Today

Munster first round

Tipperary v Waterford, Clonmel, 8.0.

Although Tipperary weathered more evenly in the winter, marching steadily into Division three, both counties will fancy their chances here. Colm Browne has introduced both self-belief and a new steel to Tipperary who triumphed over their opponents in the league but were beaten by them in the McGrath Cup.

Waterford's Joe Curran continues to nurture the recent under-21 side and hopes to compensate what may be lacking in experience with youth and hunger. The average age of the team he has selected is just 23.

Chances are that the home side will do enough to advance.

Tipperary: P Ryan; N Kelly, C O'Dwyer, L Cronin; B Hahessy, M Sheahan, S Collum; D Foley, J Costello; S Maher, B Cummins, B Burke; P Lambert, M Spillane, D Browne.

Waterford: T Brennan; A Hubbard, J Crotty, M Fenton; K Whelan, G Welsh, M Kiely; D McMahon (capt), R Power; A Fitzgerald, L Daniels, C Keane; N Curran, M Power, O Costello.

Team News: Tipperary have shuffled their back line a little, with Conor O'Dwyer and Niall Kelly swapping the corner back and full back positions respectively. Micheal Spillane, who impressed greatly in Saggart's club run and who was introduced as a sub against Limerick, gets his first full championship start at full forward.

Key Confrontation: Joe Curran has given both Andrew Hubbard and Jason Crotty their debuts in the back-line, both lining out alongside the experienced Mike Fenton. Tipperary will look to channel everything through the vastly experienced Peter Lambert and Declan Browne, who has hit 1-6 in the championship to date. If they hit form and Tipp full forward Micheal Spillane gets the measure of Hubbard, the home team should advance.

View From The Camps

"You have to look at Tipp's forward line. At least against Kerry, you only have to worry about Maurice. They have a lot of options."

- Joe Curran, Waterford manager.

"It's all or nothing in the champion- ship, not like the league where you get another chance every week."

- Colm Browne, Tipperary manager. VERDICT: Tipperary.

Tomorrow Connacht first round

London v Sligo, Ruislip, 3.30.

Enjoying a substantial resurgence under Micheal Moran, Sligo have built steadily on last year's Connacht final performance which saw them fall to Mayo and they will take the pitch in Ruislip understandably expectant of victory. Should that win transpire, an extremely young team (only two of the first XV are over 25) will qualify to meet Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park and will also be tipped for victory on that occasion.

London's miserable league campaign has encouraged a few panelists to curtail their activities to club action. So decimated has the panel become that the selectors are unlikely to finalise their side until midday on Sunday.

Sligo: P Kilcoyne; N Maguire, C White, M Cosgrove; R Keane, E O'Hara, D Durcan; P Durcan, N Clancy; K Killeen, B Walsh (capt) S Davey; T Brennan, G Sloyane, P Taylor.

London (possible): J Collins; C Wilson, D Gordon, B McShane; AN Other, B McDonagh, T Murphy; A O'Halloran, S O'Brien; D Gillespie, P Coggins, A Kramer; I Kelly, M Gavin, F Hussey.

Team News: Sligo corner-forward Paul Taylor returned to training this week after suffering a tragic family bereavement when his brother Bobby, a Sligo minor footballer, lost his life in a drowning accident. He lines out at corner forward in what is a very settled team. For London, doubts still hang over the fitness of Tommy Maguire, Mick Galvin and Paul Coggins, potential absentees London just can't afford.

Key Confrontation: If Sligo have any realistic provincial ambitions this summer, there should not be any key element to this match. Sligo's most potent enemy may well be complacency. If they are up for this, it should be a stroll.

View From The Camps

"We have been hit hard, have a very slim panel just now. We are hopeful of a decent showing."

- Packie Hughes, London selector.

"We are looking for a win but we won't be over-confident. We expect a tough game in Ruislip."

- Joe Quenan, Sligo selector

Verdict: Home loss a sure thing.

Leinster first round

Louth v Wicklow, Drogheda, 3.30.

Aughrim WAS lost to Wicklow when the county boards relevant to this fixture agreed to flick a coin to determine who would gain home rights. Thus, Wicklow manager Niall Rennick brings his team to Drogheda somewhat unhappy with what he perceives as being the flippancy of the Leinster Council, if a little gladdened by Wicklow's more recent showings.

Paddy Clarke's Louth have endured a somewhat uneven winter, scraping a League win at home to Fermanagh but losing to both Mayo and Galway and also going down to Leitrim, a loss which cost them their Division Two status. Their erratic displays in the League were countered by an impressive O'Byrne Cup run.

Louth: N O'Donnell; B Philips, G O'Neill, D Brennan; D O'Sullivan, J Donaldson, A Hoey; K Reilly, G Currran; N Malone, S Melia, M Farrelly; A Doherty, C O'Hanlon, C Kelly.

Wicklow: T Murphy; B Brady, E White, M Coffey; B O Hannaidh, B O'Donovan, B Whelan; D Coffey, G Gordon; S Byrne, M Murtagh, C Daye; K Byrne, R Coffey, K O'Brien.

Team News: Louth will field a relatively inexperienced full back line as Brian Philips and Dave Brennan join full back Gareth O'Neill. Forward Cathal O'Hanlon seems to have shaken off the hamstring injury which threatened his summer, but his brother Seamus has been sidelined indefinitely with a troubled knee. Alan Doherty, who sat out last year's championship due to sheer exhaustion, has been slotted in at left corner forward.

Wicklow field the side who masterminded last month's league victory over Cork, but are quite inexperienced in terms of championship fare.

Key Confrontation: Kevin O'Brien, Wicklow's star turn for many a year, faces an essentially untried Louth full back line and Wicklow may well seek to channel a lot of ball through him.

View From The Camps

"We know and respect Wicklow, they have three or four great forwards and had some great League wins. We will be very focused for this game."

- Paddy Clarke, Louth manager.

"If you look at our result in the championship last year, you might not give us much hope. But this is a different squad now. We have nothing to fear."

- Niall Rennick, Wicklow manager.

Verdict: Louth.

Ulster first round

Derry v Monagahan, Celtic Park, 3.30

Although Derry have been kept within the provincial borders in recent championship summers, they have made almost annual league pilgrimages to Croke Park for the play-offs. The trend continued this year when they conspired with Monaghan to elevate the very concept of dourness in a spectacularly miserable semi-final. Monaghan forced Derry to a replay in last year's championship and their league form (promotion to Division One) suggests they may have what it takes to end Derry's summer early.

However, Eamonn McEneaney has had to deal with the loss through injury of Padraig McShane, who was dominant at centrefield during Monaghan's League run.

It will be interesting to see if Derry's defence can shackle Monaghan's lively forwards as effectively as they did seven weeks ago. Respective free-kickers Tohill and Freeman may have a strong bearing on the outcome of this match. Derry may shade it at midfield and forwards such as Seamus Downey, Joe Cassidy and Joe Brolly have ability enough to translate that possession into scores. The possible return of Enda Gormley, who relinquished his post of selector after being persuaded to rejoin the panel, offers Derry a fantastic bench option.

Derry: E McCloskey; K McKeever, SM Lockhart, P Diamond; J McGurk, H Downey, P McFlynn; A Tohill, D Heaney; G Magill, D Dougan, E Burns; J Brolly, S Downey, J Cassidy.

Monaghan: J O'Connor; E Murphy, D McDermott, N Marron; D Duffy, S Mullen, J Conlon; G McGuirk, R Ronaghan; D Freeman, M Daly, K Hughes; D Smith, D McKeirnan, P Duffy.

Team News: Lavey's Johnny McGurk, a stalwart from 1993, has been recalled to step in for luckless defender Gary Coleman, who is injured. Paul Diamond gets his championship start at left corner back. Dermot Heaney returns to partner Tohill at midfield while the selection of Eamon Burns and Seamus Downey in the half forward and full forward lines, respectively, suggest Derry are hoping to gun through with experience. Monaghan have drafted regular starter Gerald McGuirk to replace the injured McShane at midfield. Seamus Mallen comes in at centre back for Joe Coyle KEY CONFRONTATION: Midfield. Derry, although blessed with several gifted forwards, have not amassed terribly high scores in recent games and will need what possession comes their way. Anthony Tohill is due the kind of performance that left him ducking from garlands a few years back.

View From The Camps

"We're not reading a whole pile into the League game, it was a one off, not a great match. This will come down to whoever gains better possession and uses it."

- Eamonn McEneaney, Monaghan

"I'm delighted to be back in but it's only one game and we have to get through that. Most people expect Derry to beat Monaghan so that adds a wee bit of pressure."

- Johnny McGurk, Derry player.

Verdict: Derry.