All-Ireland championship preview

Sligo vs Mayo, CSFC quarter-final, Markievicz Park (Sligo)
Mayo have a large number of injuries heading into their quarter-final clash with Sligo as Aiden Kilcoyne is definitely out and there are serious concerns over the availability of Alan Dillon and Trevor Howley. The loss of these three players would be felt by any county in Ireland but Mayo has a strong enough squad to deal with the problem.

Seamus O’Shea, Chris Barrett, Alan Freeman and Enda Varley all come in for their championship debuts after impressing during the league. These players will no doubt be looking to impress against the Yeats County and keep their places further down the line. With players like Aiden O’Shea and Pat Harte breathing down their necks a big performance will be needed.

There will be contrasting morale in the two camps as the Mayo players are still down following their annihilation in the league final against Cork, whereas Sligo won their second NFL title in a row when they defeated Antrim at Croke Park.

The Yeats County have made great strides under Kevin Walsh and this is a big year for them. Home advantage and a big crowd behind them should benefit them. If they are to defeat the defending Connaught champions, then belief could be the key to their success. Just as it was in 2007.

Mayo has an abundance of quality at their disposal but has constantly failed to deliver in big games. In the past ten years alone they have only beaten Tyrone and Dublin in a big championship game. I discount Fermanagh (2004 semi-final) as they are not All-Ireland contenders.

Saturday's game may not be considered a 'big game' in some quarters, but a determined Sligo has the capability to pull off the shock of the weekend. However, with players such as Conor Mortimer, Ronan McGarrity, and Andy Moran Mayo have more than enough quality to see of their neighbours and set up another championship meeting against Galway.

Verdict: Mayo by 5

Kerry vs Cork, MSFC semi-final, Killarney
This is possibly the first of a few meetings between these sides this summer,if the last number of years are anything to go by.

Kerry are undoubtedly a team in transition, but any team in transition who can call on five All-Ireland winners as replacements cannot be doing too bad. The one thing that must be asked though is, after so much All-Ireland success over the last decade, does Kerry care for the Munster championship? They went the qualifying route last year and we all know how that turned out and in the All-Ireland, they proved, no matter how much they are written off, that they are the best in the country.

The loss of five key players this year was not highlighted in the comfortable first round win over Tipperary, but it certainly will against Cork.

Cork's physicality is one of their main strengths and the return of Pearse O'Neill is a major plus as too is Colm O'Neill's return to the side.

The midfield diamond area could be the winning or losing of this game for either team and Cork are definitely stronger in that area. With Galvin missing and Mike McCarthy a doubt Cork will be expected to run riot over Kerry in this area. Michael Quirke's mobility in the middle of the park is still questionable also.

It remains to be seen if Graham Canty starts; his inclusion would be massive boost to the Leesiders, but regardless they should have enough firepower to see off Kerry's challenge. Whether or not that can be said later in the championship is a debate for another day.

Verdict: Cork by 4

Waterford vs Limerick, MSFC semi-final, Fraher Field (Dungarvan)
This is a repeat of the division four final that Limerick won by a narrow margin. There is not much to separate these sides this year. Waterford has improved immensely over the past few years and will be looking to become third best in Munster ahead of Limerick and Tipperary.

Limerick will go into the match as favourites and justifiably as they are an experienced outfit, who know what it takes to reach a provincial final. Their ability to take their scores in the league final proved the difference between the sides and that is something Waterford will no doubt have worked on over the past few weeks.

Playing at home could make all the difference for the Déise, they are a side hungry for success and it is refreshing to see in the modern game. Spurred on by an enthusiastic home crowd and the possibility of a double Munster final involving the Waterford hurling & football teams could just see them over the finish line and into a first Munster final since 1960.

Verdict: Waterford by 2

Louth vs Kildare, LSFC quarter-final, Pairc Tailteann (Navan)
Louth are back in championship action less than two weeks after a hard fought win over Longford in Portlaoise, whereas Kildare are making their bow in this years championship.

The Wee County will have to show a vast improvement from their performance the last day and if the produce the kind of wayward shooting displayed against Longford, then they have no chance against a Lilywhites side who showed in a recent challenge game against Mayo that they have their shooting boots at the ready this season.

Changes are not expected to be made to the Louth team following that win while Kildare will be without Ken Donnelly, Mike Conway and Rob Kelly for the rest of the year, while it remains to be seen if last years All-Star midfielder Dermot Earley will be fit to last 70 minutes.

The tight pitch at Navan could well suit Louth and they pushed Tyrone all the way in the qualifiers there a few years back, but the Lilys will be looking to go all the way in Leinster this year and they should prevail.

Verdict: Kildare by 8

Wicklow vs Westmeath, LSFC quarter-final, O’Connor Park (Tullamore)
This is a repeat of last year's championship clash between the sides. On that occasion, Westmeath needed extra time to see off the challenge of the Garden County, but 12 months is a long time in Gaelic football.

Wicklow's confidence has risen as a result of last year’s historic run through the qualifiers and they easily swept aside Carlow in the first round. That game will have brought them on even further and they will be gunning for revenge on Sunday. In Leighton Glynn, they have a very influential captain who leads by example and if Westmeath are to win this match, then they will have to keep the shackles on the experienced wing forward.

To say Westmeath had a bad league campaign would be an understatement, no wins for the second year in a row, the loss of a manager and a players' revolt are just some of the problems that the Midlanders have had to deal with. Pat Flanagan, as top quality of a GAA coach as he is, has had little time to put things right, but he has been trying his hardest. The return of Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon is a massive boost to them. However, this game may have come a little too soon for Westmeath and Wicklow are primed to progress to the Leinster semi-final.

Verdict: Wicklow by 5

Monaghan vs Armagh, USFC quarter-final, Casement Park (Belfast)
This should be one of that matches of this years championship. The Division 2 champions Armagh will believe they can go all the way in this year’s championship while Monaghan are seen as one of the underdogs and could go all the way in Ulster for the first time since 1988.

Armagh boss Paddy O'Rourke has received mixed news ahead of Sunday's game as it looks to have come too soon for Ronan Clarke, but Kevin Dyas cane through a recent challenge match unscathed and is available for selection.

The benefit of having already played in this year’s championship cannot be underestimated and should stand to Armagh. They were made to work hard against Derry three weeks ago and managed to get the job done, albeit not in an impressive fashion.

This is a massive campaign for the Farney County. A lot of their players have been knocking on the door for some time now and time may be running out for them. On paper, they are probably more experienced than Armagh at the moment and if they are ever to do anything in the province then this could well be the year.

Both teams had successful league campaigns and will be heading into this game with much confidence. A cracker could be in place in the city of Belfast.

Verdict: Monaghan by 2

Armagh, Wicklow and Kerry all progress

Armagh 1-10
Derry 1-07

In front of a crowd of just over 10,000 Armagh booked their passage through to the quarter-finals of the Ulster Senior championship after a hard fought win over Derry. It was Derry’s first championship defeat at Celtic Park since 1994.

It was point for point all the way throughout the opening 22 minutes, with the Oak Leafers pulling away with frees from Paddy Bradley and Mark Lynch, only to be pegged back by Aaron Kernan an Steven McDonnell.

A very tense contest burst into life just before half-time when Paddy Bradley grabbed a goal for Derry. But this was the sign for McDonnell to show why he is one of the best footballers in the country. As he fired over four points late in the half, two of them from exceptionally difficult frees, to level the scores and send the sides in at the break deadlocked at 1-5 to 0-8.

Charlie Vernon fired Armagh into the lead for the first time two minutes after half-time before Derry suffered a game changing double blow.

First Eoin Bradley picked up a second booking after hauling Aaron Kernan to the ground, and his side was reduced to 14 men. Less than two minutes later, the Orchard men forced ahead with a goal from substitute Jamie Clarke. The Crossmaglen youngster collected McDonnell's cross from the left to shoot deftly past Gillis for a 1-10 to 1-6 lead.

Derry only managed to score two points in the entire second half as the Armagh defence stood strong, particularly Kieran Toner and Ciaran McKeever. However, they were still in with a chance to at least bring the game to a replay when they were awarded a penalty with five minutes left. But Paul Hearty pulled off a tremendous save to deny Gerard O’Kane.

Derry: B Gillis, B Og McAlary, K McGuckin, D McBride, G O'Kane, B McGuigan, M Bateson, F Doherty, Patsy Bradley, SL McGoldrick, M Lynch (0-4 (3f), D Mullan, Paddy Bradley (1-2, 0-2f), E Bradley (0-1), R Wilkinson Subs: B McGoldrick for McGuigan (inj, 23), J Kielt for Wilkinson (49), M Craig for Bateson (61), J Diver for Doherty (inj, 63), E Muldoon for SL McGoldrick (70)

Armagh: P Hearty, A Mallon, K Toner, B Donaghy, P Duffy, C McKeever, F Moriarity, C Vernon (0-1), J Lavery, M Mackin, A Kernan (0-3, 2f), G Swift, B Mallon, S McDonnell (0-5, 4f), R Henderson (0-1) Subs: V Martin for Lavery (34), J Clarke (1-0) for Henderson (49), M McNamee for Mackin (70)

Referee: M. Deegan (Laois).


Kerry 2-18
Tipperary 2-06

Kieran Donaghy was the conductor for All-Ireland champions Kerry as they passed this early summer examination against Tipperary, running out 12-point winners in the end.
The 4,965-strong Thurles crowd had hopes of an upset as Tipperary ended the first half just 0-08 to 1-04 in arrears, with Philip Austin scoring a cracking early goal. But, turning with the wind, the Kingdom hit their stride in the second period to cruise through to a semi-final showdown with Munster title holders Cork on 6 June.

Bryan Sheehan netted twice and Colm Cooper, Donaghy and Barry John Keane all had an influence, putting the game beyond a brave Tipp's reach. John Evans' young side also finished the game with 14 players as top scorer Barry Grogan was very harshly dismissed for his second bookable offence, a mistimed challenge on Kerry substitute Adrian O'Connell.

With five of last year’s All-Ireland winning side missing, following the retirements of Darragh O Se and Diarmuid Murphy, the departures of Tommy Walsh and Tadhg Kennelly to Australia and Aidan O'Mahony's recent withdrawal from the panel, Kerry will be very happy this week with their performance as the begin training for another Cork challenge.

The visitors hit the front after a minute and 20 seconds, Donaghy turning inside two defenders to land the opening point. But Tipperary, boosted by their Under-21s' recent win over Kerry, levelled with a '45' from Grogan and took a seventh minute lead when Austin beat Brendan Kealy in the Kerry goal with a measured finish.

Cooper (0-03) and Paul Galvin got Kerry back on terms, but they should have been in front. Sheehan had a 14th minute goal harshly disallowed for an ‘illegal’ hand pass from Donaghy, a decision that may well have gone for Kerry on another day.

The Tipp goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald blocked a goal-bound effort from Donaghy and the Tralee giant had two wides in quick succession as the Tipp rearguard did their job in frustrating Kerry's fluent forwards. Cooper watched a point attempt from directly infront of the goals bounce back off the post, and the Premier County side went back in front when a strong burst in from the left from Austin set up a Brian Mulvihill point.

Pointed efforts from Galvin and Sheehan saw Kerry use their huge amount of possession to go in ahead at the break by a point, 0-08 to 1-04.

There was a sense around Semple Stadium that Kerry would simply go through the gears when the action resumed in the second half and gradually that is the way it played out. Sheehan hit the woodwork with a point attempt, but Cooper traded points with Grogan as O'Connor's charges kept ahead.

The Tipp defence was caught out in the 47th minute as Tomas O Se and McCarthy raided forward, the latter's point attempt failed to find the target but Donaghy scooped the ball over for Sheehan to slip a low shot to the net for a 1-12 to 1-06 scoreline.

Tipp rallied superbly and were unfortunate not to close the gap as Austin went wide from a kickable free and Kealy had to be on his toes to block a snap shot from Acheson.

They did manage to whittle Kerry's lead down to three points when the Kerry net minder was beaten to a high ball by Grogan for Tipp's second goal in the 52nd minute. But that proved to be Tipp’s last score as Kerry tightened their grip on proceedings and the excellent Donaghy gave an exhibition of high fielding.

Five minutes from the finish, another top drawer catch and feed by Donaghy set up Sheehan for a drilled finish to the bottom left corner of Fitzgerald's net. Cooper added another point soon after to wrap up the scoring as Kerry finished the final quarter of the game having outscored Tipp by 1-08 to 0-00

Tipp have a long wait to the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers on 26 June and their search for a first Munster Championship win since 2003 continues, but they can certainly be proud of their efforts here and Evans has an abundance of potential to build on. Every year an unfancied team goes on a run through the qualifiers, Fermanagh in 04, Wexford in 08, and Sligo in 02, 2010 could be Tipperary’s year.

Tipp: P Fitzgerald; P Codd, N Curran, C McDonald; C Aylward, R Costigan(c), C McGrath; K Mulryan, G Hannigan(0-1), P Acheson (0-1), P Austin (1-00), H Coghlan; S Carey, B Grogan (1-03, 1 ’45) B Mulvihill (0-1) Subs: B Fox for Coghlan (13-20 mins, blood sub), B Fox for Mulvihill (44), B Coen for Carey (55), J Cagney for Austin (61), B Jones for Aylward (66), A Morrisey for McGrath (70).

Kerry: B Kealy; M O Se, T Griffin, T O'Sullivan; T O Se, M McCarthy, K Young; S Scanlon (0-1), M Quirke; P Galvin (0-2), Declan O'Sullivan (0-1), D Walsh(0-1), C Cooper (0-5, 1f), K Donaghy (0-1), B Sheehan(c)(2-05, 4f) Subs: P Reidy for T O'Sullivan (45 mins), Darran O'Sullivan for Galvin, A Maher for Quirke (both 56), A O'Connell for Young (61), BJ Keane (0-2) for Declan O'Sullivan (62).

Referee: D. Coldrick (Meath)


Wicklow 3-13
Carlow 0-12

A hat-trick of goals saw Wicklow clear their Leinster Championship first hurdle as they overcame Carlow at O'Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

Wicklow had Nicky Mernagh sent off in first half injury-time but a Paul Earls goal ensured a 1-06 to 0-06 lead for them at the break. Carlow lost midfielders Brendan Murphy (straight red) and Thomas Walsh (second yellow) in the closing 35 minutes, and their provincial hopes were ended by further goals from Wicklow's Leighton Glynn and JP Dalton.

After a pulsating encounter which saw referee Gerry Kinneavy award three red cards and 16 yellows, the reward for Mick O'Dwyer's men is a quarter-final clash with Westmeath on 6 June.

Carlow were unable to make their first half domination tell on the scoreboard as they hit seven wides in the opening 21 minutes. Wicklow, however, were more clinical with their possession as they broke into a 0-03 to 0-00 score.

Carlow were left exposed defensively, while the expected midfield dominance by former Aussie Rules trainee Brendan Murphy and ex-Wicklow player Thomas Walsh failed to materialise in the opening quarter. Luke Dempsey's charges had registered four wides before Murphy landed Carlow's opening point to cut the deficit to two points.

Carlow levelled the game by the 20th minute but Wicklow then took control with an unanswered score of 1-2 before the break. The goal coming from the boot of Paul Earls. However, Wicklow were quickly on the back foot once again as Nicky Mernagh was sent off in first half injury time. Carlow took immediate advantage of their numerical gain with two quickfire points to leave three between the sides at half time.

McWalter bagged another Wicklow point within 40 seconds of the restart, with scores from Hannon and Glynn giving O'Dwyer's side a 1-10 to 0-07 lead by the 45th minute. But Carlow pressed hard, with Murphy beginning to exert his authority on proceedings from midfield, although Wicklow goalkeeper Mervyn Travers denied him a certain goal in the 58th minute.

The Barrowsiders were reduced to 14 men when Murphy received a straight red with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining. They tried hard to pick up the pieces but were dealt a huge blow with two sucker-punch goals in a six-minute spell.

Firstly, Wicklow captain Glynn found the net, after an excellent long ball in from midfielder Dalton. Glynn outpaced both Padraig Murphy and Benny Kavanagh before beating Clarke from close range. Dalton turned scorer as he completed Wicklow's hat-trick in the 68th minute, nipping the ball past Clarke to put his side 3-11 to 0-09 in front.

Carlow rallied in the closing stages with scores from substitute Daniel St Ledger and defender Alan Curran. But it was too late for Dempsey's side to stage a recovery and Wicklow progressed through to a quarter-final meeting with Westmeath.

Wicklow: M Travers; S Kelly, D O'hAnnaidh, A Byrne; P McWalter (0-1), B McGrath, D Hayden; J Stafford, D Jackman; L Glynn (1-04), T Hannon (0-6, 2f, 1 ’45), N Mernagh; D Odlum, S Furlong (0-2), P Earls (1-0) Subs: JP Dalton (1-0) for Jackman (21 mins), S Canavan for McWalter (52), P Dalton for Odlum (58).

Carlow: J Clarke; P Murphy, L Murphy, B Kavanagh; A Curran (0-3), J Hayden, P McElligott; B Murphy (0-3), T Walsh; S Gannon, D Foley, M Carpenter; S Rea (0-4, 4f)), J Murphy, J Kavanagh Subs: S Redmond for L Murphy (29 mins), JJ Smith (0-1) for Foley (34), D St Ledger (0-1) for J Murphy (44), P Cashin for Hayden (60).

Referee: G. Kinneavy (Galway)