Weekend previews: Killarney tussle the latest stage in managed decline of provincial championships
David Clifford of Kerry celebrates after scoring his side's first goal from a penalty during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2 match between Cork and Kerry at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Several years ago, a GAA official chastised me about a piece I had written. And then came the clinker: “Thank heavens it was in the relative privacy of [a previous newspaper I worked for]”.
A Saturday afternoon in April for a Kerry-Cork game in Killarney may as well be relative privacy and seems the latest stage in the managed decline of the provincial championships. Jack O’Connor spoke of 20,000 turning up for the game but that could be a push. That’s not to say there should be a game here. When Cork are free-flowing, they are a danger but they can’t be cavalier here.
Perhaps they still don’t have enough coming off the bench to really trouble Kerry but no Jason Foley and a midfield pairing that hasn’t yet been championship tested gives Cork a better chance than most are anticipating.
For Kerry to have two finishers in Tony Brosnan and Killian Spillane to call from the bench can’t be underestimated.
Kerry.
The two-week gap meant Waterford had some time to celebrate and digest the significance of their win over Tipperary. There will be a bounce in their step and they will hope to prey on some of the inexperience of championship football in the Clare group.
Clare might be in transition but if their league form is anything to go by with the exception of the final round game against Down it will be a short process. They may be lacking in depth for that shouldn’t be tested here.
Clare.
It was no surprise that Sligo made a big play for their rightful home advantage. They will need everything going for them if they are pull of a surprise but the return of Shane Walsh to the team and Damien Comer to the panel shows Galway aren’t taking them lightly.
Sligo have powerful players in each line and Canice Mulligan is going to be a fixture for years to come but as the weeks pass Galway are beginning to look more like themselves on paper.
Galway.
It’s difficult to believe the Ulster championship will get any better than this and in not seeding the competition therein may lay the issue for the province. The draw is completely lop-sided but few outside the two counties will complain about probably the best two teams in the province facing off so early.
Mickey Harte is looking to scratch an itch and beat a Jim McGuinness side in the championship for the first time. It won’t come easy. This group of Donegal players are fit, motivated and more tactically conscious than ever before.
How they work their press on Derry’s kick-outs will go a long way to deciding the game but Derry’s tails are high. They will find Donegal competitive until the end but they are too composed to let this one slip.
Derry.
Losing manager Seoirse Bulfin after the league, Meath hope to revive their season but Down are a force to reckoned with in Ballycran.
Down.
Tyrone were well off against London and Derry won’t be showing them much sympathy.
Derry.
The Exiles can build on an impressive opening win with another couple of points.
London.
Twenty-two points better than Monaghan on day one, Mayo can build on that here.
Mayo.
Roscommon took Louth’s scalp last weekend and can add the home side’s.
Roscommon.
Both struggled last week but Leitrim can pick up the win.
Leitrim.
Not much between these two and they might not be separated.
Draw.
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The GAA never mind the Munster Council and RTÉ couldn’t have picked a better game to start the hurling championship. Familiarity has well and truly bred contempt between these neighbours, their biannual Munster meetings these past couple of seasons, Limerick’s Munster and All-Ireland glories and Clare landing the odd punch transforming a rivalry into something even more tribal.
Bringing it to and beyond the line won’t be asked for in Ennis; it will be demanded. So just how much Colm Lyons allows to let go will be significant. Limerick aren’t just down men – injured Darragh O’Donovan and suspended Peter Casey – they also have players like Seán Finn who have to prove they are back to themselves.
Cian Lynch also falls into that category. At the same time, Clare should be asking more from Cathal Malone and Peter Duggan and this isn’t a day when they can be the quarry like Malone was in the Division 1 final.
If the Clare team that has been named starts, we fancy Limerick. There are just one too many greenhorns there for an occasion that could swallow them whole and spit them out. If it doesn’t, and we expect it won’t (Shane O’Donnell has to be there from the off), the nod goes to The Banner.
A conditional tip, then.
Clare.
Written off by almost everyone in a game that more Cork than Waterford people seem interested in, this is a game that will feed into Davy Fitzgerald’s us-against-the-world philosophy.
Cork’s trust in their own game will have to be so solid here because they really don’t know what to expect from Waterford. Few do. A recent challenge game against Wexford wouldn’t have offered much, although Cork have thrown a curve ball of their own with the inclusion of Seán Twomey.
Aside from that, their defence has a great balance even if Mark Coleman would prefer to have seen more action this year. Waterford should improve over the course of this championship but it will be difficult for a team to knit together when so many of them haven’t played alongside each other in a long time. You can envisage them spoiling Cork especially around the middle and the two Fitzgeralds offer something if they come off the bench.
Twelve months ago, they would have beaten Limerick if they believed in themselves. Do they now? After their two previous SHC outings, Cork themselves have to demonstrate they can win a tight affair. With a degree of difficulty, they will.
Cork.
Henry Shefflin will surely tell his charges not to read much into Carlow’s Division 2A final loss to Laois. By that stage, they had already achieved what they set out to do, which was to be part of the new Division 1B in 2025. They are bound to be full on enthusiasm for this trip west on an afternoon when Galway will be expected to be business-like in their approach.
Galway.
TJ Reid’s inclusion in the starting team won’t stop chins wagging about the scoring battle he appears to be in with Patrick Horgan. Perhaps he is rested later in the provincial championship but then his expertise and coolness was so badly missed in the Division 1 final.
Reports in Antrim are the camp is in good spirits again after a difficult league and they have more of their regulars available but a home win can be counted on.
Kilkenny.
Given so much is riding on the outcome of this clash, it’s a pity that it isn’t a live TV game but such is the heaving volume of games this weekend that there have to be compromises made.
Dublin didn’t seem to give a jot about the league whereas Wexford did – will it be surprise anyone if they trade places in the new competition format next season? Wexford are also down some seasoned players like Diarmuid O’Keeffe and this is a day for experience.
Dublin have never had any hang-ups about Wexford and can bring something back up the road even if it’s a point.
Draw.
Now that he has the vast majority of his squad back together, Davy Burke will be looking for the most cohesive performance of a patchy 2024 season thus far for Roscommon.
This may be on their turf but Mayo’s record in Roscommon town is pretty good and they themselves look to be picking from a close to full strength bunch.
Fergal Boland, perhaps the best Mayo player during the league, will be looked towards to pick Roscommon’s lock because Mayo will need more than just hard-running.
There were reasons/excuses for last year’s result in Castlebar. They are none for Mayo this time.
Mayo.
Five championship debutants have been named in the Tyrone team. That’s quite the number and when stalwarts like Peter Harte are missing and Conn Kilpatrick is absent it does lend itself to the idea this game could be a slog.
Tyrone do have magic in their inside forward line with the Canavan brothers and Darren McCurry but it’s in the middle where Cavan’s nous should make a real game of this.
Paddy Smyth will require touch-tight marking by Tyrone but as scoring options go the visitors have more.
Tyrone.
You would think the exposure Offaly had, as gruesome as it was at times, to facing Liam MacCarthy Cup opposition during the league will give them an advantage in this competition.
Had the league structure not changed, Laois could well be replacing their neighbours in the top flight after winning Division 2A. Offaly to shade it.
Offaly.
Kerry’s disappointing league form, although there were personnel shortages behind it, doesn’t provide a huge amount of encouragement going into the McDonagh Cup. Facing a Westmeath team who beat Wexford last year and did reasonably well in Division 1 this term is a tall task.
Westmeath.
Kildare will have a final in their sights and Wicklow aren’t going to be the biggest hurdle in front of them. Verdict: Kildare.
Armagh’s difficulties seem to be greater than Louth’s.
Louth.
Longford to remain at the top of the table.
Longford.
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