WEEKEND PREVIEWS ...

A look at this weekend's matches

Saturday

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Matches at 7pm unless stated) Division One

Derry v Tyrone, Celtic Park:First match of note - not counting last year's McKenna Cup blitz by Tyrone - between the constant rivals since the championship ambush of 2006 when, as All-Ireland champions, Mickey Harte's team exhibited the first signs of ailing form and injury-prone misfortune. This is an interesting juncture for both teams. Derry's early promise has begun to deflate, albeit with defeats by Kerry and in-form Galway, whereas Tyrone have picked it up after a poor start.

Fergal Doherty is a welcome return at centrefield where Derry were ailing last week in Salthill. Seán Cavanagh's oscillating positioning sees him back at centrefield although Colin Holmes and Enda McGinley acquitted themselves well there in last week's win over Donegal. Paddy Crozier's side are protecting an unbeaten home record of over 20 matches and after a struggle can maintain it.

Kerry v Kildare, Tralee: Both teams are affected by under-21 activity although Kerry have a deeper reservoir of talent to draw upon. If anything it gives Pat O'Shea an opportunity to run the rule over different players. Ronán Ó Flathatra gets a start at centre back in a team that looks strong for a side missing under-21s, like Killian Young, David Moran and Tommy Walsh, as well as a clutch of All Stars. Last week's disintegration against Mayo was both a step backwards and a harbinger of relegation for Kieran McGeeney's Kildare after some earlier flintier displays. Kerry to keep on track for another (third in five years) possible National League showdown with Galway.

Division Two

Cork v Monaghan, Páirc Uí Rinn: If you were running a form line through Cavan, the points here will be on their way north pretty quickly. More pressingly, Conor Counihan has a lot of injury problems, leaving him particularly short around centrefield with Derek Kavanagh and Pearse O'Neill both out medium-term. There has also been evidence that, like another improvised full back, Séamus Moynihan, Graham Canty is beginning to feel confined on the inside line.

Monaghan have maintained their consistency throughout the season and will be favourites to exploit the home side's difficulties and advance their own case for promotion and a place in the divisional final.

Dublin v Roscommon, Parnell Park: Dublin would probably have preferred Roscommon not to change managers just days before this match given the risk of a backlash. Whereas Dublin created some underground tremors with a culling exercise this week, this evening will be of interest with the reintegration of St Vincent's trio Ger Brennan, Diarmuid Connolly and Tomás Quinn and the debut of their club mate Michael Savage in goal after an impressive campaign en route to the All-Ireland club title. Throw in the return of Barry Cahill and Ciarán Whelan and the impact of Paul Caffrey's 10 changes can hardly be taken as dismissive of the visitors. Dublin need the impetus of a convincing win but Roscommon are likely to be fizzing after the events of the week. Still, narrow win for the Leinster champions.

Meath v Armagh, Páirc Tailteann: Meath have been frustrated by persistent injuries in trying to build on an encouraging championship last summer. Allowing for last week's second-half recovery and the free-taking of Cian Ward, Colm Coyle's team were well off the pace set by Monaghan. But they are still in an outside position to challenge for promotion even with the absentees.

Armagh are slowly getting back into shape and this will a useful test for Peter McDonnell's side - one which they should pass.

Munster Under-21 FC Final Tipperary v Kerry, Ardfinnan, 2.0: Kerry ended Cork's hegemony in the province at this grade in the semi-final. Featuring many of the team that lost the celebrated minor All-Ireland final to Roscommon two years ago, the visitors should prevail.

Ulster Under-21 FC Final

Derry v Down, Casement Park, 2.0:Peter McGrath is back on the title trail with Down after his team hopped off the canvas to see off Tyrone in the semi-final but they will need greater consistency if they're to stay on the trail of repeating their All-Ireland success as minors against a solid Derry.

All-Ireland Vocational Schools SFC 'A' Final

St Brogan's, Bandon v St Malachy's High School, Castlewellan, Portlaoise, 3.30: Powerful St Brogan's were too strong for St Brendan's Belmullet in the semi-final with the lethal full-forward line of Roy Payne, Dan Twomey and Gary Twomey nailing 4-13 between them. Payne unfortunately broke his collarbone in the semi-final.

Opponents Castlewellan were surprise winners in Ulster against Holy Trinity Cookstown and impressed against Ashbourne in the All-Ireland semi-final. St Brogan's can shade it against a strong defensive unit but the Down school will know they can retain nearly all of their players again next year.

All-Ireland Colleges

SFC 'A' Final

St Brendan's, Killarney v St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, Portlaoise, 5.15: Unusually a second Kerry-Tyrone final in a row after last year's win by Omagh CBS against Tralee CBS. St Brendan's recent low profile in the Hogan Cup has been explained by the decision to close the boarding school but this year the team has made impressive progress to the verge of a first All-Ireland since Séamus Moynihan's team of 1992.

New Kerry captain Paul Galvin teaches in St Brendan's while Tyrone's Ciaran Gourley is in Dungannon. St Brendan's have had a great campaign defeating Tralee in the Munster final and then St Jarlath's in the All-Ireland semi-final. Dungannon harnessed Dermot Thornton's accuracy to produce a dazzling comeback in the McRory final against St Michael's before defeating Athlone Community College. St Pat's narrowly lost a final to St Pat's Navan four years ago, but St Brendan's look likely to end the county's poor run against Tyrone teams.

Sunday

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE

Division One quarter-finals

Limerick v Cork, Gaelic Grounds, 4.15: A few weeks back Cork would have settled for the way the league has worked out apart from rumoured ructions over club football matches. Nonetheless, with the exception of the Kilkenny match forfeit they've lost little enough by the disrupted opening to the season.

Furthermore Gerald McCarthy has had the opportunity to try some new players and the results have been encouraging.

Tomorrow provides another good test against an improving Limerick, themselves getting back on track for the summer.

Waterford v Tipperary, Nowlan Park, 2.30: It was disappointing for Tipperary that they missed out on the semi-final place but the opportunity to face Waterford is one that probably appeals to them more than their opponents at the moment.

This was the first knock-out step for Waterford's march to last year's league title but they have been slow to assemble this year's challenge and a Tipp side, beefed up after the easy win over Laois and with a settled and productive full-forward line, can advance to what would be a further useful indicator of progress under Liam Sheedy, a last four tussle with Kilkenny.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

[ Matches at 2.30 unless stated]

Division One

Mayo v Galway, Castlebar:Mayo have bounced back from a poor start to the campaign and need that momentum against a Galway team that has attracted plaudits for its sense of purpose and exuberant direct style under new manager, Liam Sammon. Mayo's win over Kildare was even easier than the scoreline suggests even if to the outsider there's a touch of déjà vu about much of the team. Galway can confirm a place in the divisional final.

Donegal v Laois, Ballyshannon: Donegal's roller-coaster season in defence of their league crown should take an upswing tomorrow against a Laois side that has struggled to stay the pace between premature retirements, their reversal and last week's loss of Pádraig Clancy to injury. Liam Kearns's team has been competitive but even with Ross Munnelly and Brian McCormack back on board in attack, the visitors will do well to keep up with the tempo of the holders' game.

Division Two

Westmeath v Cavan, Cusack Park: The lifeline for Cavan last week will motivate them for this, a good opportunity to set the cat among the pigeons in the basement of this division. Westmeath have, however, been impressive despite rarely having a full-strength selection available and with an outside shot at promotion themselves, should take the points here.

Division Three

Fermanagh v Wexford, Lisnaskea: Vital clash at the top of the table with Fermanagh, combining the advantages of a 100 per cent record with home venue, looking likely to secure promotion and a final place.

Limerick v Longford, Kilmallock:Equally important stuff at the other end of the table with both managers feeling the pinch. The home dug-out should be the more relieved tomorrow evening.

Leitrim v Down, Carrick-on-Shannon: On what's pretty much 'moving day' in this division either of these teams could suffer a terminal blow to their ambitions. Down can take the big step.

Louth v Sligo, Dundalk: Disappointing campaign for both counties with Sligo on the verge of going from provincial champions to Tommy Murphy Cup in the space of a year. That concern, however, could be alleviated tomorrow evening.

Division Four

Tipperary v Antrim, Ardfinnan:Carlow did for Tipp's faint hopes of promotion but Antrim should virtually ensure theirs.

Carlow v Waterford, Dr. Cullen Park: An encouraging season for Waterford but Carlow can move ahead of them after this.

Offaly v Kilkenny, Tullamore: Home win on the menu here.

London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 2.0:Wicklow should prevail.

Bye: Clare.

Leinster Under-21FC Final

Wexford v Kildare, Wexford Park, 3.30- A powerful Kildare team, managed by Glenn Ryan, are deserved favourites against the home team whose scalps include the Wicklow team that shocked last year's All-Ireland finalists Laois.