Weekend previews: Dublin's next wave can earn their spurs against Westmeath

EARN THEIR SPURS: Seán Bugler celebrates during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Louth and Dublin. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.

SATURDAY 

Tailteann Cup, Round 1: Down v Leitrim, Páirc Esler, 6pm (T. Murphy, Galway) Live GAA+.

Steven Poacher faces his native county as Down look to pick themselves back up from that abysmal result against Armagh.

It was that bad because their performance had been that good in seeing off Donegal the week before. Whether they have the stomach for another tilt at the Tailteann Cup remains to be seen but they should come out on top here. 

Verdict: Down.

SUNDAY

Leinster SFC final: Dublin v Westmeath, Croke Park, 2pm (D. Coldrick, Meath) Live RTÉ.

Louth had to do some soul-searching after a Division 2 loss to Cork earlier this year and the same process is currently being repeated after their worrying display going down to Dublin in Portlaoise.

They were no-shows and while Dublin were good, they can’t fall into the trap of feeling they were any better. 

They were still making fundamental errors, which was probably acceptable for a team still not sure of itself and fielding just five of their All-Ireland winning starters of three years ago. 

Con O’Callaghan wasn’t missed the last day and neither was Westmeath’s star man Luke Loughlin against Kildare. Brandon Kelly took up the mantle and they are other big game players in the ranks like Ray Connellan and Ronan Wallace.

Westmeath play with a type of abandon that should complement Croke Park. A sixth ever Leinster final will be embraced by their people to the point that the venue might feel like Mullingar.

If Dublin feed into the idea that the hard work in Leinster has been done in dismissing Louth, they are mistaken. Many in their team have yet to earn their spurs. They can get their first on Sunday. 

Verdict: Dublin.

Ulster SFC final: Armagh v Monaghan, St Conleth’s Park, 4.15pm (P. Neilan, Roscommon) Live RTÉ/BBC.

A better team than Derry would have put Monaghan away in Armagh two weeks ago. Even when they were in the ascendancy, Derry were spurning chances and their profligacy came back to haunt them in the end. Monaghan’s heart can rarely be questioned and they never dropped their heads.

That will be important in Clones because Armagh have the potential to inflict a lot of damage. At the same time, you would imagine Monaghan won’t so far as 10 points behind now that belief is coursing through their team.

Michael McCarville can give them a foothold in midfield, captain Micheál Bannigan’s energy is boundless and Bobby McCaul is a great direct option. 

All that aside, this is Armagh’s best chance to end their Ulster pain. Darragh McMullan is lighting up the place, Oisín Conaty is moving into All-Star form once more and Jarly Óg Burns is playing that type of football too. 

Armagh have the options from the bench too Usually, we would be concerned for a team coming into a final on the crest of a facile semi-final win but Armagh were challenged by Tyrone. They can consign 2008 to the past and take home the Anglo-Celt Cup. 

Verdict: Armagh.