Weekend previews: Kerry to call on muscle memory, free hit for Cork and Meath

Meath's familiarity with Croke Park may just be the difference against Cork.

SURGING: Cork will look to the likes of Ian Maguire and Colm O'Callaghan around the middle sector. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

SATURDAY 

National Football League Division 3 final:

Down v Wexford, Croke Park, 7.15pm (T. Murphy, Galway) Live TG4.

There is no more consequential final this weekend as the winners are likely to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup. 

Facing Donegal away in their Ulster quarter-final next month, Down will be determined to ensure they have a safety net in the form of a victory here. Wexford might not yet have come down from the nature of their second successive promotion. 

They have scaled the ladder with gusto and another Croke Park experience will do them the world of good. Ten points divided the sides in Wexford in their game at the end of last month. It mightn’t be as clearcut this time but the result should have a familiar ring to it. 

Verdict: Down.

Division 4 final: Carlow v Longford, Croke Park, 5pm (K. Faloon, Armagh) Live TG4.

There were signs Carlow were moving in the right direction towards the end of the Tailteann Cup last year whereas Longford’s rise has been something of a bolt from the blue. 

Their home defeat to London at the start of February had some supporters wondering if Mike Solan was the man to lead them. Doubters have become believers and Longford will surely feel they have a great chance of a first piece of league silverware in 14 years having won the counties’ round fixture.

Carlow have just won of their last three games but they can march into the Leinster championship. 

Verdict: Carlow.

National Hurling League Division 2 final:

Laois v Kerry, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm (N. Malone, Clare) Live Spórt TG4 YouTube.

After the difficulty the Central Competitions Control Committee experienced in finding suitable neutral venues for these lower-level hurling finals last year, the decision was made to give the table-toppers home advantage. 

Laois looked far too good for everybody except Kerry when they faced off in Portlaoise and only a sliver of a point separated them. 

Kerry will be keen for a good test ahead of a Christy Ring Cup they will be expected to challenge for. Laois to come out on top again, though. 

Verdict: Laois.

Division 3 final: Wicklow v Donegal, Echelon Park, 2pm (M. Farrell, Offaly).

Wicklow were convincing victors when they faced off in Letterkenny earlier this month and in Aughrim they will be expected to lift the trophy. 

Verdict: Wicklow.

Division 4 final: Sligo v Longford, Markievicz Park, 2pm (A. Kinahan, Offaly).

Sligo appear to have got their act together again after a forgettable 2025. They made light work of beating teams and can crown their campaign with the cup. 

Verdict: Sligo.

SUNDAY 

National Football League Division 1 final:

Donegal v Kerry, Croke Park, 3pm (D. Gough, Meath) Live TG4.

What a stick in the spokes a Donegal win would be here. Kerry might play it down, dismiss it even, but to upset Jack O’Connor’s pattern of league and All-Ireland double is a worthy cause for the reigning Ulster champions. 

If the Down game was any nearer than April 26, Jim McGuinness may have advised his players to hold their horses but this is a game they can attack. 

Their football mightn’t have been hectic these past couple of weekends but freshness means something this weekend. That draw in Armagh, as much as Jack O’Connor extolled its benefits, was extremely hard-hitting and Kerry may be carrying some wounds into this final as a result. 

It should be an examination of the option-generating Kerry have been trying to do over the course of the previous nine weeks. 

It might have been a case of Shane Ryan, Gavin White, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Diarmuid O’Connor, no problem up to this point but they will likely have to draw deep to come out with a win here. 

Just as Kerry have inoculated Armin Heinrich and Keith Evans into the team, Donegal have two gems in Conor McCahill and Shea Malone although McCahill is out with a hamstring strain. 

McGuinness might be happier for one or two more defensive options but Jason McGee is like a new player and Michael Murphy coming off the bench adds a different dynamic. 

Donegal have more reason to win but this is a Kerry team that have been uber-accurate these past couple of weekends, have no game themselves until April 25 and in Croke Park their muscle memory should kick in. 

Verdict: Kerry.

Division 2 final: Cork v Meath, Croke Park, 1.45pm (B. Griffin, Kerry) Live TG4.

A free shot for both teams? The immense relief that both groups must have experienced having finally emerged from Division 2, Cork after 10 years and Meath back among the elite eight for the first time since 2020. 

If this game turns out to be a big sigh, nobody will blame them. Then again, Cork have an itch to scratch bearing in mind they haven’t won in Croke Park since their Division 1 semi-final win over Donegal in 2015 (seven defeats since). 

The same obviously can’t be said for Meath who won all their three home matches in GAA HQ this year and the place really has seen the best of them. 

The joke going around Meath is Dublin will play their Division 2 games as the undercard to Division 1 matches in Croke Park next year as Páirc Tailteann continues to be redeveloped. 

Even without the likes of Matthew Costello and Adam O’Neill, they have a real presence in midfield, which will be required against Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan. 

Like Cork, they have cultivated a bench too and have such a spread of scorers. Their familiarity with Croke Park may just be the difference. 

Verdict: Meath.

Lidl National Ladies Gaelic Football League Division 1: Dublin v Cork, Parnell Park, 2pm (M. Farrelly).

Hopefully, integration might ensure clashes like this game and Cork men’s Division 2 final will become a thing of the past. Cork have already qualified for the final and Dublin are desperate to avoid relegation. 

Verdict: Dublin.

Kildare v Kerry, Manguard CoE, Hawkfield, 2pm (P. McCaughey).

More or less a relegation play-off as a point is unlikely to do either team much favour. Kerry have been out of sorts but with their backs to the ball they can eke out the win. 

Verdict: Kerry.

Meath v Armagh, Summerhill, 2pm (E. O’Neill).

Inconsistency has been on full display from both teams and neither are out of the woods just yet. Meath may just shade it. 

Verdict: Meath.

Waterford v Galway, Kilrossanty, 2pm (J. Murphy).

A league semi-final in all but name and the form team are Galway. Waterford need to rediscover what made them shoot out of the blocks in the early part of the division. 

Verdict: Galway.

Division 2: Cavan v Westmeath, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm (D. Hurson).

Cavan have a final to look forward to and Westmeath are relegated. 

Verdict: Cavan.

Donegal v Wexford, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, 2pm (A. Campbell).

Donegal should confirm promotion with a handy win over lowly Wexford.

Verdict: Donegal.

Mayo v Monaghan, Hastings Insurance McHale Park, 2pm (A. Clogher).

Mayo to finish their campaign on a high in Castlebar. 

Verdict: Mayo.

Tipperary v Tyrone, Clonmel Sportsfield, 2p, (C. McCarthy).

Tyrone have been scoring freely but have been quite open at the back. Tipperary are a much tighter unit. 

Verdict: Draw.