GAA previews: Kerry selection shows respect to Cork but Kingdom double forewarned
Cork scored six two-pointers in the Munster semi-final against Kerry. They will need that artillery again on Saturday. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
It goes without saying that Mayo’s footballers will want to give recovering Kevin McStay something to cheer and Tyrone’s home record is almost as iffy as Mayo’s. Having said that, they will be buzzing after breaking Jim McGuinness’s home record in Ballybofey. Even if Mayo have had an extra week’s rest, Tyrone won’t be feeling much of the toils from last Saturday. Mayo’s kick-out issues will have to be ironed out to stand a chance here and they won’t want it to turn into a shoot-out. Verdict: Tyrone.
Again, Jack O’Connor is showing respect to Cork with the team he has named for Kerry’s return to Leeside. Graham O’Sullivan is again due to start in the half-forward line, which is an acknowledgement of the running power that Cork’s half-back line possess although Mattie Taylor’s fitness is the subject of attention following his injury against Meath. Having no Diarmuid O’Connor is a blow as Cork’s midfield duo will have been stung by what transpired in Navan last Saturday and the criticism that followed. Cork scored an impressive six two-pointers against Kerry last month and that artillery will be required again as Chris Óg Jones’s goal remains the only three-pointer Kerry have conceded in their last three championship games. Cork have enough incentive to push Kerry again but the visitors are double forewarned. This is a re-match but it may as well be a replay and in replays the stronger team invariably wins. Verdict: Kerry.
Not that Roscommon were all that fussed about the game in Killarney but there are many realists among them and winning this game and beating Cork will set them up for a home preliminary quarter-final. Meath come having put their Leinster final disappointment behind them and their variety in their attack gives them a right chance of backing up the win over Cork. Enda Smith’s form continues to bemuse but the home side have enough on the field and in the dug-out to claim two points. Verdict: Roscommon.
Louth’s challenge eventually fizzled out against Monaghan and if they are not careful, their championship could be over next month, six weeks after claiming that historic Leinster title. The chances are they will beat Clare in the final round to make the last 12 and seeing as how they don’t have a home not securing second place wouldn’t exactly hurt them. Nevertheless, Ger Brennan will want them to show that losing to Monaghan hurt and their physical strength will be a problem for Down’s speedsters. Verdict: Draw.
Right now, Laois’s score difference in third place would be good enough to get them into the knock-out stages but there are local bragging rights to play for here and they could yet top the table. Somehow, you don’t think Offaly are going to let their top spot slip, though. Verdict: Offaly.
Wicklow pulled off quite the win over Laois and for them not to go and follow it up with another in Wexford would be a great disappointment. Dean Healy is giving some tremendous performances and he can provide another to guide them to the last 12. Verdict: Wicklow.
Almost a free hit for Limerick as they know they will have at least one more game in the competition. Westmeath will give them a great indication of where they stand. Dermot McCabe’s side are putting all their league angst behind them and are genuine cup contenders. Verdict: Westmeath.
Derry v London, Croke Park, 5pm (P. Dunne, Laois) Live Sport TG4.
With 14 goals, London have the real goal-getters in this tier. Jack Morrissey and Conor O’Carroll have each netted four times and the dash that their attack has should be suited to Croke Park. They will likely need them as a composed Derry side still outscored them across the five rounds including the teams’ meeting in Ruislip last month. Cormac O’Doherty to lead the way for the Oak Leafers. Verdict: Derry.
Seven points divided them in Castlebar in their first round game last month but the margins have closed on the neighbours since. From Round 3 onwards, Roscommon have powered on to make this decider. It’s a pity they won’t have as much support as each county’s football equivalents are in action too but they should provide an engaging game and Mayo should prevail again. Verdict: Mayo.
This should be a proud day for Cavan hurlers who are only in this final for the second time, their first since 2021, but there are ominous signs that New York are going to mark their entry in the competition with a comprehensive victory. Verdict: New York.
Tipperary U20 manager Brendan Cummins believes the longer gap between winning Munster and the All-Ireland final this year is a benefit to his side. Last year, they effectively had five days to prepare for Offaly, yet in the time between defeating Clare and this stage, Kilkenny have added another handsome victory. It will be said they haven’t been tested as much as Tipperary but that was a good Dublin side they pushed aside in the Leinster final. They are greater than the sum of their parts and have leaders like Eoghan Lyng. Tipperary know for all their senior quality they can fall flat but ever since that first day loss to Limerick they have been a different team. They were fortunate at times against Clare but that inside line of theirs is lethal and Sam O’Farrell will play a longer role in this game. A Kilkenny success can’t be dismissed but with so many of last year’s All-Ireland runners-up side involved that experience and development should stand to the Munster champions. Verdict: Tipperary.
Tipperary will fancy themselves to at least ask questions of Cork but as the reigning All-Ireland champions demonstrated last weekend, they are starting as they mean to go on. Anything other than an away win would raise an eyebrow. Verdict: Cork.
Two teams who are coming off defeats but in the case of Wexford, theirs was a respectable one. Limerick were given a trimming by Cork and the scars from that won’t fade easily. Verdict: Wexford.
It will be difficult for Derry to dust themselves off after such a heavy loss to Kilkenny last weekend and Galway won’t be in much form to take it easy on them either. Verdict: Galway.
A good move for this to be part of the double-header with the U20 All-Ireland final. Kilkenny were merciless against Derry but their credentials will be given a bigger examination by Waterford. Verdict: Kilkenny.
Donegal are going be so sore after last weekend but there’s a mission to accomplish in Cavan town and their reaction should give a great indication of where they stand. There were worrying signs about the porousness of Donegal’s defence in the first half and whether Cavan can exploit that remains to be seen but they are rested and full of belief after seeing off Mayo in Castlebar. Cavan may just lack the ruthlessness as Donegal look to get back to winning ways. Verdict: Donegal.
As Peter Keane said during the week, one win can turn a championship around but the problem for Clare is they are coming off the back of two hidings and Monaghan are scoring for fun at the moment. If Clare are to qualify for the last 12, it would see the final round game against Louth at a neutral venue will be the game to target rather than expecting something in Clones. Verdict: Monaghan.
It was in Derry where some of Galway’s frailties were revealed earlier this year and the comeback by Paddy Tally’s men in Armagh city will give them some optimism as they look for their first win of the season. That funk will be brutal to emerge from, though, and Galway’s sense of urgency is going to be difficult to contain. Pádraic Joyce will have told them in no varnished terms that another performance as they gave against Dublin will be unacceptable. Galway to remind people of their All-Ireland credentials. Verdict: Galway.
What an occasion this should be as over 50,000 are expected to be in Croke Park. Dublin fans have fallen out of love with Leinster but their exit from that coupled with the revitalising performance in Salthill has whetted their appetite. Armagh are one of the strongest backed counties outside the capital and they will arrive more than believing they can put one foot in the quarter-finals. It’s difficult to believe any team that Dessie Farrell and Kieran McGeeney name but if we can take it that Con O’Callaghan isn’t fit then the advantage is with the visitors. Dublin sure coped without him when the game against Galway was in the melting pot but Armagh have a fine bench with more like-for-like replacements. That can be their key to victory. Verdict: Armagh.
Leitrim have surprised already this season and are capable of doing so again here although Tipperary have been making incremental improvements. It would seem the third team from either this or Group 3 is going to miss out on another game and Tipperary can at least give themselves a chance. Verdict: Tipperary.
The Lilywhites have been doing exactly what’s been asked of them so far but Sligo have a sting in their tail and it will have to be heeded. They won’t surpass the 30-point target for a third time in Roscommon but Kildare should outshoot Sligo. Verdict: Kildare.
With neither team having yet got off the board, there is desperation in Newry and the scores being leaked by Antrim have to be a major concern for Andy McEntee. That being said, in their display against Armagh they showed battling qualities and they can serve them well to shave this final round game. Verdict: Antrim.
What a bonus it is for these counties to line out in the curtain-raiser to the Dublin-Armagh game in GAA headquarters. Fermanagh have to get that surprise defeat to Carlow out of their systems, while Wexford won’t want to be leapfrogged for top spot by Carlow. Verdict: Wexford
At this stage, Carlow officials must be asking why they didn’t appoint Joe Murphy in the first place. Carlow are through to the last 12 on the back of a win and a draw and it doesn’t seem like Longford are in a position to deny them more points. Verdict: Carlow.
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