Weekend GAA previews

TODAY

Wholesale changes by manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy, whose starlet Conor Lehane is out injured, makes this a possible stormy visit to Portlaoise for Cork. Laois are a much-changed side from that which shipped a massive championship defeat just a few years ago by Cork (10-20 to 1-13 in 2011 — don’t think this has been forgotten in Laois!).

Cork looked really impressive for the opening 20 minutes against Limerick last week, then faded, gave up a big lead and eventually only tied with 14-man Limerick. Meanwhile Laois took on neighbours Offaly and, with a young side, recorded a first win in Tullamore since 1960, Stephen Maher notching 1-9. Underestimate them now at your peril.

Verdict: Cork

Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster Colleges SAFC) semi-finals

De La Salle Macroom v St Fachtna’s De La Salle Skibbereen, Enniskeane, 1.30pm (E Walsh, Kerry)

Postponed from two weeks ago, this is these sides’ third year in-a-row to meet, Macroom having been successful in quarter-finals in 2012 and ’13. They are seeking to get back to the final for a third time in five years. Midfielder Peter Kelleher and James Moynihan at centre-forward dictate a lot of the play while Cian Healy is adept from frees. Michael Hurley will carry a lot of the Fachtna’s scoring burden but Séan O’Donovan also impressed in the quarter-final win over Coláiste na Sceilge.

Verdict: De La Salle Macroom

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne v St Brendan’s College Killarney, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.30pm (K Murphy, Cork)

A repeat of last year’s final, when Corca Dhuibhne won a second successive title, but Brendan’s gained some element of revenge when they claimed the O’Sullivan Cup (Kerry Colleges SAFC) title against the Dingle school in November. Tony Brosnan and Micheál Burns are key men in attack while Dara Roche also impressed in the quarter-final win over St Flannan’s College. Corca Dhuibhne’s three-in-a-row dream has been shaken – twice – by Coláiste Chríost Rí but they overcame them in extra time in both the first game and the ordered replay after a black-card controversy. Maitiú Ó Flatharta, Tom Ó Súilleabháin and Cathal Ó Bambaire are sure to be central figures for the Eamonn Fitzmaurice-managed side.

Verdict: St Brendan’s

Corn Uí Dhuill (Leinster Colleges SAHC) semi-finals

St Kieran’s College v Coláiste Eoin, venue TBC, 2pm

St Kieran’s should advance to a fifth successive final. They were impressive against Castlecomer CS in the quarter-final, with seven different scorers, among them Robbie Donnelly, Liam Blanchfield and Conor Murphy. Dublin’s Coláiste Eoin beat Wexford Schools after extra-time, having trailed by 10 points at one stage. Conn Ó Ceallacháin and Colm Ó Néill will be among those who must perform if they are to cause an upset.

Verdict: St Kieran’s College

Kilkenny CBS v Good Counsel College, TBC, 2pm

Holders Kilkenny CBS will be fancied to set up a third final meeting in-a-row against St Kieran’s. Andrew Gaffney scored 1-13 in the quarter-final against Birr, while Paul Delahunty and Niall Mullins can also get on the scoresheet. Good Counsel will look to John Walsh and Seán Ryan.

Verdict: Kilkenny CBS

TOMORROW

All games 2pm unless stated

Allianz HL Division 1A

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Nowlan Park (D Kirwan, Cork)

A tough task trying to predict a winner here. After just a one-point loss to powerful Clare last week Kilkenny have less ground to make up than many imagine, and of course there is that Nowlan Park factor.

Tipperary make just one personnel change from last Saturday’s win over Waterford but the chess pieces are being moved around, ace defender Conor O’Brien in midfield with James Woodlock gone up front.

Verdict: Tipperary

Waterford v Galway, Walsh Park, (J Sexton, Cork)

Huge win for Galway last week against Dublin, a whopping 28 points scored and could have been even more by all accounts. Galway in ominous form then, even without the Portumna contingent. Defence will be key for Waterford, limit what is always a potentially lethal Galway attack. Do that and it’s half the battle. They’ll have to sacrifice an attacker to do so, and with powerful ball-winning forward Maurice Shanahan injured, will they then have enough firepower up front to trouble Galway?

Waterford manager Derek McGrath though was pragmatic even before this league began – every game was going to be a challenge.

Verdict: Galway

Dublin v Clare, Parnell Park (A Kelly, Westmeath).

Wounded animal in its own lair, that has to be Dublin tomorrow. 0-28 to 1-12 makes for truly ugly reading for any Dublin player or supporter but that was the scarcely credible final scoreline in Salthill last week. Facing the All-Ireland champions or not, Dublin must show no fear, no respect, no holding back but tear into this from first whistle to last.

Clare got off to an impressive winning start in a ding-dong battle with a new-look but old-style Kilkenny and with those two points in the bag, their need is not as great.

Verdict: Dublin

Allianz HL Division 1B

Wexford v Offaly, O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, (C McAllister, Cork)

Wexford had to battle late in Ballycastle before finally subduing Antrim last week, are now at home albeit not in Wexford Park. Offaly meanwhile, in Brian Whelehan’s first league outing at the helm, succumbed to Laois in Tullamore, suggesting they have ground to make up.

Verdict: Wexford

Limerick v Antrim, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, (B Kelly, Westmeath)

Limerick need to careful here. They’ve had big wins against Antrim in the recent past in the Gaelic Grounds yet almost came a cropper there last year. They won by a goal for a finish (1-19 but 0-19) and were fortunate to do so. They have a number of changes, Mark Carmody in at corner-back, youngster Thomas O’Brien up front, and good to see the patient and canny Tommy Quaid get a start at full-forward.

Verdict: Limerick

Allianz HL Division 2A

Carlow v London, Dr Cullen Park, (F Horgan, Tipperary), 1pm

Tough one for London against a Carlow a team on a mission. Demoted last year, with county champions Mount Leinster Rangers in the All-Ireland senior club final the county is back on track.

Verdict: Carlow

Kerry v Kildare, Abbeydorney (J O’Brien, Tipperary)

Galway’s 0-28 caught the eye but how about Kerry’s 4-24 away to Derry, who often posed them problems in the past? A young and talented Kerry side on the up. Kildare can expect a hot welcome to Abbeydorney.

Verdict: Kerry

Westmeath v Derry, Cusack Park, Mullingar, (S Cleere, Kilkenny)

Must-win for the midlanders, simple as that. On last week’s form Derry have no chance in this group, Westmeath always there or thereabouts.

Verdict: Westmeath

Allianz HL Division 2B

Down v Wicklow, Ballycran, (E Hasson, Derry)

Verdict: Down

Meath v Mayo, Trim, (P O’Dwyer, Carlow)

Verdict: Meath

Fingal v Armagh, Swords, (P Murphy, Carlow)

Verdict: Fingal

Allianz HL Division 3A

Fermanagh v Louth, Brewster Park, (C Cunning, Antrim)

Verdict: Louth

Roscommon v Monaghan, Padraig Pearses, Woodmount, (J Keane, Galway)

Verdict: Roscommon

Longford v Donegal, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Verdict: Donegal

M Donnelly Interprovincial FC final

Connacht v Ulster, Tuam, (D O’Mahoney, Tipperary), 2.30pm

Going by Aidan O’Shea’s comments after the win over Munster, there’s a determination to end Connacht’s quite embarrassing run without a provincial title. 45 years is a yawning gap but they won’t get any sympathy from an Ulster crew that come together so well. The wealth of talent especially from Tyrone and Donegal should be sufficient to see the title head up north once more.

Verdict: Ulster

Allianz FL Division 4

London v Clare, Ruislip (J Hickey, Carlow), 1pm

Clare could be down a couple of players but they should still be able to get back to winning ways after being held by Leitrim at home the weekend before last.

Verdict: Clare

National Camogie League Division 1 Group 1

Galway v Kilkenny, Duggan Park Ballinasloe, (A Lagrue, Kildare) 2.30pm

A keen contest in store here in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final. The westerners, at home, will be anxious to set out their stall for 2014, albeit minus many of their regulars. For various reasons they will be short almost half of the team that lined out against the Cats last September. Still, Tony Ward will be eyeing further glory with the help of his victorious All Ireland Intermediate team.

Kilkenny will be looking forward to this tie for some while. They had a good year in ’13 but management will have been disappointed with the outcome of the All-Ireland. They have plenty to build on and will use the league to garner a few more players.

Verdict: Galway

Clare v Derry, Bray Emmetts, (M Sheehan, Cork)

Clare, under new manager Colm Honan, should come away with full points here. Laura Linnane is back to strengthen their hand. The Banner County are never too far away and they should get their campaign off to a positive start. Derry are shorn of some of their more better known names and new boss Joe Baldwin will be seeking a step up from their 2013 performances. The Eoghan Rua players are also unlikely to feature (defeated by Milford recently in club series) so it is hard to see anything other than a Clare win.

Verdict: Clare

Division 1 Group 2

Cork v Dublin, Cork IT (A O’Brien, Wexford), 3.30pm

Defending league champions Cork won’t have their Milford contingent, nevertheless they should be too strong for Dublin. In corresponding fixtures last season, the Leesiders proved comfortable victors. Paudie Murray’s charges will be contenders again this year, while Dublin will look to the formidable duo of Louise O’Hara and Aine Fanning for leadership.

Verdict: Cork

Offaly v Tipperary, Carrig/Riverstown, Birr, (K O’Brien, Dublin)

Offaly were gutted to lose in the championship by one point to Wexford last year. They are not lacking in talent or experience and a good run in the league would set them up for the year ahead. They welcome a Tipp team in transition, but with some fine young players who are on the way up.

Verdict: Offaly

Division 2 Group 1

Antrim v Down, Armoy, (E Cassidy, Derry), 1pm

Verdict: Antrim

Galway v Kilkenny, Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, (P Dowd, Meath), 1pm

Verdict: Kilkenny

Laois v Wexford, Crettyard, (C Egan, Cork), 3pm

Verdict: Wexford

Division 2 Group 2

Kildare v Cork, Hawkfield, Newbridge, (D Ryan, Dublin), 11am

Verdict: Cork

Meath v Tipperary, Rathmolyon, (J Byrne, Dublin), 2.30pm

Verdict: Meath

Tesco Homegrown NFL Division 1

Monaghan v Dublin, Inniskeen, (M Farrelly)

Monaghan and Dublin can both been flawless to date but this weekend represents possibly the biggest tests for either county. There is an interesting subtext to this fixture as Gregory McGonigle bring his new county to face his old after enjoying great success with Monaghan in recent years. Dublin have unearthed some excellent new talent in Carla Rowe and Sarah McCaffrey and have tried and tested talent in the likes of Sinead Goldrick, Sinead Farrelly, Sinead Aherne and Lyndsay Davey with Noelle Healy also showing fantastic form. Monaghan though have a star studded line up with the Courtney’s, Amanda Casey, the McAnespies, Catriona McConnell and Caoimhe Mohan. The winners of the duels between Caoimhe Mohan and Sinead Goldrick and at the other end of the pitch between Sinead Aherne and Sharon Courtney could decide this match. A draw would not be a surprise but, with greater experience and home advantage, Monaghan might just shade it.

Verdict: Monaghan

NFL Division 2

Kildare v Galway, Sarsfields, (M Doherty)

Verdict: Galway

NFL Division 3

Armagh v Longford, Abbey Grammar School, (B Rice)

Verdict: Armagh

Offaly v Leitrim

Cloghan, (C McManus)

Verdict: Leitrim