Weekend previews: Kerry's Diarmuid O'Connor and Galway's Shane Walsh return to action for All-Ireland SFC first round
WEEKEND PREVIEWS: Diarmuid O'Connor and Shane Walsh are back in action for Kerry and Galway for this weekend's first round of the All-Ireland SFC.
For the past two championships, Kerry have played a game every two weeks. Top their table and that sequence will continue into the All-Ireland quarter-finals at least. That type of rhythm is welcome but guarantees little. The only team to beat them in the group stages was one of the two Division 1 teams they have faced at this stage, Mayo in 2023. This time, promoted Roscommon will be the closest they face to a top-flight team but they have been sharpened by what happened in Cork last month.Â
They have developed their squad too and Paudie Clifford, Graham OâSullivan and Paul Murphy were hardly missed in the Munster final. Diarmuid OâConnor will need time to rediscover his fine form but his return allows Joe OâConnor to go back into the half-forward spot where showed signs of promise. Roscommon will keep them honest in both halves of the field but an away win seems a stretch. : Kerry.
Luka Bloom was obviously singing about Shane Walsh when he sang about somebody not coming at a better time. The x-factor of Walsh feels like the right move as Galway look to park the Connacht final when he wasnât involved and consider just how much Dublin will have a point to prove in Salthill. If SeĂĄn Bugler was involved, Dublin would certainly fancy their chances more but the half-back line they have named is a strong one but whether the trio all start is another matter.Â
Their announced inside line is a formidable grouping too but the crater-size gap left by Brian Fenton is now being felt. Would Stephen Cluxtonâs kick-outs be under such scrutiny if he were still there? Dublin have had three weeks to get their house in order. Running repairs are standard practice but this Dublin group may need more than time to fix themselves. Galway.
A noble effort by Tipperary against Sligo last weekend and they will want to ensure Kildare donât run riot like they did against Leitrim so they have a chance going into the final round of finishing a strong third and earning a preliminary quarter-final place. : Kildare.
Waterford were hit hard by Laois in the first half of last weekendâs opener and they will be wary of suffering the same fate here if they are to keep up their hopes of making the top three. : Offaly.
Already, this has the feel of a second/third-place play-off. Aughrim counts in Wicklowâs favour where they put up a good display against Dublin but Laois should having enough to set up a derby with plenty on the line against Offaly. : Laois.
There was no great shame for Antrim in losing to a Westmeath side with big intentions on winning the competition. Back in Belfast, they should be more of a force but Limerick may take something from them. : Draw.
Either MicheĂĄl Donoghue wants to refresh things or he recognises almost all of Antrimâs attentions will be on beating Offaly the following week and retaining their place in the Leinster SHC. James McNaughtonâs suspension means Antrim are without their best forward and Galway should win this without much trouble ahead of facing Dublin. Galway.
All doesnât seem to be well in Wexford and some of the decisions taken in forming their shape against Galway last week were unusual. Qualifying out of Leinster really is out of their hands but all they can do is concentrate on picking up a second win. Offaly, like Antrim, have their minds set on the final round. Wexford.
A win here and Kerry will be safe from dropping to the Christy Ring Cup, but Down should be able to show some of their excellent league form to move away from the bottom. Kerry will probably put their eggs in the one basket of facing Westmeath next week.: Down.
Carlowâs momentum was arrested against Kildare last weekend but there should be no panic. Westmeath would do themselves a huge favour picking up a second win but Carlow to prevail. Carlow.
At least one of these two should be in the final and while Wicklow look down on everyone at the perch of the table Derry are scoring well and can leapfrog them. : Derry.
Tyrone look to be stranded and London can advance their title prospects with a third victory. : London.
Neither should be caught by Tyrone and sent into a relegation battle. Meath have been leaking a lot yet have more points on board. Meath.
Do Mayo chose to ease off the throttle as they have their final spot secured? It doesnât matter as Fermanagh are relegated. Mayo.
Roscommonâs score difference coupled with a win here should see them pip Sligo for the second final berth. : Roscommon.
No question about Sligo winning but they really have to tag on the scores to surpass Roscommon. : Sligo.
Cavan are safely through to the decider and may rest players. : Draw.
Almost a semi-final although a draw for Monaghan would be enough to face Cavan in Croke Park on Saturday week. Monaghan.
The clash to avoid the wooden spoon. Warwickshire to add a second win. Warwickshire.
The shoe is on the other foot for Tipperary. Twelve months ago, they were lambs to the slaughter a week after Cork claimed a first victory in dramatic circumstances. Corkâs momentum was simply too much to handle. On this occasion, they are the ones coming off the back of an exciting first win and the feelgood factor has been amplified by a second Munster U20 title annexed on Wednesday.Â
Is the Tipp train too hefty to derail? Surely Liam Cahill learned from two years ago that nothing about Waterford in Thurles can be underestimated? Cahill will also appreciate that there are some Waterford players who would only love to burst his bubble. Waterford could probably do with starting Shane Bennett to sharpen the full-forward line. Otherwise, the team they have named checks a lot of boxes and Mikey Kielyâs presence gives them a great aerial foil to complement Dessie Hutchinson. Tipperary showed their tactical dexterity by instructing Ronan Maher to tag Peter Duggan last week and the same flexibility is required to show Stephen Bennett and Jamie Barron the respect they deserve.Â
At the other end, Waterfordâs midfield may have to drop back that bit further to snuff out Jake Morris if Tadhg de BĂșrca minds the âDâ. Donât be surprised if Darragh McCarthy is drafted in from the start and Noel McGrath returned to the bench so his arrival can âmatchâ Austin Gleesonâs. Itâs six years since Tipperary last won back-to-back Munster SHC games. They can just about emulate that and finish their involvement in the group stages on a high. Tipperary.
Lips are licked, appetites whetted and whistles wetted. The Munster senior hurling championship has been moving nicely but itâs here where it is expected to hit warp speed. Limerick will insist there is nothing personal about last championshipâs disappointments, that they are bigger than that, but the fact is the first and ultimate blows were dealt by Cork. They occupy a lot of their thoughts and while nothing tangible other than a Munster final appearance might be lost on Sunday, the bragging rights have to be restored. Twice last year Cork chose not to read into the green giants/machine magnification of Limerick and maintaining that healthy level of disrespect while recognising they stung them bad has to be their attitude.Â
The problem is not only are Limerick now picking from a full deck (though Corkâs bench looks almost fully stocked), Cian Lynch now seems to have put his ankle issues fully behind him. Keeping the ball away from Kyle Hayes is more difficult when he is in the middle. The right side of Limerickâs defence may be a target for Shane Barrett but Diarmaid Byrnes is in better form than this time last year. Limerick have also had two good SHC run-outs; Cork have really only had one and even if the delay may have aided Rob Downeyâs knee, four weeks without a game brings some doubt. It's going to be fierce, possibly too much at times. As John Kiely said earlier this year, players and managements have to play their part too.Â
Nobody wants anybody standing back from anybody on Sunday but some of the theatrics and acting-the-big-man antics that have sullied the game at times this year need to be parked out on the Ennis Road. These are two brilliant teams who may just cancel each other, which combined with a Tipperary win, would knock Clare out of the championship. Itâs a result that is not out of the question but for more reasons to avenge than Cork have to reenforce their recent superiority over them, it should be first blood to Limerick. Limerick.
Dublinâs high standard of coaching has been a talking point among some of their managements who have faced them so far. The quality of their play has to be complimented too. Cian OâSullivan appears to have brought his game to another level and Dublin wonât be found wanting in the physical stakes against Kilkenny either. To avoid any awkwardness in Wexford on Sunday week, The Cats will want another couple of points. They are moving well, some players are threatening a return to 2020 form and another new role has been found for Paddy Deegan, but make no mistake this is the biggest test they have faced so far. : Kilkenny.
Kildare will be buoyed by what they achieved in Carlow and yet this is a Laois side that have put their league woes behind them to maintain a 100% record in the McDonagh Cup after three games. They can extend it to a fourth.: Laois.
Back to the grind for Mayo and at times this might feel like one as they attempt to get on after another Connacht championship disappointment. Cavan will be full of spirit and might even smell blood so itâs imperative Mayo initially absorb whatâs flung at them. The two-week break from losing to Galway may have convinced the Mayo management that they should at least try with being more direct. Mayo.
Less than 1,000 are expected to take in this game in Ennis but it should be a decent contest. Clareâs home record has been superb this year and Down have shown they arenât the greatest travellers. But just how much the Munster final drubbing has affected The Banner remains to be seen. Down.
As much as this is a derby, Sligo may discover this is a less difficult encounter than what Tipperary presented them with at home last weekend. Leitrim might have put more onus on this and their final round game but Sligo can add another couple of points. : Sligo.
A trip Westmeath would be wise not to take for granted. London will hope they can take something from this and then build up for a big final day encounter with Antrim. Westmeath look too good to be complacent, though. Westmeath.
Carlow will be feeling sky high after coming away from Enniskillen with two points. Wexford were nine points better than their neighbours back in February but the margin should be much closer here, even overturned. : Wexford.
Fermanagh understand they canât afford another slip-up and they should be able to harness some of their frustrations to keep themselves in the hunt for the knock-out stages. : Fermanagh.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
