Saturday
All-Ireland SFC, Round 2
Group 2: Roscommon vs Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 5pm (B Cassidy, Derry) Live GAAGO
As if this game didn’t need another line under it, Davy Burke drew another last Saturday when he mentioned the importance of the game. To lose once to Mayo in Dr Hyde Park was enough, but a second defeat and Cavan will fancy themselves in a play-off for a preliminary quarter-final spot.
Mayo demonstrated against Cavan that losing a Connacht final wasn’t the end of the world. Their record in Roscommon is good, but the margin won’t be five points this time around.
In games like these, Paddy Durcan’s absence will be felt.
Conor Cox’s return to form gives Roscommon a lift but, on current form, Mayo have should come out on top around the middle.
Verdict: Mayo.
Cavan vs Dublin, Kingspan Breffni, 7pm (P Neilan, Roscommon) Live GAAGO.
You can imagine Raymond Galligan will be telling his troops to approach this with an element of abandon.
Whatever happens, there will be Roscommon and the chance to make the last 12.
They were a distant second to Mayo a fortnight ago.
All of the spirit that saw them push Tyrone so hard was non-existent in Castlebar. Paddy Lynch is sorely missed. If there was to be a shock, he would be required.
Dublin may have finished with a flourish, but they were bang average for 50 minutes of the game against Roscommon. Expect them to step it up.
Verdict: Dublin.
Group 3: Cork vs Donegal, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2.30pm (B Griffin, Kerry)
One-week turnarounds have been slightly challenging for Donegal, if their performance against Tyrone after seeing off Derry the week before is anything to go by.
That, the fact Cork have had two weeks off, and the trip for the Ulster champions should even up the score here. Consider also just how settled this Cork team is.
Sure, Clare came back at them in Ennis — but the visitors should have enough resistance to keep them at arm’s length.
Nevertheless, Donegal showed little signs of a provincial title hangover in crushing Tyrone last weekend, and all the momentum is with them. It may actually be a blessing in disguise for Cork that this game is in Páirc Uí Rinn, as Donegal’s hard running would reap greater dividends in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork are likely to go down, but they’ll do it while punching.
Verdict: Donegal.
Tailteann Cup, Round 3
Group 1: Longford vs Waterford, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm (C Dourneen, Cavan)
There’s a slight chance that Waterford — should they upset the odds here — may make the knockout stages, but Longford have been more competitive in their two defeats and can finish third.
Verdict: Longford.
Kildare vs Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 6pm (N Mooney, Cavan)
Mea culpa, we didn’t think Kildare’s interest in this competition would be as strong as what their opening couple of displays have indicated. A quarter-final spot beckons even if Leitrim also boast a 100% record thus far.
Verdict: Kildare.
Group 2: Wexford vs Tipperary, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3.30pm (B Cawley, Kildare)
It’s been a sorry season for Tipperary, and Wexford — while also pointless — will be looking to rack up a score on the way to a win in the hope that their third place is good enough to make the last 12.
Verdict: Wexford.
Group 3: Fermanagh vs Laois, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3.45pm (T Murphy, Galway)
Laois recovered from their collapse against Carlow, where they shared the spoils to beat Wicklow.
There are doubts about their reliance on their stalwarts, though, and Fermanagh have been competing at a much higher level this season.
Verdict: Fermanagh.
Wicklow vs Carlow, Parnell Park, 3.45pm (S Mulhare, Laois)
From beating Westmeath and pushing Kildare so hard in Leinster, Wicklow’s performance levels have tumbled.
Carlow have a point on the board and can still finish second, but Wicklow are capable of leapfrogging them.
Verdict: Wicklow.
Group 4: Limerick vs London, Parnell Park, 1.30pm (D Murnane, Cork)
London won’t have any fear of making another trip across the Irish Sea after what they did to Offaly in Tullamore. Purely based on what both teams did to Offaly, London may just pull off another victory as Limerick continue to transition.
Verdict: London.
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Round 2 Group 1
Antrim vs Kilkenny, Corrigan Park, 2pm (B Kearney, Louth)
Kilkenny pounded Limerick into the ground last week, and won’t mind the trip to Belfast.
Verdict: Kilkenny.
Waterford vs Limerick, Walsh Park, 2pm (A Larkin, Cork)
Waterford gave Tipperary the fill of it in the opening round and can pick up their first points at home.
Verdict: Waterford.
Derry vs Tipperary, Owenbeg, 2pm (G Donegan, Dublin)
Tipperary would do well not to take anything for granted here. A win will be expected, but Derry can pack a punch.
Verdict: Tipperary.
Group 2: Down vs Cork, Páirc Esler, 1pm (J Heffernan, Wexford)
Double-score winners over Wexford on day one, Cork will back up that performance in Páirc Uí Rinn with another winning display.
Verdict: Cork.
Wexford vs Galway, McCauley Park, Bellefield, 2pm (D O’Callaghan, Limerick)
Things were dicey enough for Galway in seeing off Dublin, but this journey to Enniscorthy shouldn’t hold many concerns for them.
Verdict: Galway.
Dublin vs Clare, St Peregrine’s, 4pm (R Kelly, Kildare)
Clare probably didn’t learn a whole lot seeing off Down, like they did in Round 1. Dublin will be battle hardened, but an away victory looks on the cards.
Verdict: Clare.
Sunday
All-Ireland SFC, Round 2
Group 1: Westmeath vs Galway, Cusack Park, 3pm (N Cullen, Fermanagh)
Around this time last year, we were all commenting how competitive Westmeath were as Tailteann Cup winners in the inaugural four-group All-Ireland SFC series.
They don’t appear to have rediscovered their confidence since losing to Wicklow and, if their approach is to put all their eggs in one basket in the final round against Derry, it would be foolish. There’s a slightly jaded look about them, and Pádraic Joyce may look to his younger players to expose it even if he may be resting or has to do without some key players.
Verdict: Galway.
Derry vs Armagh, Celtic Park, 4pm (D Coldrick, Meath) Live RTÉ
The Derry team announced on Thursday night looks the best Mickey Harte has been able to publish for a championship game so far. Just how fit Eoin McEvoy is remains to be seen. As glowing a footballer as he is, Armagh won’t be slow in testing his injury and his inexperience at centre-back in this competition.
The return of Rian O’Neill gives real punch to the Armagh middle third, and the visitors won’t be second-guessing themselves as Derry might following two losses on the bounce. Derry owe their followers a performance after what happened against Donegal. They haven’t suddenly lost all direction, but a point may be a small step in returning to the right path.
Verdict: Draw.
Group 3: Tyrone vs Clare, O’Neill’s Healy Park, 1.30pm (J Henry, Mayo)
For the second season in a row, Clare head to Ulster for a second round game. In 2023, they went out of the championship having displayed plenty of grit against Monaghan. From a different Clare team, Mark Fitzgerald will want the same work ethic to withstand what a sore Tyrone team are going to throw at them.
Darragh Canavan won’t be as quiet as he was in Ballybofey last weekend. Clare too have reason to put their last result behind them but, if Tyrone are to make any headway this season, they need to make a statement here before facing Cork.
Verdict: Tyrone.
Group 4: Meath vs Kerry, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm (L Devenney, Mayo) Live RTÉ
For all sorts of reasons, Meath’s opener against Louth in Inniskeen last weekend was a difficult one — and it doesn’t get any easier as they return to their Navan base. Kerry have had two weeks since steamrolling Monaghan, and they could be just as merciless tomorrow. The only thing is they are not scoring many goals – none in their last four league and championship outings.
Seeing as Louth hit Meath with three of them, there should be chances to amend that record.
However, the sense is Kerry are surely building themselves up with each game while rotating some of their squad, although Paul Geaney is more than justified his inclusion against Monaghan. Victory for Kerry, the only question is by how much.
Verdict: Kerry.
Monaghan vs Louth, St Tiernach’s Park, 3.30pm (F Kelly, Longford)
Another weekend, another day out for Louth in Monaghan and the belief must really be coursing through Ger Brennan’s side after going down with honour against Dublin then dismissing Meath with relative ease. For Monaghan, they seem stuck in a rut and they may just have to wait until the final round to bridge the gap to their last win this season, January’s Division 1 opener against Dublin. Conor Grimes, Sam Mulroy, Craig Lennon… there are just too many Louth players in form.
Verdict: Louth.
Tailteann Cup, Round 3
Group 2: Sligo vs Antrim, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm (S Lonergan, Tipperary) Live GAAGO.
Almost an out-and-out play-off for a quarter-final berth — Sligo have the edge on score difference should they not be separated at the final whistle.
Seven points split them in their league clash in February. Sligo can prevail once more, but by a lesser total.
Verdict: Sligo.
Group 4: Down vs Offaly, Kingspan Breffni, 1.45pm (K Eannetta, Tyrone)
Offaly’s season has been a terribly disappointing one. Their one
saving grace here is Down know they need only win to secure their last-eight place and, therefore, there should be no need to rub
it in.
Verdict: Down.
Christy Ring Cup final
Kildare vs Derry, Croke Park, 2.15pm (B Keon, Galway) Live Spórt TG4
The question for Derry is what have they learned in the space of five weeks to suggest they can surprise Kildare?
There is no question Derry, whose only defeat of the season came against the Lilywhites, are full of confidence and have knocked it this door twice in the last three seasons, but several of these Kildare players are multiple Christy Ring Cup winners.
In Jack Sheridan, they have a player who can torment Derry once again.
Verdict: Kildare.
Nickey Rackard Cup final
Donegal vs Mayo, Croke Park, 4.15pm (P Owens, Down) Live Spórt TG4
Donegal have been putting up considerable totals on their way to this final, and they had six points to spare over Mayo in
Letterkenny in April. Mayo won this competition three years ago and still have a number of those players, but you imagine
Donegal are being fuelled by losing out to Wicklow so narrowly in last year’s decider.
Verdict: Donegal.
Lory Meagher Cup final
Fermanagh vs Longford, Croke Park, 12.15pm (J Judge, Mayo) Live Spórt TG4
An early start time for the
counties who played out a
high-scoring draw in Longford earlier this month. Fermanagh had the meaner defence in the round stages, and that might manifest itself again on the biggest stage.
Verdict: Fermanagh.
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