Newbridge- Kieran McGeeney has delayed naming his side until he sees how Glenn Ryan's under-21 boys fare against Carlow this evening, but Killian Brennan remains sidelined for the time being. Meek against Derry, you can bank on the Lilywhites going Full Metal Jacket here.
Tom Parsons starts at midfield for Mayo after impressing against Kerry. Newbridge is not an easy place to steal a win from, but the Westerners may have turned a new leaf in beating Kerry and if the likes of Conor Mortimer and Austin O'Malley travel with their shooting boots, they could well take a useful win here.
Galway v Derry, Pearse Stadium- This promises to be a fascinating match. It is not unusual for Derry to look irresistible in spring, but they are building on last summer's decent championship with a series of impressive results.
After watching his under-21 team obliterate Donegal during the week, Paddy Crozier travels to Salthill to see how his senior men do against the form team.
The Galway-Donegal match was, by all accounts, a terrific game of football a fortnight ago and it was probably as good a time as any for Liam Sammon to register his first loss. Joe Bergin makes his first start of the year at wing forward and he comes into a side that is high on confidence and energy. Kevin McCloy on Micheál Meehan ought to be a match within the match. Both teams have attack-minded half-back lines so this should be a match of heavy traffic and plenty of scoring.
Galway are playing with something of their old swagger and can win this one.
Division Two
Roscommon v Westmeath, Hyde Park- Back to Hyde Park for Roscommon, who have been in the doldrums this league. The 20-point hammering by Armagh must at least have clarified that things cannot get any worse. Frankie Dolan starts this match on the bench and John Maughan still awaits Séamus O'Neill to return to full fitness.
Westmeath were tough in their last outing against Cork and were terribly unlucky not to secure a draw. They look the steadier of the two teams here, but back on the old sod and with their pride deeply wounded Roscommon will present a dangerous threat.
Neither county has been posting prolific scores so, while Westmeath are the safer bet, this could be one of those inexplicable reversals of form that characterise league football.
Monaghan v Meath, Clones- Bring your hard hats, folks. Banty's boys and Colm's boys in Clones in March. That is about as elemental as it gets. Monaghan have become everyone's favourite dark horses to do something special this year.
Here are two fearsomely strong teams with blue chip forwards and Division One ambitions.
The Parnell Park drama may have distracted Monaghan during the week, so they will welcome the familiar chill of Clones. Meath field an impressive team, with Stephen Bray, Graham Geraghty and Cian Ward filling the full-forward line. Meath have been so-so to date, but will relish this chance against the table toppers. When the teams met in the divisional semi-finals last year, Meath won, 3-10 to 0-12.
It will be tighter here and Monaghan will bring a big crowd. Emotion and goodwill should see them home.
Armagh v Dublin, Crossmaglen- Paul Caffrey and his Dublin selectors knocked heads together and named an unchanged team for this mouth-watering clash. Lame puns are destined to follow the Dubs around for quite a while after last week's palaver in Parnell Park.
What a time to visit the stronghold of Armagh football. The Orchard County welcome back Paul McGrane and Ronan Clarke and will be on a high after pulverising Roscommon last time out. This match will tell us whether that was just a flash of old form or the first inkling of a new period of orange splendour.
If Dublin are on song, their forwards could exploit the novice Armagh defence, but it will be a day for leaders to step forward.
This will be a tight game and a foolish gamble, but Armagh might just edge it.
Division Three
Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park- The drop looms for Sligo. They had a nice boost in the under-21 championship in beating Galway last week, but this is a tough assignment.
Fermanagh are flying, with Malachy O'Rourke making four changes as he looks to fast-track his team back to Division One. The visitors to win.
Longford v Louth, Pearse Park- Luke Dempsey made some salient points about the GAA's decision to link league form with the championship. It is easy to see how teams and managers could get demoralised. These teams share the joy of a win over Leitrim and almost identical scoring records.
Louth have fallen on hard times since winning this division two years ago.
Flip a coin here.
Longford have home advantage.
Wexford v Leitrim, Wexford Park- It's a long road for Leitrim, stuck at the bottom of this division and facing a Wexford team that is likely to include Mattie Forde.
It is impossible to foresee anything other than a home win.
Division Four
Carlow v Tipperary, Dr Cullen Park- Paul Bealin wants his players to attack with more confidence. This game affords them a stage on which to try things.
Tipperary have been competitive in this post-Declan Browne era and could push for promotion with a win here.
Offaly v Waterford, Tullamore- The one bright note for Offaly GAA at the moment is the football team look likely to gain promotion from this division without much difficulty.
London v Antrim, Ruislip- Antrim are on the way up, London are in dire straits, training without goalposts. Sadly, it has shown. Benny Hasson gets a run for the Saffrons. It is not nice to see the Exiles used as target practice, but that's all this will be.
Clare v Wicklow, Cusack Park- Tommy Gill may come back for Mick O'Dwyer's team. Odd to think of the maestro trawling the backwaters of league fare, but there you have it. Both these sides should finish mid-table regardless of this result, which could well be a home win.
National Hurling League
Division One play-off
Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park, 2.30pm- A game about nothing, this. Both teams have already made it through to the league play-offs - the winner of this will play Limerick in the Division One quarter-final, the loser will meet Tipperary.
Donal Cusack comes back into goal for Cork and Ben O'Connor makes his first start of the season. Stephen White makes his debut at midfield alongside Leigh Desmond. Justin McCarthy has already stated he could have done without this game and there is a sense that neither county will be going full throttle.
At least the Decies don't have to travel far and they have been racking up big scores. Waterford to win.
