Weekend Hurling and Football Previews: Cork and Clare out to prove a point

SATURDAY

Munster SFC semi-finals

Cork v Kerry

SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm (B. Tiernan, Dublin)

Live GAA+

With Cork’s Sam Maguire Cup qualification all but certain, don’t be surprised if they play with some abandon. The build-up to this semi-final has extremely muted, the references to Mark Keane’s goal five years ago becoming less and less.

Yet there has only been a score between the sides these past couple of years after the stuffings Kerry meted out in 2021 and ’22.

Cork’s coltish corner-backs haven’t face a test like this but towards the end of the Division 2 campaign they were looking comfortable in their environs.

Daniel O’Mahony was given the role of tagging David Clifford last year and “kept” him to three points from play but it wouldn’t surprise if John Cleary was to give that duty to Seán Brady or Neil Lordan.

Cork should have an advantage in midfield where Kerry continue to make do without injured Diarmuid O’Connor but Cork will need them to be complacent to cause an upset.

Verdict: Kerry.

Read More Cleary names unchanged Cork side for Kerry showdown

Clare v Tipperary

Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm (J. Molloy, Galway)

Tipperary have put some wind back in their sails, putting a disappointing second half of Division 4 behind them to exact revenge on Waterford.

It was quite the individual performance by captain Steven O’Brien who sent over three two-pointers and that quality of long-range kicking is certainly in Tipperary’s armoury.

It could be crucial in keeping tabs on Clare, who are a much stronger prospect on paper than they were this time last year especially in attack, despite again missing out on promotion to Division 2.

Tipperary will be doughty but anything but Clare living up to their side of the bargain of a third straight identical Munster final would be a shock.

Verdict: Clare.

Connacht SFC semi-final

Leitrim v Mayo

Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 4.30pm (N. Cullen, Fermanagh)

Live GAA+

If Leitrim supporters are already looking ahead to how they might make the knock-out stages of the Tailteann Cup, they could be forgiven.

This is going to be a landslide, a genuine case of damage limitation and what’s worse is it’s going to be broadcasted.

It’s a far from ideal way for Mayo to enter a Connacht final they really have to win but sin é. Avoid injuries and move on.

Verdict: Mayo.

Ulster SFC quarter-final

Fermanagh v Down

Brewster Park, 4pm (J. Henry, Mayo)

Live BBC

Although they didn’t play all their home games in the Enniskillen venue, Fermanagh’s record on their patch was again solid in the league this year and Down have to appreciate the worth of the place to their opponents.

Make it physical and Fermanagh have a real opportunity but there is enough guile in their side to prosper and Pat Havern is playing some lovely football.

Verdict: Down.

Leinster SHC, Round 1

Wexford v Antrim

Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm (C. Lyons, Cork)

Despite relegation, Wexford certainly provided reason for optimism with away wins over Clare and Limerick. Lee Chin was the common denominator and Wexford have to be careful that his influence doesn’t become a dependency.

Davy Fitzgerald will know Chin will require a man-marker and if he is kept out of the game, Antrim, whose own James Naughton will need minding, have a real opportunity. It’s hard to keep a good man down, though.

Verdict: Wexford.

Kilkenny v Galway

UPMC Nowlan Park, 3.45pm (S. Stack, Dublin)

Live RTÉ

The speculation that TJ Reid is at risk of missing this game because of a calf injury has been confirmed and it is troubling for Kilkenny.

The team’s longest servant and most decorated player, he remains a lynchpin for the primary ball he wins and obviously his dead-ball expertise.

Both teams have been beavering away since the conclusion of their unflattering league runs. Galway surely have to be better than what they showed against Limerick and Cork and in every line they have quality.

If the 2024 John Donnelly returns here, coupled with Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody’s returns, Kilkenny can be more than effective but that may fall short of a first ever round win over Galway.

Verdict: Draw.

Dublin v Offaly

Parnell Park, 6pm (J. Murphy, Limerick)

Johnny Kelly would hardly agree that the worst thing Offaly could have done was beat Dublin in Croke Park earlier this year. It was another mark reached by his team and was vital in ensuring they rather than the boys in blue will be part of the elite next season.

With Brian Duignan a force in the full-forward line, Offaly shouldn’t be afraid of being direct here but Dublin will want a bruiser, the team they have named has a nice balance to it and they should have a few points to spare.

Verdict: Dublin.

Joe McDonagh Cup, Round 1

Kildare v Kerry

Cedral St Conleth’s Park, 2pm (C. Cunning, Antrim)

Kerry took quite the tanking when they met in early February but they have found out plenty about themselves since even if the Lilywhites were promoted ahead of them. Boil it down and the same result looks likely if not by the same margin.

Verdict: Kildare.

Carlow v Down

Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm (C. McDonald, Antrim)

Down have to be believing they can beat most, if not every team in this competition after their excellent league. Carlow, though, more than held their own in Division 2. They will be wary of the visitors but being forewarned will serve them well.

Verdict: Carlow.

Laois v Westmeath

Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 3pm (B. Keon, Galway)

Both teams claimed just one win and the home side’s was over Westmeath while the visitors beat a Carlow side who might have been disinterested in the final round of matches. Laois to swing it. Verdict: Laois.

Christy Ring Cup, Round 2

Donegal v Wicklow

O’Donnell Park, 2pm (M. Connolly, Sligo)

A solid start for Wicklow in seeing off Tyrone but Donegal should represent a stiffer challenge.

Verdict: Donegal.

Meath v Tyrone

St Loman’s Park, Trim, 3pm (P. Dunne, Laois)

Quite the humbling start for Meath but they can bounce back to take the points here.

Verdict: Meath.

Nickey Rackard Cup, Round 2

Sligo v Roscommon

Markievicz Park, 2pm (J. Judge, Mayo)

Sligo put their league woes behind them with an opening win although this could be a close encounter.

Verdict: Draw.

Armagh v Mayo

Box-It Athletic Grounds, 2pm (M. Redmond, Kildare)

Mayo are fancied to follow their promotion to Division 2 with a Rackard final berth and another victory is on the cards.

Verdict: Mayo.

Lory Meagher Cup, Round 2

Leitrim v Lancashire

Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 12pm (K. Brady, Louth)

It could go either way but Leitrim may scrape it.

Verdict: Leitrim.

Longford v Warwickshire

Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm (A. Kinahan, Offaly)

Longford to maintain their 100% start.

Verdict: Longford.

Cavan v Monaghan

Kingspan Breffni, 3pm (P. Owens, Down)

Cavan to claim their bragging rights and remain top of the table.

Verdict: Cavan.

SUNDAY

Munster SHC, Round 1

Clare v Cork

Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm (L. Gordon, Galway)

Live RTÉ

On the record at least, Clare players have been careful to point out all the little talk about them and all the big talk about Cork is justified in light of relegation and their opponents’s six-goal show in Ennis last month.

Yet it surely must sour them just how little is being made of their prospects when not only are they the supposed kingpins but boast the best record in the round stages going over the years.

Selector Ken Ralph gave some insight about how Clare truly felt when he spoke after the loss to Wexford game in February about how much was being made of Cork and Limerick’s All-Ireland prospects.

Cork face a wounded animal whose fighting attributes are unquestionable. However, it’s they who should be the ones hurting most after last July and that seemed to be a message Pat Ryan was conveying in recent weeks, that if anybody should have motivation on Easter Sunday it’s his side.

Cork can’t do much about the generation of hype except back it up. Their forward options are bountiful. What they are going to throw at the Clare sextet will be varied and regular, Diarmuid Ryan could be rusty but at the other end Peter Duggan is capable of negating so much of it.

Niall O’Leary had a superb league for Cork but for the full-back line questions asked in championship require championship answers. Clare to remind people why they are the champions, Cork to serve notice why they can replace them.

Verdict: Cork.

Read More Stubborn Patrick Horgan will always use doubters as fuel

Tipperary v Limerick

FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm (T. Walsh, Waterford)

Live GAA+

Liam Cahill is too honest a broker to suggest Tipperary played rope-a-dope in Cork last Sunday week. Dropping two players who underperformed that day, Willie Connors and Gearóid O’Connor, underlines that point yet there was something unusual about their approach to the game namely on the puck-outs whether they either sat off or were slack.

Expect a much more fervent attitude on Sunday especially when in the Limerick goal there is a No1 widely considered as one of, it not the best in the business but hasn't hit a ball in anger this year.

Even if they did win both, Limerick have made slack starts to their last couple of first round Munster games. That shouldn’t be a problem given they see themselves as being among the pack this time around. The hunger should be on point from the off but they face a team that has plenty of reason to be pained after last year.

Jake Morris’s scoring attributes are strong but as a leader his contributions have to come at more critical junctures in games. The inclusion of John McGrath should be no surprise when he was the best club player in the county last season and may indicate Tipperary looking to be direct. Against a Limerick side which thrives on the primary battles, that may seem a gamble but this full-back line haven’t played regularly.

Elsewhere, as William O’Donoghue reminded us, the supposed new starters are far from rookies. Expect Tipperary to show enough that their campaign isn’t doomed but Limerick will maintain their record against them.

Verdict: Limerick.

Connacht SFC semi-final

Galway v Roscommon

Pearse Stadium, 4pm (S. Hurson, Tyrone)

Live RTÉ

No Shane Walsh in the Galway panel, which has to carry some worry for the defending champions. Having reached two All-Ireland finals in three years, they would like to think they are about more than just him but the two-point value he brings will be missed.

It’s not as if Roscommon are lacking shooters either. The visitors have an attack to win but the defence? Jury’s out.

That John Maher is expected to be fit following his injury in New York is a huge boost for Galway although it’s interesting they have named their auxiliaries, which include the returning Peter Cooke.

It remains a tidy Galway team whose meanness will suit the expected poor weather in Salthill.

Verdict: Galway.

Ulster SFC quarter-final

Monaghan v Donegal

St Tiernach’s Park, 2pm (D. Coldrick, Meath)

Live GAA+

To claim that Monaghan are Jim McGuinness’s bogey side when he oversaw the 2014 Ulster final over them is a bit of a stretch. Sure, there was the 2013 defeat but those historic results should have no reckoning on this fixture. If Monaghan play with the panache they showed in the Division 2 final, they will ask questions of the favourites.

If Donegal slow them down, there is only going to be one result and it could be hefty. Monaghan have enough about them to avoid that if not the wrong result for them.

Verdict: Donegal.

Christy Ring Cup

London v Derry

McGovern Park, 12.30pm (N. O’Toole, Waterford)

London’s form continues to impress and after hounding Meath they will be expected to be back it up although Derry will be more difficult to overcome.

Verdict: London.

Nickey Rackard Cup, Round 2

Louth v Fermanagh

Dowdallshill, Dundalk, 2pm (C. Daly, Kildare)

Fermanagh were unfortunate last weekend but luck should be with them now.

Verdict: Fermanagh.

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